Dušan Basta was born in Belgrade, on August 18, 1984.
His first club as a young kid was Padinska Skela but then at 13 he moved to Red Star Belgrade.
He made his debut for "Zvezda" (Star) in 2002-03 playing 13 league games and 1 in the UEFA Cup.
In 2003-04 he was loaned to Jedinstvo in the second division. He played 27 league games with 9 goals for the team from Ub.
In 2004-05 he returned to his parent club and played 23 league games with 2 goals, 4 games in the Champions League and 1 in the UEFA Cup.
The following year he won his first silverware as Red Star won the Serbia-Montenegro league and cup double. Basta played 25 league games and 6 in the UEFA Cup with 1 goal.
The 2006-07 saw the first single Serbian league and it was won by Red Star who also won the cup. Basta played 16 league games and 4 in the Champions League.
The 2007-08 would be his last for the "Crveno-beli" (The Red and Whites). He played 20 league games with 1 goal, 3 in Champions League and 6 in the UEFA Cup with 1 goal. The domestic league title was won by rivals Partizan Belgrade.
In 2008 he arrived in Italy and joined Lecce in Serie A. The Salentini had a difficult season, first under Mario Beretta (1-27) and then Luigi De Canio (28-38) and were relegated. Basta played 7 league games.
In 2009 however, he stayed in Serie A and joined Udinese. He would remain in Friuli for five seasons. The "Zebrette" finished 15th, 4th (CL playoff), 3rd (CL playoff), 5th (EL) and 13th. The Bianconeri lost both playoffs, to Arsenal in 2011 and to Sporting Braga on penalties in 2012. His managers in his first year were Pasquale Marino, Gianni De Biasi and then Marino again and then for the following four Francesco Guidolin. Basta played 105 league games with 9 goals (Lecce, Siena, Chievo, Cesena, Bologna, Siena, Napoli, Genoa, Roma), 2 games in Coppa Italia and 16 in Europe (2 in CL +14 in EL) with 2 goals (Braga, Široki Brijeg).
In 2014 he joined Lazio. The manager was Stefano Pioli and Lazio had an excellent season finishing 3rd, qualifying for a Champions League preliminary round. The playoff however would again be fatal, the Biancocelesti losing to Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 on aggregate. In Serie A Basta played 27 games plus 6 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Bassano). Lazio were unlucky runners-up in the domestic cup, losing to Juventus 1-2 after extra-time with Filip Djordjevic hitting a freakish double post.
The 2015-16 season was less positive and Lazio finished 8th. Pioli was replaced by Simone Inzaghi after 31 games. As mentioned, Lazio never got into the Champions League group stage and also lost the Italian Supercoppa final to Juventus 0-2 in Shanghai. The highlights of the season were beating Inter home and away, 2-0, 2-1 and Fiorentina 3-1 away. Basta played 23 league games, 2 in Champions League and 3 in Europa League (Lazio reached last 16 but lost to Sparta Prague 1-4 on aggregate).
In 2016-17 Inzaghi stayed on and Lazio finished 5th (EL) but again lost the Coppa Italia final to Juventus 0-2 (after beating Roma in the semi-final 4-3 on aggregate). Basta played 27 league games with 1 goal (Roma) and 3 games in Coppa Italia. The highlight of the season was beating Roma 3-1 and Basta got the second goal (after Roma had been awarded and scored one of the most ridiculous penalties ever- the infamous Kevin Strootman dive). Lazio also had big wins against Pescara 6-2 away, Palermo 6-2 and Sampdoria 7-3, both at home.
In 2017-18 Basta played less, he was out with an injury for six matches between September and November and never really reconquered a regular first team place. He played 11 league games, 3 in Coppa Italia, 7 in the Europa League plus the Italian Supercoppa. Lazio finished 5th again in Serie A, reached the semi-finals of Coppa Italia (Milan on penalties) and the quarterfinals of the Europa League (out against Fenerbahçe and a shocking Scottish referee). Lazio's finest hour came in the Supercoppa where they defeated Juventus 3-2 with a 93rd minute Alessandro Murgia winner. Basta's first Italian silverware.
The 2018-19 season would be his last in Rome and of his career. Suffering from various injuries he made no league appearances and only 2 in the Europa League. Lazio finished 8th (EL) and won the Coppa Italia beating Atalanta 2-0 in the final (after defeating Novara, Inter and Milan). Lazio also triumphed in the return derby crushing Roma 3-0.
Basta then retired at almost 35.
He earned international caps for both Serbia and Montenegro and then Serbia alone. He played twice for the joint team and then 16 times for Serbia with 2 goals (Macedonia, Cyprus).
Basta was a right back who could also play in midfield. He is 1.80 and 76 kilos and in constant movement. His exceptional athletic abilities enabled him to cover the whole length of the field. He was a tireless player who could attack and defend and was good in the air.
He played 395 professional games and 200 in Serie A.
At Lazio he was well liked for his hard-working ethic and his versatility. At his peak he just never stopped running, giving the proverbial 101%. He played 116 games for Lazio and won two trophies and not least scored in a winning derby. "Basta e avanza" as they say here (more than enough) to be remembered for.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Europa League | Super Coppa |
2014-15 | 33 (1) | 27 | 6 (1) | - | - | - |
2015-16 | 29 | 23 | - | 2 | 3 | 1 |
2016-17 | 30 (1) | 27 (1) | 3 | - | - | - |
2017-18 | 22 | 11 | 3 | - | 7 | 1 |
2018-19 | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | - |
Total | 116 (2) | 88 (1) |
| 2 | 12 | 2 |
Sources
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