http://slobodnadalmacija.hr/sport/domaci-nogomet/clanak/id/301562/skoblar-8-travnja-u-marseilleu-prima-veliko-priznanje

On Friday, April 8, at the City Hall in Marseille, Josip Skoblar, one of the best Croatian and European players in general, will be declared a French knight, a rare high medal of the French government will hand him after Skoblarovoj desired, the mayor of Marseille Jean-Claude Gaudin . The ceremony, which will be attended only selected guests will attend the French sports minister - writes Jutarnji list.

It is undisputed that Joseph Skoblar popular in France than in Croatia. The reason lies in its nature to Southern, who did not want to lick the feet of the saints, football, nor in the intermediate flaunt their popularity in the French Provence, he remained what he did Marseille from him - a symbol of the French south, which defies Paris ...

Among the VIP guests will Zadar mayor Božidar Kalmeta and the president of the Croatian Football Federation Davor Suker. Maybe some other major Croatian footballers from French south, such as Alain Boksic, who Olympique led to a Champions League winner in 1993, or Dado Prso, Monaco center forward, who lives on the Cote d'Azur.

Josip Skoblar, today at the age of 76, in the memory of our soccer fans remained as a member of the national team, which is in the World Cup 1962 in Chile won fourth place. Skoblar was an indispensable member of the shock attacks (Šijaković, Šekularac, Jerkovic, Galic, Skoblar), he scored a goal to Uruguay.

Former national team goalie Milutin Soskic, who remembers him and his clashes Partizan and OFK Belgrade Skoblarovog ( "I have scored goals, and as a keeper of Partizan, and as a striker Hanover, while I defended in Cologne"), said:

- Not only was he one of the best in Yugoslavia, Skoblar was one of the best players in the world! I remember him from OFK Belgrade, was the death of goalkeepers, we were afraid of him. He was a good man, a little 'it', withdrawn, or in the field has gone to the last drop of blood. In the technical sense, an unusual but perfect - says Milutin Soskic, noting:

- The French are stingy on compliments when the party in question, and when they decided Skoblari given a knighthood, so that even today has not faded memories of his football ...

Ivan Curkovic in Skoblarovoj era defended St. Etienne.

- Ah, the Skoblari I had no problems as goalkeeper Velez, regular me 'drilling', and in France would have scored some goal. Marseille remembers him, because with him winning the title, and he was top scorer, again, I think it was in 1971, won the European Golden Boot with 44 goals. And today, when Olympique'm not going to nostalgically of Skoblari. And when you remember after four decades means that you really have left a deep mark ...

In the selection of France football, Skoblar was named as the second best foreigner in the history of French football. Behind him, the Brazilian Juninho Permabucano, Abedi Pele, George Weah. From the Croatian football player Zlatko Vujovic is 35, and Alen Boksic 40th place. In Marseille are nostalgic about the offensive pair Josip Skoblar - Roger Magnusson, who was known as the Swedish Garrincha, but, who scored only 23 goals for OM.

- Skoblar is the best player who has ever come to Rijeka, says the chronicler Novi list Orlando Rivetti, although in 36 games scored only 10 goals. His charisma on Kantridi approached only Andrej Kramaric ...

And today Skoblar associated with Marseille. Mayor Gaudin had offered to the European Championship is a presenter of Marseille, but the Skoblar accepted the invitation of the Croatian Football Association, which wants him in front of our team. He showed that human greatness, he accepted the invitation of the football association, which has for decades ignored and neglected the size of a football, but when it is, however, thought he said - I'm coming! Thus Croatia at the European Championship have a very strong delegation Skoblar - Suker ...

Josip Skoblar was a great coach of Croatian club Hajduk practiced, Dinamo and Rijeka. It was with Rijeka achieved the highest score, winning in Kantrida Real Madrid (3-1). He sat on the bench HSV, Nimes, Real Madrid from Valladolid, and was a menu of Lebanon. But the knight always came back to the Cote d'Azur, in the "old port" where I'm in a restaurant, where he will be always remembered, I saw the photo of the hug with Steve McQueen ...

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IZAKOVIC