Croatian flag Davor Suker

Born01 January 1968, Osijek
NationalityCroatian
Weight79 kg
Height1.85 m
PositionForward

A national hero in Croatia, Davor scored twice on his Arsenal debut against Aston Villa but spent much of his season at Highbury on the subs bench.

Davor was one of the stars of France ’98 when his six goals won him the Golden Boot and third place for Croatia. A national hero, he was then at the height of his wonderful career as his club season had culminated in his Real Madrid team winning the Champions’ League Final, having won Spain's La Liga in 1997. After 110 goals in 220 games for Real, he moved on to London in 1999 for spells with Arsenal then West Ham United. However, an English audience will most memorably remember him for his wonder goal in Euro 96 when he brilliantly chipped Denmark’s Peter Schmeichel. Following his November 2001 move to TSV 1860 Munich, Davor gave his magnificent international career a grand finale in Japan and South Korea. For an all-time great striker with a truly sublime left foot, the World Cup finals were his perfect stage. He announced his retirement from club football at the end of the 2002-03 season.

Davor began his rise to football's heights with his home town club, NK Osijek. He moved on to Dinamo Zagreb but, with the threat of civil war, decided to leave for Spain and joined Sevilla. He goals took them into Europe in 1995.

In addition to over 60 apperances for Croatia, Davor won two full international caps with the former Yugoslavia and was part of their squad that won the World Youth Cup in Chile in 1987.

Career stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1985-86 Yugoslavia UEFA Under-18 3
7
1986-87 Yugoslavia UEFA Under-18 2
4
1987-88 Yugoslavia UEFA Under-21 1
1987-88 Yugoslavia World Youth Cup 4
1
6
1
1988-89 Yugoslavia Olympics 1
1
1988-89 Yugoslavia UEFA Under-21 4
1
1989-90 Yugoslavia B International 1
1989-90 Yugoslavia UEFA Under-21 5
4
1
1990-91 Croatia Unofficial 1
1990-91 Yugoslavia European Championship
1
1
1990-91 Yugoslavia International
1
1990-91 Yugoslavia UEFA Under-21 1
1
1992-93 Croatia International 2
3
1993-94 Croatia International 2
1
1994-95 Croatia European Championship 7
7
1995-96 Croatia European Championship 6
1
8
1995-96 Croatia International 4
2
1996-97 Croatia FIFA World Cup 4
3
1997-98 Croatia FIFA World Cup 12
8
1
1997-98 Croatia International 4
4
1998-99 Croatia European Championship 3
3
1998-99 Croatia International 3
2
1998-99 World XI FIGC Centenary
1
1999-00 Arsenal FA Cup 3
1
1999-00 Arsenal Premier League 8
14
8
4
1999-00 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 3
3
2
2
1999-00 Arsenal UEFA Cup
7
1999-00 Arsenal Worthington Cup 1
1
1
1999-00 Croatia European Championship 4
1
1999-00 Croatia International 4
1
2000-01 Croatia FIFA World Cup 3
1
1
1
2000-01 Croatia International 1
1
2000-01 West Ham United Premier League 7
4
2
5
2000-01 West Ham United Worthington Cup 1
1
1
2001-02 Croatia FIFA World Cup 1
1
2001-02 Croatia International 2
1
2
2001-02 TSV 1860 Munchen Bundesliga 8
6
4
2001-02 World XI Maradona Farewell Match 1
1
2002-03 TSV 1860 Munchen Bundesliga 5
6
1
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Match history

Date Match Result Competition Round
22 Aug 1999 Arsenal v Manchester United L 1-2 Premiership
25 Aug 1999 Arsenal v Bradford City W 2-0 Premiership
28 Aug 1999 Liverpool v Arsenal L 2-0 Premier League
11 Sep 1999 Arsenal v Aston Villa W 3-1 Premier League
14 Sep 1999 Fiorentina v Arsenal D 0-0 Champions League Group B
22 Sep 1999 Arsenal v AIK Solna W 3-1 Champions League Group B
25 Sep 1999 Arsenal v Watford W 1-0 Premiership
29 Sep 1999 Barcelona v Arsenal D 1-1 Champions League Group B
03 Oct 1999 West Ham United v Arsenal L 2-1 Premier League
16 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Everton W 4-1 Premiership
19 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Barcelona L 2-4 Champions League Group B
23 Oct 1999 Chelsea v Arsenal W 2-3 Premier League
27 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Fiorentina L 0-1 Champions League Group B
30 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Newcastle United D 0-0 Premiership
02 Nov 1999 AIK Solna v Arsenal W 2-3 Champions League Group B
07 Nov 1999 Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal L 2-1 Premier League
20 Nov 1999 Arsenal v Middlesbrough W 5-1 Premiership
25 Nov 1999 Arsenal v Nantes W 3-0 UEFA Cup 3rd round 1st leg
28 Nov 1999 Arsenal v Derby County W 2-1 Premier League
30 Nov 1999 Middlesbrough v Arsenal D 2-2 Worthington Cup 4th round
09 Dec 1999 Nantes v Arsenal D 3-3 UEFA Cup 3rd round 2nd leg
13 Dec 1999 Arsenal v Blackpool W 3-1 FA Cup 3rd round
18 Dec 1999 Arsenal v Wimbledon D 1-1 Premiership
26 Dec 1999 Coventry City v Arsenal L 3-2 Premier League
28 Dec 1999 Arsenal v Leeds United W 2-0 Premiership
03 Jan 2000 Sheffield Wednesday v Arsenal D 1-1 Premier League
09 Jan 2000 Arsenal v Leicester City D 0-0 FA Cup 4th round
15 Jan 2000 Arsenal v Sunderland W 4-1 Premiership
19 Jan 2000 Leicester City v Arsenal D 0-0 FA Cup 4th round replay
05 Feb 2000 Bradford City v Arsenal L 2-1 Premier League
13 Feb 2000 Arsenal v Liverpool L 0-1 Premiership
02 Mar 2000 Arsenal v Deportivo La Coruña W 5-1 UEFA Cup 4th round 1st leg
09 Mar 2000 Deportivo La Coruña v Arsenal L 2-1 UEFA Cup 4th round 2nd leg
12 Mar 2000 Middlesbrough v Arsenal L 2-1 Premier League
16 Mar 2000 Arsenal v Werder Bremen W 2-0 UEFA Cup Quarter-final 1st leg
26 Mar 2000 Arsenal v Coventry City W 3-0 Premier League
06 Apr 2000 Arsenal v RC Lens W 1-0 UEFA Cup Semi-final 1st leg
14 May 2000 Newcastle United v Arsenal L 4-2 Premier League
17 May 2000 Arsenal v Galatasaray D 0-0 UEFA Cup Final


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
NK Osijek 01 Jul 1985 01 Jul 1989
Dinamo Zagreb 01 Jul 1989 01 Aug 1991
Sevilla 01 Aug 1991 01 Aug 1996
Real Madrid 01 Aug 1996 20 Aug 1999
Arsenal 20 Aug 1999 05 Jul 2000
West Ham United 05 Jul 2000 30 Jun 2001
TSV 1860 Munchen 15 Nov 2001 30 Jun 2003