Dejan Savićević

1.1. Futsal and Youth Football

Savićević's first foray into structured association football occurred at age 13 in the fall of 1979, when he joined Budućnost's youth system under coach Dragan Šaković. However, after only three months, a change in coaching staff led to Savićević being cut from the youth squad for a tournament in Borovo. Disappointed, he quit the team and returned to street football.

His street football activities soon evolved to include participation in outdoor concrete and clay surface futsal tournaments. Futsal, known as "mali fudbal" throughout the Balkans, was popular in Titograd, offering many opportunities for Savićević to showcase his skills. He played for an informal futsal team called Tehnohemija, named after his neighborhood's apartment block. Despite playing with and against much older men, Savićević quickly distinguished himself as a skilled street footballer with exceptional ball control and overall technical ability. During this period, he often played with or against Željko Gašić, a neighborhood friend three years his senior, who later became recognized as the best futsal player in Montenegro and among the best in SFR Yugoslavia.

In the summer of 1981, after two years dedicated solely to street football and futsal, Savićević's formal involvement with association football resumed in the youth teams of OFK Titograd under coach Vaso Ivanović. Although nearly fifteen years old at the time-considered a relatively late start by professional football standards-Savićević continued to play street football concurrently with his training at OFK.

After a year and a half in OFK Titograd's youth setup, in January 1983, sixteen-year-old Savićević was integrated into the club's senior squad, which was struggling near the bottom of the 1982-83 Yugoslav Second League East Division. During a winter break friendly tournament in Nikšić, he played against top-tier club Budućnost. Despite suffering from a high fever, Savićević insisted on playing, impressing Budućnost head coach Milutin Folić. Although his ailment progressed to pneumonia, by February 1983, Savićević successfully transferred to the more established Budućnost without having played any competitive matches for OFK Titograd's senior team.

2.1. FK Budućnost Podgorica

Savićević played in Budućnost's youth setup from January 1983 until the summer of 1984, making nine league appearances (mostly as a substitute) for the senior squad during this period. The club signed him to a four-year stipend-based agreement, not a professional contract. He also received regular call-ups to the Yugoslavia national under-20 football team and the SR Montenegro youth select team, competing against other Yugoslav republics' squads.

On 5 October 1983, during week 10 of the 1983-84 Yugoslav First League season, an injury to starting forward Željko Janović led head coach Folić to give seventeen-year-old Savićević his first senior start at home against Red Star Belgrade. Savićević scored in the 81st minute, chasing down a rebound ahead of Red Star's defender Zoran Banković and goalkeeper Tomislav Ivković. This first top-flight goal proved to be the winning one, securing a famous 1-0 victory for Budućnost over the heavily favored Belgrade visitors.

In the summer of 1984, ahead of the 1984-85 Yugoslav First League season, newly appointed head coach Josip Duvančić promoted seventeen-year-old Savićević to a full squad member, effectively replacing thirty-two-year-old club legend Ante Miročević, who transitioned to the coaching staff. With new acquisitions like goalkeeper Rade Zalad from FK Partizan and striker Radomir Savić, expectations were high for Budućnost to finish in the top half of the table, especially after two seasons narrowly avoiding relegation. However, the season again saw Budućnost barely avoid relegation, with Duvančić sacked after six months. Personally, Savićević had a breakthrough, making 29 league appearances and scoring six goals, establishing himself as the club's most promising young talent.

The 1985-86 Yugoslav First League season marked Savićević's first as a professional footballer. Dissatisfied with his financial situation, the nineteen-year-old sought a professional contract, even visiting Red Star Belgrade to consult with technical director Dragan Džajić. Džajić advised him not to sign a professional contract with Budućnost and to join Red Star on a free transfer in 1987. However, seeking financial security, Savićević accepted a four-year professional contract from Budućnost, which included a monthly salary of between 35.00 M YUD and 40.00 M YUD and a stipulation for a two-bedroom apartment by summer 1987. Savićević later explained his decision, stating, "I didn't take Džajić's advice [to reject Budućnost's professional contract offer]. Mostly out of concern that had I rejected them [and continued on as a stipend player], they probably would've purposely undermined me as revenge [for just waiting out my stipend agreement in Titograd before I could move to Red Star]. You know, things like leaving me on the bench, which would lead to a loss of form and then eventually even Red Star wouldn't be interested anymore. A footballer's job is uncertain. Any number of things can end your career. Having this professional contract was at least that little bit of security." This season was another struggle for Budućnost, which narrowly avoided relegation amidst a league-wide match-fixing scandal. Savićević, despite scoring 10 goals in 32 league matches, faced stagnation and antagonism, clashing with management and coach Srboljub Markušević, even being suspended for a row with teammate Zoran Vorotović.

