#Crystal Palace cult hero Sasa Curcic relives his antics both on and off the pitch"

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Crystal Palace cult hero Sasa Curcic relives his antics both on and off the pitch

It is 20 years since Sasa Curcic last played for Crystal Palace but he remains a cult hero . He is also well remembered in Aston Villa as much for his off-the-field antics as what he did on it.

Most recently mastered in his native Serbia, Sportsmail caught up. with the eccentric playmaker for a walk around London reflecting on a crazy career …

Former Crystal Palace and Aston Villa midfielder Sasa Curcic talks to Sportsmail & Craig Hope

Sasa Curcic walks five every day miles around London, just for fun. We meet on the South Bank, cross the Thames and head to the heart of the capital.

"Cafe de Paris …" he says about the nightclub at Leicester Square. "Myself and Stan (Collymore) left at 2 am and saw a double-decker party bus – open roof, champagne, beautiful girls. I said, "Stan, we have to do this, I'll get one."

& # 39; I did that. A few weeks later I rented a bus for the team and brought models. It was great, driving around, drinking, singing. They talked about it for months in the dressing room of the villa! & # 39;

Further north is the cosmetic capital Harley Street. Eth Gareth Southgate tells the story about me that I miss a Villa game for a nose operation. Come on, I just wanted to look better. Gareth was jealous. I told him and Andy Townsend: “Guys, if you ever get a discount, three noses for the price of two!” & # 39;

Bolton fans called him the & # 39; Serbian George Best & # 39 ;, a maverick who could play and party

Curcic arrived in Bolton in 1995 for a £ 1.5 million club record of Partizan Belgrade

He became & # 39; the Serbian George Best & # 39 ; called a maverick who could play and party.

When he retired at the age of 29, he stated: & I would not sign for another club, even if I was offered $ 15 million.

& # 39; It would be different if they would offer me 15 women from all over the world. I would say to the president: "Please, let me make these women happy."

Now 47, he welcomes the resemblance to Best. "At best I was like him, a dribbler, an entertainer. I also spent my money on women, fast cars & alcohol, but I agree with him, we wasted the rest! & # 39;

Laughter disappears and Curcic pauses. He wants to mention time for the comparison.

Every day, the 47-year-old-old walks five miles through the streets of the capital just for fun

& He lost the way. I am different, I have changed my path. I have stopped drinking for six years now. I didn't want to finish it that way, it was sad.

"My past is an important part of my journey. High and low. Then you come back. But you have to look in the mirror, believe it and be strong. Now I live on the training grounds. & # 39;

Before enchanting Curcic in Serbia earlier this year, he had been a coach at the Academy of the Palace and the Palace for Life Foundation. It is dusk and we stop for a drink on the Thames, cafe lounges around.

"In the past 10 years I have rebuilt my life. I won the Big Brother from Serbia, but I had no job, no money. I thought, "What should I do?" Commit suicide? No, go to the job center. Start again. I thought about becoming a painter, driving a bus, building.

"But my friends said:" Look at all the parks, millions of children play football in London. You have a name, open an academy. & # 39; And I did. I started putting brochures through doors

He is fond of being remembered at Aston Villa, both for his antics outside the field and for what he did on it

& # 39; Sometimes it is difficult to coach children, they have an idea how they can drip from a Playstation No, look at me!

now I have some more possibilities to go abroad d to coach. Maybe someday I'll be back, my dream is to make it in England. & # 39;

Curcic was born in a fishing village near Belgrade called Besni Fok, which translates to Wild Canal, and there was something of the unmanageable river about his playing style.

& # 39; I taught myself & # 39 ;, he says. "I watched European games on TV and then played until dark." He uses his hand to dribble between the coffee cups.

"I was an individual. That scared people. First I struggled in Bolton and watched the ball go over my head. Then they realized. I would go to (defend) Alan Stubbs: "Here, Stubbsy, just give me the ball." Then I can really do damage. & # 39;

Glenn Hoddle and Chelsea will testify. Curcic & # 39; s first Premier League goal was at Stamford Bridge, halfway with four blue jerseys.

