Davor Suker

Date of birth01 January 1968
Place of birthOsijek
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.

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

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1998-99 World XI FIGC Centenary
1
1999-00 Arsenal FA Cup 3
1
1999-00 Arsenal League Cup 1
1
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
2000-01 West Ham United League Cup 1
1
1
2000-01 West Ham United Premier League 7
4
2
5
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.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
22 Aug 1999 Arsenal v Manchester United L 1-2 Premier League
25 Aug 1999 Arsenal v Bradford City W 2-0 Premier League
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 UEFA Champions League Group B
22 Sep 1999 Arsenal v AIK Solna W 3-1 UEFA Champions League Group B
25 Sep 1999 Arsenal v Watford W 1-0 Premier League
29 Sep 1999 Barcelona v Arsenal D 1-1 UEFA 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 Premier League
19 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Barcelona L 2-4 UEFA Champions League Group B
23 Oct 1999 Chelsea v Arsenal W 2-3 Premier League
27 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Fiorentina L 0-1 UEFA Champions League Group B
30 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Newcastle United D 0-0 Premier League
02 Nov 1999 AIK Solna v Arsenal W 2-3 UEFA 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 Premier League
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 L 2-2 (1-3) League Cup 4th round
09 Dec 1999 Nantes v Arsenal D 3-3
Agg: 3-6
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 Premier League
26 Dec 1999 Coventry City v Arsenal L 3-2 Premier League
28 Dec 1999 Arsenal v Leeds United W 2-0 Premier League
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 Premier League
19 Jan 2000 Leicester City v Arsenal L 0-0 (5-6) 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 Premier League
02 Mar 2000 Arsenal v Deportivo La Coruna W 5-1 UEFA Cup 4th round 1st leg
09 Mar 2000 Deportivo La Coruna v Arsenal L 2-1
Agg: 3-6
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.

International 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 International Friendly
1
1990-91 Yugoslavia UEFA European Championship
1
1
1990-91 Yugoslavia UEFA Under-21 1
1
1992-93 Croatia International Friendly 2
3
1993-94 Croatia International Friendly 2
1
1994-95 Croatia UEFA European Championship 7
7
1995-96 Croatia International Friendly 4
2
1995-96 Croatia UEFA European Championship 6
1
8
1996-97 Croatia FIFA World Cup 4
3
1
1997-98 Croatia FIFA World Cup 12
8
2
1997-98 Croatia International Friendly 4
4
1998-99 Croatia International Friendly 3
2
1998-99 Croatia UEFA European Championship 3
3
1999-00 Croatia International Friendly 4
1
1999-00 Croatia UEFA European Championship 4
1
2000-01 Croatia FIFA World Cup 3
1
1
1
2000-01 Croatia International Friendly 1
1
2001-02 Croatia FIFA World Cup 1
1
2001-02 Croatia International Friendly 2
1
2


