Dejan Savicevic

Early Life

Dejan Savićević was born on September 15, 1966, in Montenegro (which was part of Yugoslavia at that time). He grew up in a small town called Titograd (now called Podgorica). Like many young boys, he loved to play football in the streets with his friends.

Starting to Play Football

Young Dejan started playing football when he was very small. He was different from other children because he could do special things with the ball. He could control the ball very well, and he could run past other players easily. People who saw him play said he was special.

His First Team

Dejan started playing for his local team, called Budućnost Titograd, when he was very young. He played his first game for the team when he was only 16 years old! This was very special because most players have to wait until they are older. Even at this young age, he showed that he was very talented.

Becoming Famous in Yugoslavia

After playing well for his local team, Dejan moved to a bigger team called Red Star Belgrade in 1988. Red Star Belgrade was one of the best teams in Yugoslavia. Here, Dejan became very famous. People loved to watch him play because he did things with the ball that other players could not do.

His Special Time at Red Star Belgrade

At Red Star Belgrade, Dejan had his best years as a young player. In 1991, something very special happened. Red Star Belgrade won the European Cup (now called the Champions League). This was the biggest prize in European football. Dejan was one of the best players in this team.

Moving to AC Milan

In 1992, Dejan moved to Italy to play for AC Milan. AC Milan was one of the biggest football teams in the world. They paid a lot of money for Dejan because they knew he was very special. At AC Milan, he played with many other great players.

His Playing Style

Dejan had a very special way of playing football:
- He was very good at running with the ball
- He could pass the ball very well
- He could score beautiful goals
- He made difficult things look easy
- He was very creative on the field

People gave him nice names because of how he played:
- "Il Genio" (The Genius)
- "The Magic Montenegrin"
- "The Football Magician"

What Made Him Special

Dejan was different from many other football players:
- He was very skillful with the ball
- He could think quickly
- He could do surprising things
- He made football look like art
- He played with joy

His Best Skills

These were the things Dejan did best:
- Dribbling (running with the ball)
- Making special passes
- Scoring goals
- Helping his team play better
- Making the game beautiful

Playing for His Country

Dejan played football for two countries:
1. Yugoslavia (until 1992)
2. FR Yugoslavia (after 1992)

He played 56 games for his country and scored 19 goals. This was very good for a player who was not a striker. He was the captain of his team many times, which means he was a leader.

Important Matches

Some games were very special in Dejan's career:
- The European Cup final in 1991 with Red Star Belgrade
- Big games for AC Milan in Italy
- Important matches for his country
- Games against big teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid

His Time at AC Milan

At AC Milan, Dejan won many prizes:
- Italian League titles
- The Champions League
- Other important cups

He played with many famous players at AC Milan, like:
- Marco van Basten
- Paolo Maldini
- Franco Baresi

His Playing Years

Here are the teams Dejan played for:
- Budućnost Titograd (1982-1988)
- Red Star Belgrade (1988-1992)
- AC Milan (1992-1998)
- Red Star Belgrade again (1999-2001)

After Playing Football

When Dejan stopped playing football, he did not leave the sport. He became:
- The president of the Montenegro Football Association
- A football manager
- Someone who helps young players

His Impact on Football

Dejan changed how people thought about football:
- He showed that football can be beautiful
- He proved that skill is very important
- He inspired many young players
- He made people happy with his playing style

Important Facts About Dejan

Here are some easy facts to remember:
- Born: September 15, 1966
- Country: Montenegro (Yugoslavia)
- Position: Attacking midfielder
- Famous teams: Red Star Belgrade, AC Milan
- Special skill: Dribbling and passing

His Achievements

Dejan won many important things in football:
- European Cup with Red Star Belgrade
- Champions League with AC Milan
- Many league titles
- Individual awards for his good playing

What We Can Learn from Dejan

Dejan's story teaches us many things:
- Practice makes you better
- Being creative is good
- You can make people happy with sport
- Hard work helps you succeed
- Never stop trying new things

Vocabulary Words from Dejan's Story

Here are some important words to learn:
- Dribbling: Running with the ball
- Midfielder: A player who plays in the middle
- Creative: Making new and special things
- Skill: Something you are good at
- Captain: The leader of a team
- Trophy: A prize for winning
- Talent: Natural ability to do something
- League: A competition between teams
- Manager: Someone who leads a team
- Association: A group that organizes things

Numbers from His Career

Some important numbers about Dejan:
- 56 games for his country
- 19 goals for his country
- 6 years at AC Milan
- Many trophies won
- Hundreds of games played

Simple Questions to Think About

1. Where was Dejan born?
2. What teams did he play for?
3. Why did people call him "The Genius"?
4. What did he do after playing football?
5. What made him special as a player?

What People Say About Him

When people talk about Dejan, they say:
- He was very skillful
- He made football beautiful
- He was fun to watch
- He was a special player
- He could do amazing things with the ball

His Legacy

Today, people remember Dejan for:
- His beautiful way of playing
- His special skills
- His leadership
- His success with big teams
- His help for football in Montenegro

Dejan Savićević's story shows us that with special talent and hard work, you can become very successful and make many people happy through sport.

Questions About Dejan Savićević

True or False Questions
1. Dejan Savićević was born in Italy.
2. He started playing professional football when he was 16 years old.
3. He never played for Red Star Belgrade.
4. People called him "Il Genio" which means "The Genius."
5. He played football for AC Milan for 6 years.
6. He was very bad at running with the ball.
7. He became president of the Montenegro Football Association.
8. He only played for one team in his career.

Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where was Dejan Savićević born?
a) Italy
b) Montenegro
c) Serbia
d) Croatia

2. Which of these teams did he play for?
a) Barcelona
b) Real Madrid
c) AC Milan
d) Manchester United

3. How many games did he play for his country?
a) 46 games
b) 50 games
c) 56 games
d) 60 games

4. What was his position on the field?
a) Goalkeeper
b) Defender
c) Striker
d) Attacking midfielder

5. Which big prize did he win with Red Star Belgrade in 1991?
a) World Cup
b) European Cup
c) Olympic Games
d) Super Cup

Fill in the Blanks
1. Dejan Savićević was born on _______ 15, 1966.
2. His first team was called _______ _______.
3. People called him "The _______ _______" because of his special skills.
4. He played _______ games for his country and scored _______ goals.
5. At AC Milan, he played with famous players like Paolo _______.

Short Answer Questions
1. Name three teams that Dejan Savićević played for.
2. What special skills did he have on the football field?
3. What did he do after he stopped playing football?
4. Why did people think he was a special player?
5. What nicknames did people give him?

Match the Words
Match these words with their meanings:
1. Dribbling a) A prize for winning
2. Trophy b) Running with the ball
3. Captain c) Natural ability to do something
4. Talent d) The leader of a team
5. Manager e) Someone who leads a team

Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Dejan Savićević was good at football?
2. What can young players learn from his story?
3. Would you like to play football like Savićević? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think AC Milan wanted to buy him?
5. What makes a football player "creative"?