Ahead of the 1986-87 Yugoslav First League season, head coach Milan Živadinović took over, introducing new signings. The team started exceptionally well, continually keeping pace with teams at the top of the table. Notable results included a 1-1 draw with Partizan away at JNA Stadium, a 2-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade away at Marakana, and a 2-1 win over Hajduk Split away at Poljud Stadium. By the winter break, Budućnost was in fourth place. Savićević flourished, becoming the team's focal point. This success led to his first national team cap in October 1986 against Turkey in a Euro 1988 qualifier. Two months later, he was voted the league's "breakthrough player of the season" and placed high in Tempo magazine's 1986 Yugoslav Player of the Year poll. Savićević openly discussed his career plans in the media, emphasizing his desire for a clear plan before moving to a bigger club, considering Titograd and Yugoslavia his "natural setting." He reflected on his approach, stating, "You know, the way I see it, Milko Đurovski is the best player in Yugoslavia right now, but what good is that if he doesn't have a platform to show it to the world... I'm a practical pragmatist and I'd prefer to have Vasović's fate over Šekularac's fate. This is why I'm still pondering my next move."

In the second half of the domestic league campaign, Budućnost's form declined, finishing 7th and missing out on European qualification. In the Marshal Tito Cup, they reached the semifinals but were eliminated by Rijeka. Despite the team's overall underperformance, Savićević further solidified his playmaking and goalscoring abilities, making it clear he would soon move to a larger club.

By the 1987-88 Yugoslav First League season, major Yugoslav teams, especially Red Star Belgrade and Partizan, showed strong interest in Savićević. His relationship with Budućnost's management deteriorated further when a key stipulation of his professional contract-receiving a two-bedroom apartment by summer 1987-was not met. Savićević, already in contact with Red Star's scout Nastadin Begović, publicly pressured the club to sell him. Under new head coach Špaco Poklepović, Savićević scored 10 league goals in 29 appearances but continued to clash with management, even refusing to attend a mid-season training camp.

Budućnost initially favored selling Savićević to Partizan, with the player and his father meeting Partizan's executive board president Zdravko Lončar. However, by January 1988, a meeting in Budva between Budućnost and Red Star representatives (including Dragan Džajić and Vladimir Cvetković) shifted his preference towards Red Star. Savićević later stated that his personal relationship with Begović and the "direct and financially more concrete" offer from Red Star swayed his decision. In late March 1988, Hajduk Split also made an offer, reportedly the largest, but Savićević honored his preliminary agreement with Red Star. One of his last matches for Budućnost was against Hajduk on 15 May 1988, where he scored twice in a memorable 2-1 comeback win at Poljud Stadium.

2.2. Red Star Belgrade

On 20 June 1988, Savićević signed with Yugoslav league champions Red Star Belgrade, alongside twenty-two-year-old prolific striker Darko Pančev. This duo joined a squad already featuring twenty-three-year-old attacking midfielder Dragan Stojković and talented nineteen-year-old midfielder Robert Prosinečki, forming a potent and promising team.

Barely days after signing, Savićević, at 21, was called to serve his mandatory Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) stint, which would keep him out of action for the entire 1988-89 league season. Pančev also received a similar call-up. Many, including Savićević, speculated this timing was revenge from FK Partizan (the Yugoslav army club) for signing with their rivals. Savićević was initially stationed in Skopje but allowed leave for Red Star's European and national team matches.

Savićević made his competitive debut for Red Star in early October 1988 in the return leg of the 1988-89 European Cup first-round clash against Dundalk. Despite being out of competitive shape after four months without football, he came on as a second-half substitute and scored his first goal for the club in a 3-0 victory for Red Star Belgrade. To help him maintain fitness, Red Star dispatched their trainer Vojkan Melić to Skopje for individual training.

