FORMER AC Milan and Bologna manager, who played national team football for the old Yugoslavia, Sinisa Mihajlovic, has died at the age of 53 after a long battle with leukaemia.
His death was announced today by the Serbian Football Association and Bologna.
The left-sided defender, who won the European Cup (now Champions League) with Red Star Belgrade as a player in 1991, first announced he had leukaemia in 2019.
He was successfully treated but suffered a relapse in March this year.
“We would like to extend our condolences to Sinisa’s family, friends and all of the footballing world for the departure of the Calcio icon,” Serie A wrote in a statement.
“His impact in our game, country and hearts will be forever remembered, as well as his relentless spirit and kind soul.”
Mihajlovic won Serie A as a player with Lazio in 2000 and Inter Milan in 2006, and also played for Roma and Sampdoria in the Italian top flight.
The renowned free-kick specialist won 63 international caps between 1991 and 2003, representing the former Yugoslavia at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
Mihajlovic managed Serbia’s national team from 2012 to 2013 and was Bologna manager until September this year when he was sacked following a poor start to the season.
In a statement posted on their website, the Serbian FA wrote: “Football has lost too soon a champion of Europe and the world, one of the best performers of free-kicks in the history of football, player, coach and selector, a man who left a deep mark in the history of Serbian and Italian football with his career.”
A minute’s silence was held for Mihajlovic before AC Milan’s game with Liverpool in the Dubai Super Cup tonight, which the English club won 4-1.
