Serbia's top-flight football league came to an abrupt halt on Monday when manager Mladen Zizovic, 44, collapsed during a match and was pronounced dead shortly after. The shocking turn of events happened while FK Radnicki 1923 were playing against Mladost Lucani in the Serbian SuperLiga.
Witnesses described the scene as "chaotic" with players from both teams falling to the ground in tears upon learning of their manager's death. Zizovic was reportedly found unwell on the field and received emergency treatment before being taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the football community, with numerous clubs and organizations paying tribute to the former Bosnia and Herzegovina international player. The Football Association of Serbia expressed its condolences, saying that Zizovic's "love for football and the mark he left will remain with us forever."
Zizovic's club, FK Radnicki 1923, released a statement describing him as a "great professional" and a "good man," adding that his passing is a "great loss for Bosnian-Herzegovinian football." Other leading clubs in the region have also paid tribute to Zizovic, who had recently been appointed manager of FK Radnicki 1923 just over a month ago.
Zizovic's playing career was marked by numerous appearances in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as wearing the jersey of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. He later dedicated himself to coaching, leading clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region before taking on his latest role at FK Radnicki 1923.
The incident has highlighted the risks and challenges faced by football managers and players, both on and off the field. It also serves as a reminder of the impact that a figure like Zizovic can have on the lives of those around him, both through their achievements and their legacy.
Witnesses described the scene as "chaotic" with players from both teams falling to the ground in tears upon learning of their manager's death. Zizovic was reportedly found unwell on the field and received emergency treatment before being taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the football community, with numerous clubs and organizations paying tribute to the former Bosnia and Herzegovina international player. The Football Association of Serbia expressed its condolences, saying that Zizovic's "love for football and the mark he left will remain with us forever."
Zizovic's club, FK Radnicki 1923, released a statement describing him as a "great professional" and a "good man," adding that his passing is a "great loss for Bosnian-Herzegovinian football." Other leading clubs in the region have also paid tribute to Zizovic, who had recently been appointed manager of FK Radnicki 1923 just over a month ago.
Zizovic's playing career was marked by numerous appearances in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as wearing the jersey of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. He later dedicated himself to coaching, leading clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region before taking on his latest role at FK Radnicki 1923.
The incident has highlighted the risks and challenges faced by football managers and players, both on and off the field. It also serves as a reminder of the impact that a figure like Zizovic can have on the lives of those around him, both through their achievements and their legacy.
... 44 years old is way too young for someone to pass away like that. you never know what's going on behind closed doors in football, but this just shows how high the stakes can be. RIP mladen zizovic 
just heard about Mladen Zizovic's passing 
it's so sad... he was only 44! 
FK Radnicki 1923's loss is huge, they were still getting used to having him on board 
. You can tell how much he meant to the team and the community by all the tributes already coming in from other clubs 
. The football world has lost a great player and coach 
. This just goes to show that sports can be super intense, not just physically but mentally too 
.
... he was just 44 yrs old and had his whole life ahead of him 
... my heart goes out 2 them right now 
. I mean, I know footballers are human too but you'd think there's more to life than getting paid to kick a ball around 
️. Mladen Zizovic was 44, like, what's the big deal? He lived his life and then he's gone 
.
.
.
. 44 yrs old, that's way too young 
. His legacy will live on in Bosnian-Herzegovinian football though, so let's keep his memory safe 
. It's not that hard. I mean, I've seen more knowledgeable conversations between football fans on Twitter 
.
. No one knows what's going to happen next, but at least we can be prepared 
. So, let's all take a sec to learn more about Mladen Zizovic and his amazing football career 
.
. This just goes to show that football's not just about win or lose, it's about the people involved too 
coaches got a tough job, but that doesn't mean they should die on the field! 
. mladen zizovic's legacy will live on through the clubs and teams he worked with, but it's still hard to imagine him not being there on the sidelines 
.