A few weeks later, Savićević was granted another leave for the second-round tie against AC Milan. Coach Branko Stanković surprisingly started Savićević in the first leg at San Siro, where Red Star secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw with AC Milan. The return leg in Belgrade was more dramatic; Savićević scored in the 50th minute to put Red Star up 1-0 against AC Milan, but the match was stopped in the 57th minute due to thick fog. The replay the next day also ended in a 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade, with Milan winning 4-2 on penalties after Savićević and Mitar Mrkela missed their spot-kicks.

Meanwhile, Yugoslav FA president Miljan Miljanić successfully lobbied the JNA to form a "sporting company" within a Belgrade-based battalion, allowing professional footballers to serve their army stint together while continuing their training. In late fall 1988, Savićević was transferred back to the Topčider barracks in Belgrade. He described this as a privilege, allowing him to train at the stadium in the afternoons. Midway through the season, head coach Stanković was replaced by Dragoslav Šekularac, a change that suited Savićević and Dragan Stojković, who had not seen eye-to-eye with Stanković.

Savićević's first full season with Red Star was 1989-90. He was instrumental in Red Star winning three consecutive national titles (1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92) and two national Cups (1990, 1992). His most significant achievements came in 1991, contributing to Red Star's triumph in the 1990-91 European Cup and the 1991 Intercontinental Cup. In the European Cup, he formed an effective partnership with Darko Pančev, scoring in the semifinal against Bayern Munich. In the Intercontinental Cup final against CSD Colo-Colo, he assisted Vladimir Jugović's opening goal before being sent off in the first half, but Red Star secured a 3-0 victory. Following these successes, Savićević finished joint second in the 1991 Ballon d'Or voting and was named the best Yugoslav athlete by the Sport daily newspaper.

2.3. AC Milan

Savićević's exceptional close control and vision attracted the attention of Serie A champions AC Milan, who secured his services for a reported 30.00 M DEM (approximately 9.40 M GBP) ahead of the 1992-93 season. Milan's sporting director Ariedo Braida had scouted him in Belgrade in April 1991, and sports agent Predrag Naletilić was key to the transfer. Other world-class players like Jean-Pierre Papin, Zvonimir Boban, Gianluigi Lentini, and Stefano Eranio also joined the already star-studded squad in the same transfer window.

Savićević's competitive debut for AC Milan saw him score twice in a 4-0 Coppa Italia victory against Ternana. A week later, he added another goal in the return leg. His Serie A debut was on 13 September 1992, two days before his 26th birthday, in a 5-4 win for AC Milan away at Pescara. However, his first season under head coach Fabio Capello was modest, with only ten league appearances and four goals. Capello, who viewed Savićević as a signing preferred by club owner Silvio Berlusconi rather than his own choice, often overlooked him. Milan's squad already featured influential attacking players like Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, and UEFA's "three foreigners rule" limited Savićević's opportunities, as Milan also had Frank Rijkaard, Papin, and Boban. Capello also favored hard-working midfielders like Demetrio Albertini and Stefano Eranio. Capello's assessment was that Savićević played "a Yugoslav style-he was the star and the others had to run for him." Savićević was also completely omitted from Champions League squads in September 1992. This led to an antagonistic relationship, with Savićević frustrated by being dropped and Capello unwilling to alter his winning formula. By December 1992, Savićević was so unhappy he considered leaving, with offers from Marseille and Atlético Madrid falling through. He scored his first league goal for Milan on 24 January 1993, a game-winning penalty against Genoa. His standout moment that season came on 7 March 1993, when he scored a second-half brace against Fiorentina in a 2-0 win for AC Milan. He finally made his European debut in mid-March 1993, coming on as a substitute against Porto. Despite his efforts, Savićević was not included in the squad for the 1993 UEFA Champions League Final against Olympique de Marseille. At the season's end, Capello wanted him out, but Berlusconi insisted he stay.

