Ivan Ćurković (Serbian Cyrillic: Иван Ћурковић, pronounced [ǐʋan tɕǔːrkoʋitɕ]; born 15 March 1944) is a Serbian sports executive and former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Ivan Ćurković
Ćurković with Saint-Étienne in 1979
President of FK Partizan
In office
21 December 2015  24 October 2016
Preceded byZoran Popović
Succeeded byMilorad Vučelić
In office
1 July 1989  26 December 2006
Preceded byŠpiro Sinovčić
Succeeded byNenad Popović
President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia
In office
2005–2009
Preceded byPhilip Zepter
Succeeded byVlade Divac
Personal details
BornIvan Ćurković
(1944-03-15) 15 March 1944 (age 82)
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Association football career
Position Goalkeeper
Youth career
1958–1960 Velež Mostar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1964 Velež Mostar 87 (0)
1964–1972 Partizan 201 (0)
1972–1981 Saint-Étienne 303 (0)
Total 591 (0)
International career
1963–1970 Yugoslavia 19 (0)
Managerial career
1981–1982 France (assistant)
2001 FR Yugoslavia (co-manager)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

During his playing career that spanned 21 seasons from 1960 to 1981, Ćurković made over 700 official appearances for three clubs in Yugoslavia and France, winning numerous trophies and reaching the European Cup final on two occasions, with Partizan in 1966 and Saint-Étienne in 1976. He was also capped 19 times by Yugoslavia at senior level between 1963 and 1970.

After hanging up his boots, Ćurković held various high-level administrative positions, including serving as president of the Serbian Olympic Committee and vice-president of the Serbian Football Association. He also served as president of his former club Partizan for almost two decades from 1989 to 2006.

Club career

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A talented goalkeeper, Ćurković began at his hometown club Velež Mostar and was officially registered in 1958. He signed his first professional contract at the age of 16. During the 1960–61 Yugoslav First League, Ćurković played 13 (out of 22) games and helped the team narrowly avoid relegation from the top flight. He spent three more seasons with the Rođeni, leading them to a fourth-place finish in 1962–63.[1]

In 1964, Ćurković was transferred to Partizan. He would become the first-choice goalkeeper in his debut season after Milutin Šoškić joined the army to complete his compulsory military service, helping the side win the championship title.[2] During the next season in 1965–66, Ćurković served as a backup to Šoškić through their European Cup campaign that year, as Partizan lost in the final to Real Madrid. He spent a total of eight seasons with the Crno-beli, making 227 appearances across all competitions.[3]

In 1972, Ćurković moved abroad to France and signed with Saint-Étienne. He immediately established himself as the starting goalkeeper and played nine seasons with Les Verts, winning four domestic championship titles (1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, and 1980–81), three national cups (1973–74, 1974–75, and 1976–77), and reaching the European Cup final in 1975–76.[4] In total, Ćurković amassed 383 competitive appearances for Saint-Étienne.[5]

International career

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At international level, Ćurković earned 19 full caps for Yugoslavia between 1963 and 1970. He participated at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[6] In addition, Ćurković represented Yugoslavia at the 1971 Mediterranean Games, winning a gold medal.[7]

Post-playing career

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Between 1989 and 2006, Ćurković served as president of his former club Partizan, establishing a long-lasting partnership with Žarko Zečević (general secretary) and Nenad Bjeković (sporting director).

In May 2001, Ćurković was appointed by the Football Association of FR Yugoslavia as co-manager of the FR Yugoslavia national team alongside Vujadin Boškov and Dejan Savićević, replacing Milovan Đorić after poor results at the start of the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification.[8][9]

In July 2005, Ćurković was appointed as acting president of the Olympic Committee of Serbia and Montenegro, replacing Philip Zepter.[10] He officially became president on 8 March 2006.[11] Following the split between the two nations, Ćurković served as president of the Olympic Committee of Serbia until February 2009.

On 23 December 2009, Ćurković was named vice-president of the Football Association of Serbia during the presidential term of Tomislav Karadžić.[12]

Personal life

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Born in Mostar, Independent State of Croatia (present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina), Ćurković identifies as a Herzegovinian Croat and a Catholic.[13]

In 1982, Ćurković was granted French citizenship by a decree of President François Mitterrand.[14] He was also a recipient of France's Legion of Honour during a ceremony held in Belgrade on 5 October 2005, in which his former Saint-Étienne teammate Michel Platini presented him the award.[15]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Velež Mostar 1960–61 Yugoslav First League 13000130
1961–62 Yugoslav First League 22030250
1962–63 Yugoslav First League 26010270
1963–64 Yugoslav First League 26010270
Total 87050920
Partizan 1964–65 Yugoslav First League 23010240
1965–66 Yugoslav First League 180201[b]0210
1966–67 Yugoslav First League 30040340
1967–68 Yugoslav First League 290204[c]0350
1968–69 Yugoslav First League 33040370
1969–70 Yugoslav First League 330202[c]0370
1970–71 Yugoslav First League 170102[c]0200
1971–72 Yugoslav First League 18010190
Total 2010170902270
Saint-Étienne 1972–73 French Division 1 38060440
1973–74 French Division 1 38090470
1974–75 French Division 1 380808[b]0540
1975–76 French Division 1 380109[b]0480
1976–77 French Division 1 3701006[b]0530
1977–78 French Division 1 370302[d]0420
1978–79 French Division 1 36040400
1979–80 French Division 1 380608[e]0520
1980–81 French Division 1 30000030
Total 30304703303830
Career total 59106904207020
  1. Includes Yugoslav Cup, Coupe de France
  2. 1 2 3 4 Appearances in European Cup
  3. 1 2 3 Appearances in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
  4. Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup
  5. Appearances in UEFA Cup

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[16]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Yugoslavia 196310
196480
196500
196600
196700
196860
196930
197010
Total190

Honours

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References

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  1. "Ivan Ćurković: Nisam zaboravio našu sevdalinku" (in Bosnian). avaz.ba. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  2. "1964-1965" (in Serbian). partizanopedia.rs. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  3. "Ivan Ćurković" (in Serbian). partizanopedia.rs. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  4. "15 mars 1944 : Naissance d'Ivan Curkovic" (in French). poteaux-carres.com. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  5. "Ivan Curkovic avec l'ASSE" (in French). asse-stats.com. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  6. "Ćurković Ivan" (in Serbian). reprezentacija.rs. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  7. "Izmir 1971" (in Serbian). olimpijskimuzej.rs. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  8. "Đorića menjaju Boškov, Ćurković i Savićević" (in Serbian). blic.rs. 8 May 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  9. "Čerčilovi vatrogasci" (in Serbian). glas-javnosti.rs. 8 May 2001. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  10. "Predsedništvo OKSCG smenilo Ceptera" (in Serbian). b92.net. 11 July 2005. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  11. "Ćurković zvanično predsednik OKSCG" (in Serbian). b92.net. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  12. "Ćurković potpredsednik FSS" (in Serbian). b92.net. 23 December 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  13. "Hercegovac sam, Hrvat i katolik, ali u Beogradu sam proveo lijep život" (in Croatian). vecernji.hr. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  14. "MO Bio – Ivan Ćurković, gardien de la muraille verte" (in French). main-opposee.com. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  15. "Ćurković dobio orden Legije časti" (in Serbian). b92.net. 5 October 2005. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  16. "Ivan Ćurković, international football player". eu-football.info. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
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