On his day, Dejan Savicevic was one of the finest playmakers there was. The former Milan midfielder celebrates half a century of life on Thursday, September 15.
Just over two decades ago AC Milan reigned as European champions, yet as their victims back in 1994, Barcelona, thrashed Celtic in the Champions League this week, the Rossoneri are forced to sit and watch from afar.
A star of that stunning four-goal triumph, Dejan Savicevic, will be celebrating this week, one hopes, as the former Milan midfield maestro turns 50 on Thursday, September 15.
Born in the former Yugoslav town of Titograd, his 35-yard volley during the final was arguably the crowning moment of a glittering career for the man the Milanisti nicknamed Il Genio, or, The Genius.
Eighteen months after appearing for OFK Titograd 1981, a 17-year-old Savicevic made his top-flight debut for Buducnost against future employers Red Star Belgrade, and although flirting with relegation the following season, stood out with 6 goals in 29 appearances
Remaining with the club until 1988, Savicevic flourished as a playmaker with his vision, tactical awareness and passing accuracy making him one of the most sought-after players in Yugoslavia and, despite the advances of Partizan and substantial offers from Hadjuk Split, headed to Belgrade.
Expected to form an impressive midfield trio alongside Dragan Stojkovic and rising star, Robert Prosinecki, he was called for military service and missed the entire league campaign – though afforded special dispensation for European ties.
Therefore, his Red Star debut and his first goal came in consecutive fixtures against Irish side Dundalk, before his first encounter with Milan – starting in their first-leg draw and missing a crucial penalty in the return.
In 1989-90, though, his career finally took off at Red Star, helping them to a domestic double and selection for Italia ’90, but it would be the following season when he made his mark on European football.
As Red Star won the European Cup against Marseille, Savicevic narrowly missed out on being crowned European Footballer of the Year to Jean-Pierre Papin, and after another double in 1991-92, the Rossoneri shelled out €13 million.
However, while picking up a first Scudetto during his debut season, and stunning fans with displays of close control and dribbling ability, Savicevic struggled for minutes – appearing just 10 times in Serie A – and considered leaving the peninsula in search of more regular time on the pitch.
The attacker’s omission from the 1993 Champions League final versus Marseille did little but strengthen that desire, but owner Silvio Berlusconi’s determination that he would receive greater playing time convinced him to stay.
Coach Fabio Capello, though, continued to pick a side built around work rate and defensive solidity. During six seasons together at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, the two clashed regularly – resulting in the playmaker missing the Intercontinental final.
“Without question, Savicevic is the player with whom I had the most rows,” admitted Capello in 2008. “He hardly trained, and when he was on the pitch, everybody else had to work twice as hard, but he was an exceptional talent. We turned him into a superstar.”
Outstanding speed, acceleration with the ball and that performance against Barcelona adding a second European Cup to his name, makes that last claim difficult to label against a man who helped Milan to three Scudetti, but others also doubted his application against ‘lesser’ sides.
“He really was a genius,” claimed former Red Star general secretary Vladimir Cvetkovic recently. “When he felt like playing, that is. The problem is, he frequently didn’t feel like playing!”
Thus, medals dried up in Milan after a Serie A title in 1996 and his playing career ended unspectacularly at Rapid Wien – via a short cameo at Red Star – before taking up the reins as Serbia and Montenegro coach between 2001 and 2003.
However, as Rossoneri fans dream of Champions League return his exploits in 1994 will be forever retold.