The summer 1993 off-season saw player changes that benefited Savićević, as Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten departed, and Frank Rijkaard returned to Ajax, easing competition for foreign spots. The season began with Milan winning the 1993 Supercoppa Italiana against Torino, with Savićević starting. However, he soon faced limited playing time again, leading to another public clash with Capello. Savićević gave an interview to Italian papers, openly criticizing Capello. He later recounted a heated exchange where he told Boban to tell Capello to "go fuck himself." Despite the tensions, Savićević gradually established himself, though Capello still omitted him from big matches. The row deepened in December 1993 when Capello dropped him from the squad for the 1993 Intercontinental Cup against São Paulo. Capello later admitted that Savićević's quality might have swayed the match in Milan's favor. Capello's defensive 4-4-2 system led to Milan winning their third consecutive Serie A title with only 36 goals scored and 15 conceded. For his inspirational play, Milan-based journalist Germano Bovolenta nicknamed Savićević Il Genio (The Genius), a moniker that gained wider acceptance after his performance in the 1994 Champions League Final. Berlusconi's personal support was crucial in keeping Savićević at the club despite his strained relationship with Capello.

The season culminated in Savićević's stellar performance in the 1994 UEFA Champions League Final against Johan Cruijff's Barcelona "dream team" on 18 May. Despite Milan's key defenders Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta being suspended, Capello opted for a more offensive formation. Savićević created the opening goal for Daniele Massaro and then scored a spectacular 35-yard half-volley, lobbing Barcelona goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta to make it 3-0 for AC Milan. This audacious and technically brilliant goal earned him widespread praise.

For the 1994-95 AC Milan season, Savićević's influence grew, with club chairman Adriano Galliani seeking his input on potential transfers. Savićević vehemently opposed bringing in more foreign players, threatening to leave if David Ginola or Faustino Asprilla were signed. Though they weren't acquired, Savićević's season was still marked by occasional omissions and nagging injuries, limiting him to 19 league appearances. However, he achieved his highest Serie A scoring output with nine goals, including four in a single match against Bari on 14 January 1995. He also set up a goal in the 1994 UEFA Super Cup final against Arsenal, securing a 2-0 aggregate victory for AC Milan. Despite Milan's mid-table Serie A form, Savićević excelled in the Champions League, scoring twice in the semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain. Despite his brilliant form, he was controversially omitted from the squad for the 1995 UEFA Champions League Final against Ajax due to a claimed 'injury,' which Savićević denied. Milan ultimately lost 0-1.

The 1995-96 AC Milan season saw the arrival of Paulo Futre, George Weah, and Roberto Baggio, increasing competition. Despite this, Savićević, at 29, had a successful season with 23 league appearances and six goals, helping Milan win the league title. He scored his first goal in the Derby della Madonnina against Inter and showcased his technical skills by setting up Baggio's goal against Parma before scoring one himself in a 3-0 win for AC Milan.

Savićević's final seasons at Milan were less successful due to injuries and managerial changes. The 1996-97 season began with a 1-2 loss for AC Milan in the 1996 Supercoppa Italiana to Fiorentina, where Savićević scored Milan's only goal. Manager Óscar Tabárez was replaced by Arrigo Sacchi after disappointing league results. Milan finished a disappointing eleventh in Serie A and were eliminated from the Coppa Italia and Champions League group stage. The following season saw Capello return, but Milan again failed to qualify for Europe, finishing tenth. Savićević's final goal for Milan came on 8 January 1998, in a 5-0 Coppa Italia quarter-final win for AC Milan against Inter. He was released by Milan in the summer of 1998. In total, he won seven trophies with Milan, including three Serie A titles (1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96), one European Cup (1993-94), and one European Super Cup, making 144 appearances and scoring 34 goals between 1992 and 1998. Despite his skill, he was often criticized in the Italian media for his poor work rate and inconsistency, particularly against smaller teams.

2.4. Later Playing Career

In January 1999, after six months away from competitive football, thirty-two-year-old Savićević returned to his former club Red Star Belgrade under head coach Vojin Lazarević. The club was third in the league at the winter break. Savićević was immediately given the captain's armband and made his debut as the league restarted. His most notable performance came on 20 March 1999, in the cross-town derby against Partizan, where he earned the man of the match award. Four days later, NATO attacked FR Yugoslavia, forcing the league season to be interrupted and eventually ended prematurely. Savićević made three league appearances during this second stint with Red Star.

