He started his career as a left back, but with time learned total football, according to which all players can, during the ebb and flow of the match, slot into every position as needed.
Šurjak made his debut for Yugoslavia in an October 1973 World Cup qualifier against Spain, coming on as a substitute for Petar Krivokuća.
On 21 July 1999, Šurjak was piloting his 1989 Formula Runabout F-242 speedboat about 400 meters off the Čiovo island shoreline near Trogir when he struck a swimmer who sustained life-threatening head injuries.
Additionally, the court accepted a mitigating factor that Šurjak had been unable to avoid collision due to having sun in his eyes, as well as facing high waves.
On subsequent appeal by the prosecutor's office, the case went before the provincial court which, in July 2009, upheld the verdict to acquit Šurjak.