I show that to my players. They love it, like a slalom, always moving, looking for space, that's what I try to teach them. & # 39;

Bolton was relegated and Curcic joined Villa for £ 4 million, another club record.

Despite the fact that he only had 25 appearances during the 1998/99 season, Curcic is a palace legend

An error. I should have stayed, I was a hero. Roy McFarland (boss of Bolton) would say, "Sasa, don't worry about defense, get the ball and do your thing." In Villa Brian Little tried to defend me. What a waste. & # 39;

It was in Bolton that Curcic made his first famous friend, not that presenter Vernon Kay was famous at the time.

"He was just a kid in a nightclub with his friends, who recited my name. We started talking and he said: "In Bolton we are now going for an Indian meal, a few pints, you'll love it". He was right! We have been friends ever since. & # 39;

It was Kay who later introduced Curcic to George Michael, a boy's idol that he considered both pop star and English teacher.

& # 39; I spoke English well because of music and movies. When the first Betamax arrived in the village, all the children would gather and watch Rambo. Even today, when I want to watch a movie, I like: "Bang, Rambo!".

I grew up on UB40. I thought they were Jamaican. One night I and Dwight Yorke were in a nightclub in Birmingham and the front man was there. I was like, "What the …" Dwight said, "Yes, they are Brummies." I went to him and hugged him all night, like a little child. & # 39;

Curcic earned £ 15,000 a week in Villa and started socializing with people like Robbie Williams. He was married and later divorced, the girl from Dudley.

The Serbian missed training to protest in Downing Street against NATO bombing on Belgrade

But his tone changes. It feels as if the high life has left a sour taste, probably champagne.

I cannot say that I did not enjoy it, I do, & he begins. "But my dream was to play for Partizan, my team. I should have stayed. I would have my own booth, I would be a manager.

"Here came an accident. Bolton came to see our right back, but he was injured. I said that I would play, that was not the intention. The scout loved me and … "He runs away.

" But all the craziness here, the crazy money, it spoiled me, it ruined me. I would have been a different person. I would not have created millions of pounds, I had not been brought that way. & # 39;

Are you left of your career income?

"Plenty – in the pockets of others. The owners of the night clubs are rich anyway. & # 39;

Despite the fact that he only performed 25 times, Curcic is a palace legend. In 2017, after a 3-0 win over Arsenal, he joined the team in a lap of honor and danced for the fans.

Does he regret not spending more time on that field?

Curcic earned £ 15,000 a week in Villa and started to socialize with people like Robbie Williams Robbie Williams

& Many things happened. Some days I missed training because I was on Downing Street, protesting against NATO bombing Belgrade. I was the leader with the signs.

& # 39; It is a shame that politics often interfered, but I believed in my case. & # 39;

Then he escaped London's chaos in the summer of 1999, albeit for New York.

& # 39; MetroStars wanted me. "Wow, okay, let's enjoy this and then leave." I knew I wouldn't last long. & # 39;

He was right, he had stopped within six months, but not before he tasted the American Dream.

& # 39; I went to Las Vegas with Dennis Rodman I'm a pimp and whore dress up party. That guy … wow. He pulled off his top and the women fell at his feet. & # 39;

Curcic had dinner with Michael Jordan and met the cast of Sopranos during a MetroStars game, which led to preferential treatment in the best restaurants in town. & # 39; I remember getting a table one night while Silvio Berlusconi had to wait, they loved me there. & # 39;

And so for Motherwell. "A little difference, yes?" He says. Five games later – and after a few messing around with the old company – he retired.

Then a phone call from Big Brother.

& I was home again, camping and fishing, just me and the birds. Then I am on television every night for millions.

"Nobody knows this, but I always knocked on the door:" I want to go, get me out ". But they couldn't allow it, everyone looked because of me.

" And then When I came out, there were thousands of people, including the President, I was like a Beatle! "

Like George Best.

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