He played his final two seasons with the Austrian side Rapid Wien, from 1999 to 2001, before retiring from professional football due to persistent injury struggles.

3.1. Yugoslavia National Team

Twenty-year-old Budućnost midfielder Savićević made his national team debut on 29 October 1986, in a Euro 88 qualifier against Turkey in Split. Head coach Ivica Osim brought him on as a 53rd-minute substitute, and Savićević quickly scored the third goal in a 4-0 victory for Yugoslavia. However, another debutant, Semir Tuce, garnered more headlines. Two weeks later, Savićević was not called up for the crucial qualifier against England at Wembley, a match Yugoslavia lost 0-2.

Within months, Savićević publicly criticized Osim in the Yugoslav press, questioning his expertise and integrity, accusing him of favoritism towards Željezničar players and mismanaging the team. He specifically cited instances where players like Haris Škoro and Radmilo Mihajlović were given starts despite not training or performing poorly, while he was overlooked. Savićević also expressed frustration at being told he would start at Wembley, only to be relegated to the U-21 squad. He argued that Osim was trying to force club players into unfamiliar national team positions and failed to build a cohesive team rather than an "All-Star squad."

Savićević waited a full year for his second cap, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3-0 win for Yugoslavia against Northern Ireland in October 1987. He earned his first national team start a month later in a meaningless qualifier against Turkey in İzmir. Over the next year, he only featured in two friendlies, as his uneasy relationship with Osim continued despite Yugoslavia's failure to qualify for Euro 88.

The 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign began in October 1988, with Savićević, who was serving his mandatory army service, not called up for the first match. A month later, Osim surprisingly brought the JNA soldier Savićević on as a 69th-minute substitute against France. Savićević's fresh legs and creativity proved decisive, as he initiated the equalizer and provided a perfect cross for Dragan Stojković to score the winning goal in an epic 3-2 comeback victory for Yugoslavia. This performance earned him a start in the next qualifier against Cyprus in December 1988, where he scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win for Yugoslavia. However, Osim opted for older regulars in the crucial away match against France, which ended in a goalless draw. Savićević did not play in the next qualifier against Norway but returned as a second-half substitute against Scotland in September 1989, helping Yugoslavia to a 3-1 win that put them atop the group. Yugoslavia clinched qualification for the World Cup in Italy with a 1-0 win over Norway in October 1989. Savićević started the final, meaningless qualifier against Cyprus, alongside other young players.

Heading into the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Savićević's chances improved after Mehmed Baždarević was suspended. He played the full 90 minutes in the final friendly against Holland, putting in an inspired performance. For the tournament, Savićević chose the number 19 jersey out of admiration for his childhood idol Vahid Halilhodžić. In Yugoslavia's opening match against West Germany, Savićević started but was substituted early in the second half as Yugoslavia lost 1-4. He was then benched for the next two group matches against Colombia and the United Arab Emirates. In the knockout stages, Savićević was a substitute against Spain, coming on in the second half and contributing to a 2-1 extra-time victory for Yugoslavia, assisting the free-kick that led to Stojković's second goal. Despite this, he was benched again for the quarterfinal clash against reigning world champions Argentina. He came on as a second-half substitute, providing energy, but missed a glaring open goal opportunity in extra time, which proved costly as Yugoslavia lost on penalties.

Savićević was called up for UEFA Euro 1992, but Yugoslavia was suspended from the tournament due to the Yugoslav Wars.

3.2. Serbia and Montenegro National Team

Dejan Savićević was part of Yugoslavia's national squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He appeared in two matches: a group-stage game against the United States and a knockout stage match against the Netherlands. He missed UEFA Euro 2000 due to a thigh muscle strain sustained while playing for Sturm Graz.

5.1. 2002 World Cup Qualifying

Initially, Savićević was part of a three-man coaching commission alongside the experienced Vujadin Boškov and Ivan Ćurković. Upon their arrival, Yugoslavia was in fourth place in their qualifying group with only 5 points from 4 matches. Although the team was officially led by the commission, Savićević was the sole representative on the sidelines during matches and the only one available to the press. His coaching debut on 2 June 2001, against Russia at Luzhniki Stadium, saw the team field a lineup largely similar to Đorić's, with two debutants. The match ended in a 1-1 draw with Russia, with Yugoslavia equalizing after Predrag Mijatović scored following a Savo Milošević header hitting the post. The press reaction was not overly negative, as the draw kept the team on course for a second-place finish.

