Dragan Džajić facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dragan Džajić
Džajić in 1970
President of Football Association of Serbia
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 March 2023
Preceded by	Nenad Bjeković (acting)
President of Red Star Belgrade
In office 19 December 2012 – 19 June 2014
Preceded by	Vladan Lukić
Succeeded by	Svetozar Mijailović
In office 1998–2004
Preceded by	Svetozar Mijailović
Succeeded by	Dragan Stojković
Personal details
Born	Dragan Džajić (1946-05-30) 30 May 1946 (age 79) Ub, PR Serbia, Yugoslavia
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Occupation	Footballer Football administrator
Dragan Džajić Personal information Playing position Left winger Youth career 1961–1963 Red Star Belgrade Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1963–1975 Red Star Belgrade 281 (108) 1975–1977 Bastia 56 (31) 1977–1978 Red Star Belgrade 25 (5) Total 362 (144) National team 1964–1979 Yugoslavia 85 (23) Honours Men's Football Representing  Yugoslavia European Championship Silver 1968 Italy Team Mediterranean Games Gold 1971 Izmir Team Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Dragan Džajić (Serbian Cyrillic: Драган Џајић; born 30 May 1946) is a Serbian football player and administrator. He is currently the president of the Football Association of Serbia since March 14, 2023.

Many people think Džajić is one of the best footballers from former Yugoslavia. He is also considered one of the greatest left wingers of all time. Džajić was famous for his amazing dribbling, fast pace, and powerful left-footed free kicks. He was also great at making crosses and passes.

In 2003, UEFA celebrated its Jubilee. For this event, Džajić was chosen as the "Golden Player" for Serbia and Montenegro. This award recognized him as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.

Dragan Džajić's Football Career

Dragan Džajić was born on May 30, 1946, in a small town called Ub. This town is about 60 kilometers from Belgrade. His football career lasted from 1961 to 1978. Most of this time was spent playing for Red Star Belgrade.

As a left winger, he played 590 games for the club and scored 287 goals. During his time there, he helped Red Star win five league titles and four Yugoslavian Cups. In 1969, Džajić received the Sport newspaper's Golden Badge award. This award was given to Yugoslavia's best athlete. He is seen as one of the most important players in Red Star's history. He is also one of only five players to receive the special Zvezdine zvezde status, which means "Red Star's Star."

Playing for Red Star Belgrade

Starting Young at Red Star

Džajić was discovered by Red Star Belgrade's youth coach Miljan Miljanić. He came from his local club, FK Jedinstvo. Džajić spent two years playing in Red Star's youth system.

He made his first team debut when he was only 17 years and 8 days old. This happened on June 8, 1963, in a Yugoslav First League match. His coach, Miša Pavić, gave him this chance. The game against FK Budućnost Titograd ended in a 0–0 draw. This match was played at Omladinski Stadium because Red Star's main stadium, Marakana, was still being built.

Džajić started as a left-back defender. But he became famous playing further up the field as a winger. He was an amazing dribbler. His left foot helped him score many goals and set up his teammate Vojin Lazarević. Džajić won championship medals in 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1973. He also lifted the cup in 1964, 1968, 1970, and 1971.

European Cup Challenge

Džajić almost won the European Champion Clubs' Cup with Red Star. In the 1970–71 season, Red Star Belgrade reached the semi-finals of this big competition. They beat Panathinaikos FC 4–1 in the first game in Belgrade. However, Džajić could not play in the return match in Athens. The Greek team won that game 3–0. This meant Panathinaikos went through to the final because of the away goals rule.

Playing for Bastia

From 1975 to 1977, Dragan Džajić played for SC Bastia in France. He scored 31 goals during his time there. He is remembered as one of their most important players ever.

Dragan Džajić's International Career

Džajić was only 18 years old when he first joined the Yugoslavia national team. His first game was on June 17, 1964. It was a 2–1 loss against Romania in Belgrade. Džajić went on to play 85 games for Yugoslavia, which is the most in the team's history. He scored 23 goals for his country.

He was known for his great passing, dribbling, and goal-scoring skills. He played in the 1968 European Championship semi-final against England. In that game, he scored a goal in the 87th minute. He lobbed the ball over England's goalkeeper Gordon Banks, giving Yugoslavia a 1–0 win against the world champions. The British media called him "the magic Dragan" because of his amazing play. He also scored in the final against Italy. But Yugoslavia lost 2–0 after a replay.

Džajić shared his thoughts about his famous matches at Euro 1968:

I have good memories from that championship. It's true that losing in the final still hurts me. But looking back, I can say we achieved a great result. Some excellent teams were behind us. However, against the home team, we were at a disadvantage. The referee seemed to favor the Italian team, and they won only because of his help. In those conditions, our team couldn't win the gold medal. It's also a shame that Ilija Petković wasn't in the replay match, as our game would have been much faster.

Džajić (right) facing Sweden's Jan Olsson at the 1974 FIFA World Cup

Džajić also played in the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. He played in Yugoslavia's first game, which was a draw with world champions Brazil. He also scored one goal in a huge 9–0 victory against Zaire. After getting past the first stage, Yugoslavia did not play as well. They lost three games in a row and had to go home.

Football Administration Role

Džajić stopped playing football in 1978, when he was 32 years old. Right away, he started working as Red Star's technical director. In his first season in this new role, the club reached the UEFA Cup final. Džajić became the main person in charge of deciding which players the club would buy and sell.

In 1998, Džajić became the president of Red Star Belgrade. He stayed in this position until 2004, when he resigned due to health reasons.

Return to Red Star and New Presidency

In December 2011, Serbian newspapers reported that Džajić might return to Red Star's management. Many believed he was the only one who could help the club succeed again. However, this did not happen at that time. Džajić told the newspaper Blic: "I spoke with people from the club. I wanted to help, because I can't forget everything I experienced with the club. I followed what happened at the meeting. I wanted to come back, but it didn't work out. Life goes on. I am still available, and I can only wish Red Star better days."

On December 19, 2012, Džajić was elected as President of Red Star Belgrade for a second time. He stepped down from this role on June 19, 2014. After that, he was chosen as the honorary president of the club.

On March 14, 2023, Džajić was elected president of the Football Association of Serbia. He will serve for a four-year term.

Legacy and Honors

Džajić on a 2022 stamp of Serbia

In November 2011, the website Goal.com named Džajić in "the greatest European Championship XI of all time." This means he was chosen as one of the best players ever to play in the European Championship.

On December 2, 2022, Red Star Belgrade announced a special honor for Džajić. The number 11 jersey, which Džajić wore, will be retired starting from the 2023–24 season. This means no other player will wear that number for the club.

Team Honors

Red Star Belgrade

• Yugoslav First League: 1963–64, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1972–73
• Yugoslav Cup: 1963–64, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1970–71
• Mitropa Cup: 1968

Yugoslavia

• Mediterranean Games: 1971 (Gold Medal)
• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1968 (Silver Medal)

Individual Awards

• UEFA Euro Top Scorer: 1968
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 1968, 1976
• Ballon d'Or (3rd place): 1968
• Golden Badge: 1969
• FUWO European Team of the Season: 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972
• ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season: 1968, 1970
• World Soccer World XI: 1969, 1973
• Best Sportsman of SD Crvena Zvezda: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970
• Sport Ideal European XI: 1971, 1972
• YU-Serbian UEFA Golden Player: 2004
• FIFA XI: 1968

Images for kids

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  Džajić in 1970

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  Džajić (right) facing Sweden's Jan Olsson at the 1974 FIFA World Cup

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  Džajić on a 2022 stamp of Serbia

See Also

In Spanish: Dragan Džajić para niños