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

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
30 Oct 1985 Luxembourg v Yugoslavia W 1-6 UEFA U18 Group 3
16 Nov 1985 France v Yugoslavia D 0-0 UEFA U18 Group 3
27 Mar 1986 Spain v Yugoslavia W 1-3 UEFA Under-18 Group 3
12 Oct 1986 Yugoslavia v Romania W 5-0 UEFA U18 5 6
12 Oct 1986 Yugoslavia v Romania W 5-0 UEFA U18 5 6
10 Oct 1987 Chile v Yugoslavia W 2-4 World Youth Cup Group 1
13 Oct 1987 Yugoslavia v Australia W 4-0 World Youth Cup Group 1
18 Oct 1987 Yugoslavia v Togo W 4-1 World Youth Cup Group 1
23 Oct 1987 Yugoslavia v East Germany W 2-1 World Youth Cup Semi-final
25 Oct 1987 Yugoslavia v West Germany W 1-1 (5-4) World Youth Cup Final
10 Nov 1987 Yugoslavia v England L 1-5 UEFA Under-21 Group 4
20 Sep 1988 Yugoslavia v Nigeria W 3-1 Olympics Group D
22 Sep 1988 Brazil v Yugoslavia L 2-1 Olympics Group D
18 Oct 1988 Scotland v Yugoslavia W 0-2 UEFA U21 Group 5
18 Nov 1988 Yugoslavia v France D 2-2 UEFA U21 Group 5
28 Apr 1989 France v Yugoslavia W 0-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 5
13 Jun 1989 Norway v Yugoslavia W 0-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 5
05 Sep 1989 Yugoslavia v Scotland W 4-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 5
12 Dec 1989 England v Yugoslavia L 2-1 B International
14 Mar 1990 Yugoslavia v Bulgaria W 2-0 UEFA Under-21 Quarter-final
28 Mar 1990 Bulgaria v Yugoslavia W 0-1 UEFA Under-21 Quarter-final
11 Apr 1990 Yugoslavia v Italy D 0-0 UEFA Under-21 Semi-final
09 May 1990 Italy v Yugoslavia D 2-2 UEFA Under-21 Semi-final
05 Sep 1990 Yugoslavia v CIS L 2-4 UEFA Under-21 Final
22 Dec 1990 Croatia v Romania W 2-0 UNOFFICIAL
27 Feb 1991 Turkey v Yugoslavia D 1-1 International Friendly
16 May 1991 Yugoslavia v Faroe Islands W 7-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
22 Oct 1992 Croatia v Mexico W 3-0 International Friendly
25 Jun 1993 Croatia v Ukraine W 3-1 International Friendly
23 Mar 1994 Spain v Croatia W 0-2 International Friendly
04 Jun 1994 Croatia v Argentina D 0-0 International Friendly
04 Sep 1994 Estonia v Croatia W 0-2 UEFA European Championship Group 4
09 Oct 1994 Croatia v Lithuania W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
16 Nov 1994 Italy v Croatia W 1-2 UEFA European Championship Group 4
25 Mar 1995 Croatia v Ukraine W 4-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
29 Mar 1995 Lithuania v Croatia D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
26 Apr 1995 Croatia v Slovenia W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
11 Jun 1995 Ukraine v Croatia L 1-0 UEFA European Championship Group 4
03 Sep 1995 Croatia v Estonia W 7-1 UEFA European Championship Group 4
08 Oct 1995 Croatia v Italy D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Group 4
15 Nov 1995 Slovenia v Croatia W 1-2 UEFA European Championship Group 4
13 Mar 1996 Croatia v Korea Republic W 3-0 International Friendly
10 Apr 1996 Croatia v Hungary W 4-1 International Friendly
24 Apr 1996 England v Croatia D 0-0 International Friendly
02 Jun 1996 Republic of Ireland v Croatia D 2-2 International Friendly
11 Jun 1996 Turkey v Croatia W 0-1 UEFA European Championship Finals Group D
16 Jun 1996 Croatia v Denmark W 3-0 UEFA European Championship Finals Group D
19 Jun 1996 Croatia v Portugal L 0-3 UEFA European Championship Finals Group D
23 Jun 1996 Germany v Croatia L 2-1 UEFA European Championship Finals quarter-final
08 Oct 1996 Bosnia and Herzegovina v Croatia W 1-4 FIFA World Cup Group 1
10 Nov 1996 Croatia v Greece D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Group 1
29 Mar 1997 Croatia v Denmark D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Group 1
30 Apr 1997 Greece v Croatia W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Group 1
06 Sep 1997 Croatia v Bosnia and Herzegovina W 3-2 FIFA World Cup Group 1
10 Sep 1997 Denmark v Croatia L 3-1 FIFA World Cup Group 1
11 Oct 1997 Slovenia v Croatia W 1-3 FIFA World Cup Group 1
29 Oct 1997 Croatia v Ukraine W 2-0 FIFA World Cup 1st leg play-off
15 Nov 1997 Ukraine v Croatia D 1-1 FIFA World Cup 2nd leg play-off
22 Apr 1998 Croatia v Poland W 4-1 International Friendly
29 May 1998 Croatia v Slovakia L 1-2 International Friendly
03 Jun 1998 Croatia v Iran W 2-0 International Friendly
06 Jun 1998 Croatia v Australia W 7-0 International Friendly
14 Jun 1998 Croatia v Jamaica W 3-1 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
20 Jun 1998 Japan v Croatia W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
26 Jun 1998 Argentina v Croatia L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group H
30 Jun 1998 Romania v Croatia W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
04 Jul 1998 Germany v Croatia W 0-3 FIFA World Cup Finals quarter-final
08 Jul 1998 France v Croatia L 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals semi-final
11 Jul 1998 Croatia v Netherlands W 2-1 FIFA World Cup Finals 3rd place
10 Oct 1998 Malta v Croatia W 1-4 UEFA European Championship Group 8
14 Oct 1998 Croatia v North Macedonia W 3-2 UEFA European Championship Group 8
10 Feb 1999 Croatia v Denmark L 0-1 International Friendly
10 Mar 1999 Greece v Croatia L 3-2 International Friendly
05 May 1999 Spain v Croatia L 3-1 International Friendly
05 Jun 1999 North Macedonia v Croatia D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Group 8
18 Aug 1999 Yugoslavia v Croatia D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 8
21 Aug 1999 Croatia v Malta W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group 8
04 Sep 1999 Croatia v Republic of Ireland W 1-0 UEFA European Championship Group 8
09 Oct 1999 Croatia v Yugoslavia D 2-2 UEFA European Championship Group 8
13 Nov 1999 France v Croatia L 3-0 International Friendly
23 Feb 2000 Croatia v Spain D 0-0 International Friendly
29 Mar 2000 Croatia v Germany D 1-1 International Friendly
28 May 2000 Croatia v France L 0-2 International Friendly
02 Sep 2000 Belgium v Croatia D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
28 Feb 2001 Croatia v Austria W 1-0 International Friendly
24 Mar 2001 Croatia v Latvia W 4-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
25 Apr 2001 Croatia v Greece D 2-2 International Friendly
02 Jun 2001 Croatia v San Marino W 4-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
06 Jun 2001 Latvia v Croatia W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
15 Aug 2001 Republic of Ireland v Croatia D 2-2 International Friendly
01 Sep 2001 Scotland v Croatia D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
27 Mar 2002 Croatia v Slovenia D 0-0 International Friendly
17 Apr 2002 Croatia v Bosnia and Herzegovina W 2-0 International Friendly
03 Jun 2002 Croatia v Mexico L 0-1 FIFA World Cup Finals group G


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