After two easy wins against Faroe Islands, the decisive moment came on 1 September 2001, against Switzerland. Cheered on by a large expatriate crowd in Basel, Yugoslavia secured a 2-1 victory over Switzerland, considered the team's best performance under Savićević to date. This set up a crucial match at home against Slovenia four days later. Playing on a difficult, rain-soaked pitch at Partizan Stadium, Yugoslavia fell behind early and only managed a 1-1 draw with Slovenia, which was insufficient for second place. Despite dominating offensively, a second goal remained elusive. Savićević attributed the failure to bad luck, citing the rainy conditions and the absence of injured regulars Zoran Mirković and Vladimir Jugović.

Savićević took over sole coaching duties in late December 2001, claiming it was a temporary arrangement after Dušan Bajević rejected the job. He stated that a new permanent coach would be appointed by summer 2002, but he remained in the post until June 2003.

5.2. Euro 2004 Qualifying

Savićević began the UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying campaign on 12 October 2002, against Italy. He utilized a 3-5-2 formation, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw with Italy, featuring the debut of Nemanja Vidić. Throughout his tenure, he struggled to establish a settled team, and his personal disputes with striker Mateja Kežman led to the latter's temporary retirement from international football. Savićević finally resigned on 20 June 2003, following a humiliating 2-1 defeat to Azerbaijan in a Euro 2004 qualifier, marking the team's fifth consecutive loss.

6.1. 2004-2005 Media Campaign Against Milorad Kosanović

On 17 November 2004, the Serbia and Montenegro national under-21 team lost 4-0 against Belgium in a 2006 European Under-21 Championship qualifier. In the aftermath, FSCG president Savićević publicly demanded the resignation of U-21 head coach Milorad Kosanović, criticizing him for not calling up any players from Montenegro-based clubs. Savićević claimed that "twenty-one-year-old Miroslav Vujadinović from Budućnost Podgorica wasn't even called up for the under-21 squad despite being the best young goalkeeper in Europe," labeling this as "discrimination of Montenegro."

Over the following months, Savićević continuously pressured the FSSCG to fire Kosanović, even initiating a semi-official boycott of the under-21 team by refusing to allow Montenegrin players to respond to Kosanović's call-ups. In late 2004, FSSCG president Dragan Stojković, a close friend of Savićević, reportedly asked Kosanović to resign, which the coach vehemently refused. As a result, all four Serbia (FSS)-delegated members of the FSSCG expert council resigned in protest, with Dušan Savić stating he "wants no part in this dirty political game" and criticizing Savićević and the FSCG for interfering. After initial resistance, Kosanović eventually resigned on 8 March 2005.

6.2. Montenegrin Independence Referendum

Savićević publicly supported Montenegrin independence, becoming a significant figure in the pro-independence campaign organized by the Movement for Independent Montenegro. He attended and spoke at rallies alongside Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, and his image appeared on billboards urging citizens to vote 'Yes' in the referendum.

In spring 2006, during an interview with Montenegrin local station NTV Montena, Savićević admitted to playing in "a couple of fixed matches" while with Budućnost in the old Yugoslav First League during the 1980s. He also controversially claimed that most matches in the current 2005-06 Serbia-Montenegro Superliga were fixed, but declined to elaborate or provide evidence, stating: "I don't want to be killed because of football like Branko Bulatović". These claims sparked a formal investigation by the Serbia-Montenegro FA (FSSCG), which arranged a hearing for Savićević to provide details. Others, like FK Partizan vice-president Ratomir Babić, accused Savićević of "scoring political points for his mentors in the separatist-oriented Montenegrin regime by intentionally spreading explosive false rumors in order to bring the union's league into disrepute."

