Dejan Čurović (,Čurović ; 10 August 1968 – 11 August 2019) was a Serbian footballer who played as a striker.

A powerful forward, Čurović played with four clubs during his career, namely Zemun and Partizan in the former Yugoslavia, as well as Vitesse and Groningen in the Netherlands. He secured legendary status at Vitesse by scoring the last ever goal at the Nieuw Monnikenhuize and the opening goal at the GelreDome.

Dejan Čurović

Playing career

Čurović started out at his local club Zemun. He was a member of the team that won the Yugoslav Second League in 1990. In his debut season in the Yugoslav First League, Čurović scored 11 goals in 27 appearances, as the club finished in 13th place.

Dejan Čurović

In the summer of 1993, Čurović was transferred to Partizan. He quickly formed a prolific striking partnership with Savo Milošević and finished the 1993–94 season as the team's second-highest scorer with 27 goals, helping the Crno-beli win the double.

Dejan Čurović

After a successful year at Partizan, Čurović moved abroad and signed with Dutch club Vitesse. He spent six seasons in Arnhem, scoring 47 goals across all competitions. In the summer of 2000, Čurović switched to fellow Eredivisie side Groningen. He spent three years at the club, before retiring from the game.

Post-playing career

In June 2011, Čurović was appointed as sporting director of Serbian First League club Inđija.

Death

Čurović died from leukemia on 11 August 2019, one day after his 51st birthday.

Career statistics

Honours

Zemun

Yugoslav Second League: 1989–90

Partizan

First League of FR Yugoslavia: 1993–94

FR Yugoslavia Cup: 1993–94

References

External links

1968 births

2019 deaths

People from Zemun

Footballers from Belgrade

Yugoslav men's footballers

Serbia and Montenegro men's footballers

Serbian men's footballers

Men's association football forwards

FK Zemun players

FK Partizan players

SBV Vitesse players

FC Groningen players

Yugoslav Second League players

Yugoslav First League players

First League of Serbia and Montenegro players

Eredivisie players

Serbia and Montenegro expatriate men's footballers

Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands

Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands

Deaths from leukemia