6.3. 2006 Feud with Rajo Božović

Throughout 2006, Savićević engaged in a bitter feud with his own second-in-command, FSCG vice-president and FK Zeta club president Radojica "Rajo" Božović. Their conflict began in mid-March 2006 after a Zeta vs. Budućnost Serbia-Montenegro SuperLiga match, where visiting Budućnost walked off the pitch in protest of a controversial equalizer. Following investigations and public sniping, the match was administratively registered as a 3-0 win for FK Zeta, and Budućnost was docked 3 points.

The feud escalated on 12 May 2006, during an FSSCG executive board meeting in Belgrade, where Savićević reportedly walked out after a shouting match with Božović, who had introduced a motion for an FSSCG investigation into Savićević's match-fixing claims and his mentions of FK Zeta. After Montenegro gained independence on 21 May 2006, the FSCG became the country's top footballing body, with Savićević remaining president and Božović as his vice-president.

The public rift reignited in late summer 2006 when a Montenegrin First League fixture between FK Zeta and Budućnost was canceled due to threats of fan violence. Božović publicly accused Savićević of favoring his old club Budućnost, working against Zeta, and tampering with referee selections. The feud also had a political dimension, linked to the contentious issue of redrawing Podgorica municipal borders. Savićević was seen as aligned with the DPS's 'Podgorica lobby,' while Božović was associated with the 'Zeta lobby.' Savićević publicly called on the Montenegrin government and the ruling DPS to "get involved and solve the issues within the FSCG." In mid-October 2006, the FSCG assembly, convened by Savićević, voted 37-5 to remove Božović from his vice-presidential duties and executive committee seat. Božović largely accepted the decision and maintained a lower profile, reportedly on instructions from senior DPS members.

Three years later, on 6 May 2009, a FK Zeta vs. Sutjeska Montenegrin First League fixture was abandoned after the match referee, Jovan Kaluđerović, claimed he received verbal death threats from Zeta owner Rajo Božović. Based on the match delegate's report, the Savićević-led FSCG's disciplinary commission punished Božović with a lifetime ban from performing football-related functions in FSCG-administered competitions and docked one point from FK Zeta. Over the following decade, the antagonism between the two men seemingly subsided, with Božović even publicly praising Savićević in 2017 and later claiming they had settled their differences "in the manner of old Montenegrins" at a party attended by Montenegrin president Milo Đukanović.

6.4. 2006-2011 Feud with Dan Newspaper

Concurrently with his feud with Božović, Savićević also began a protracted conflict with Podgorica's Dan daily newspaper in 2006, which continued intermittently for five years. Irritated by the paper's criticism of his work as FSCG boss, his pro-independence political engagement, and his ties with the Milo Đukanović regime, Savićević verbally abused, shouted at, and menaced Dan journalists during FSCG press conferences. He particularly targeted Dan sports editor Veselin Drljević, with whom he had a long-standing personal feud.

In March 2007, as the Montenegro national team was set to play its first official match, a home friendly against Hungary, Savićević controversially banned Dan journalists from attending. This ban continued through 2007 and into 2008, prompting the paper's editor-in-chief, Mladen Milutinović, to appeal to international bodies like the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). Under pressure from AIPS, Savićević relented two and a half years later, allowing accreditation for Dan journalists ahead of Montenegro's home friendly against Wales in August 2009.

However, the antagonism reignited two years later during the Euro 2012 qualifying cycle. Throughout 2011, Savićević publicly expressed anger at Dan's criticism of national team head coach Zlatko Kranjčar, labeling the publication a "Serbian-oriented paper that never has and never will accept Montenegro as an independent state." On 7 October 2011, for the Montenegro vs. England Euro 2012 qualifier, Savićević again refused to issue accreditation for Dan, leading to protests from the paper. A month later, for the deciding playoff qualifier against the Czech Republic, Savićević repeated the ban. On 17 November 2011, after the playoff loss, Savićević appeared on TV Vijesti's talk show Načisto, where he dismissed Dan as an "unimportant media outlet" and stated he preferred accrediting "objective outlets." Dan responded with sarcastic criticism, prompting Savićević to hold a press conference on 19 November 2011, where he bizarrely offered to take a drug test, paying 2.00 M EUR to Dan if positive, and demanding 500.00 K EUR from the paper if negative. Dan continued its veiled ridicule in response.

7.1. Club

;Red Star Belgrade

• SFR Yugoslavia Champions: 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92
• Yugoslav Cup: 1989-90
• European Cup: 1990-91
• Intercontinental Cup: 1991
• FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro Cup: 1998-99

;Milan

• Serie A: 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1993, 1994
• UEFA Champions League: 1993-94
• European Super Cup: 1994

7.2. International

;Yugoslavia

• 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship (runners-up)

7.3. Individual

• Ballon d'Or 2nd place: 1991
• AC Milan Hall of Fame
• Golden Badge for the best athlete of Yugoslavia: 1991
• SD Crvena Zvezda Best Athlete: 1991
• FR Yugoslavia Footballer of the Year: 1995
• ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season: 1995
• The Sixth Star of Red Star (Šesta Zvezdina zvezda), as part of the 1991 Red Star team

8.1. 2004 Traffic Infraction

On Sunday, 19 September 2004, at around 2:30 AM, Savićević was involved in an incident with Podgorica police. After driving his Audi TT at high speed through Podgorica streets and running a red light, he was stopped by a police patrol. According to the police, Savićević insulted the officer with a series of obscenities, including the statement: "I'm God, laws don't apply to me." A misdemeanor investigation request was filed against him by the police.

8.2. 2005 Motorcycle Crash

On Thursday, 29 September 2005, at around 5:30 PM, Savićević was severely injured in a traffic accident on Stanko Dragojević Boulevard in Podgorica, in front of the Montenegrin National Theatre (CNP). The thirty-nine-year-old FSCG president fractured both arms and a pelvic bone after crashing his Yamaha motorcycle into the rear of a moving Volkswagen Golf Mk4 vehicle. He was thrown airborne and landed hard on the pavement.

The same night, Savićević underwent a two-and-a-half-hour surgery at Podgorica's Kliničko-bolnički centar to address his three fractures before being placed in intensive care. Approximately ten days later, he was transported to a specialized orthopedic medical facility in Hanover, Germany, where he underwent three more surgeries within a week-one on each arm and one on his pelvic bone. His rehabilitation period lasted about six months.

Since the mid-2010s, FSCG president Savićević has been in a relationship with Jelena Babić from Podgorica. His son Vladimir Savićević started his football career in FK Mladost Podgorica youth teams and was capped for the Montenegrin U19 team. In November 2019, Savićević's daughter Tamara married professional footballer Aleksandar Kapisoda, three months after giving birth to their daughter, Savićević's grandchild.

10.1. 1999 Heckler Viral Video

Savićević is the subject of a widely circulated viral video from the 2000 Dutch documentary Het laatste Joegoslavische elftal (The Last Yugoslav Football Team) by Vuk Janić. The documentary is a sentimental homage to SFR Yugoslavia's promising late 1980s football generation that never got to play together on the sport's biggest stage, and to the disintegrated country. It features interviews with members of the 1987 youth side, such as Robert Prosinečki, Predrag Mijatović, and Zvonimir Boban, who by 1999 were playing for the senior national teams of FR Yugoslavia and Croatia. Other prominent individuals, including Savićević (who was playing for Rapid Wien at the time) and coach Ivica Osim, are also featured.

Some of the film's footage was shot in October 1999, against the backdrop of the FR Yugoslavia and Croatia national teams playing a decisive Euro 2000 qualifier in Zagreb. The viral segment shows Savićević, then 33, being interviewed the day before the match in front of the Yugoslav team's hotel. As he answers a question, a man off-camera, presumably a Croatian fan, shouts insults at him. Savićević turns and responds with an obscenity-laced tirade of his own before calmly resuming the interview. Savićević later commented on the incident: "Someone off to the side had been insulting me incessantly by swearing at me before I could no longer take it, so I turned - only to see this short guy with no more than two teeth in his mouth wearing a Croatian šahovnica jersey and track pants. And, I gave it right back to him. Then I told the filmmaker to edit that out and he assured me he would. A couple of months later, he called me in Vienna telling me the movie is done and asking my address to send me a tape. My stomach turned when I saw that he hadn't edited that out. You can imagine what I told him next time we talked." In subsequent interviews after the video went viral, Savićević claimed that the film's director, Janić, broke their verbal agreement that the swearing part would not be included in the final version of the film.