Hubbry Logo
Siniša MihajlovićSiniša MihajlovićMain
Open search
Siniša Mihajlović
Community hub
Siniša Mihajlović
logo
36 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Siniša Mihajlović
Siniša Mihajlović
Siniša Mihajlović
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Siniša Mihajlović (Serbian Cyrillic: Синиша Михајловић, pronounced [sǐniʃa mixǎːjloʋitɕ]; 20 February 1969 – 16 December 2022) was a Serbian football manager and professional footballer. Though starting out as a midfielder and attacking midfielder, he played the majority of his career as a defender.

Key Information

Mihajlović had an illustrious playing career, winning the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade in 1991 before moving to Italy, making 353 appearances for Serie A sides Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter Milan and winning league titles with the latter two clubs. Considered by many to be among the best free kick takers of all time,[nb 1] he holds the all-time record in Serie A for most goals from free kicks with 28 goals. He won 63 caps and scored 10 goals for Yugoslavia from 1991 to 2003, of which his first four caps in 1991 represented SFR Yugoslavia, and played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000 tournaments.

Mihajlović retired from playing in 2006, becoming assistant manager at Inter. He managed six Serie A clubs from 2008 to 2022, starting and finishing with Bologna and also including Fiorentina, Torino and AC Milan. He was the coach of the Serbia national team from May 2012 to November 2013. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019 and died from the disease in 2022.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Vukovar into a working-class family of a Bosnian Serb father[7] and a Croat mother,[8] Mihajlović was raised in Borovo Naselje with a younger brother, Dražen (b. 1973).[9] Their father Bogdan (d. 2011) was a truck driver at the Građevinar construction company in Vukovar, while their mother Viktorija worked in the Borovo shoe factory.[9] Mihajlović identified as a Serb, but said that he viewed Croatia as his country as well.[10]

During the Croatian War of Independence, his home was destroyed by Croatian forces, among whom was his childhood best friend, an ethnic Croat, forcing his parents to flee.[8] His maternal uncle called his mother and said that she should stay in Borovo, and that Siniša's father was to be killed.[8] His uncle was arrested when the Serbian Volunteer Guard took over Borovo, but was freed because he was related to Mihajlović.[8] In a 2016 interview Mihajlović said he had forgiven his childhood friend in a meeting in Zagreb prior to the crucial Euro 2000 qualification match between FR Yugoslavia and Croatia.[11]

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Mihajlović started playing organized football with his hometown team NK Borovo. He quickly marked himself out as a talented youngster, making the SR Croatia select squad for the Yugoslav inter-republic youth football tournaments.

In 1986, he was attached to NK Borovo's first team. Playing in the SR Croatia provincial league (third tier competition on the Yugoslav club football pyramid), his first team debut took place on 25 May 1986 against Šparta in Beli Manastir. The match ended 1–1 with Mihajlović scoring a goal. The 17-year-old also got his first taste of professionalism with his first monthly salary being CHF500.[12]

In late 1986, Red Star Belgrade representatives led by scout Kule Aćimović came to watch the seventeen-year-old in a friendly Borovo played against FK Rad, but decided not to sign him.[13]

Then in late spring 1987, with NK Rijeka and Dinamo Vinkovci both seeking to sign Mihajlović, Dinamo Zagreb—led by club president Ivo Vrhovec and head coach Ćiro Blažević—also expressed an interest; their youth players Zvonimir Boban and Robert Prosinečki had been playing with Mihajlović on the SR Croatia select youth team at inter-republic and provincial youth tournaments and recommended him to the team.[12] After seeing Mihajlović in a training session, Blažević took him with the rest of the first team to Sassari for an impromptu getaway between two league matches towards the end of the season, and gave him a substitute appearance in Dinamo shirt in a friendly against local club Torres Sassari.[12]

In September 1987, Mihajlović was invited to join Dinamo's youth squad for a friendly tournament in Salem, West Germany where he performed well.[14] However, no deal was agreed again as the club's head coach Ćiro Blažević felt that Dinamo already had players for the central midfield position that were "just as good if not better", such as incoming Haris Škoro as well as club mainstay Marko Mlinarić and returnee Stjepan Deverić. With Dinamo only prepared to offer a stipend-based agreement rather than a professional contract, Mihajlović decided to continue with NK Borovo.

The decision not to take Dinamo's offer cost Mihajlović a place in the Yugoslavia under-20; head coach Mirko Jozić had told him that he would not be called up for the upcoming FIFA World Youth Championship in Chile unless he signed with the Zagreb club.[12][15]

Vojvodina

[edit]

Mihajlović signed for FK Vojvodina in 1988, as part of a group of players acquired by the club, which included defensive midfielder Slaviša Jokanović, and defenders Budimir Vujačić and Miroslav Tanjga.[16] The club won the Yugoslav league title, with Mihajlović scoring four goals in 31 appearances. The following 1989–90 season saw Vojvodina compete in the European Cup for only the second time in their history, but lost in the first round to Hungarian champions Honvéd.[17]

Red Star Belgrade

[edit]

Mihajlović joined Red Star Belgrade on 10 December 1990 in a high-profile transfer with a transfer fee of DM1 million paid out to Vojvodina.[16] Arriving at a club coached by his old Vojvodina mentor Ljupko Petrović, Mihajlović was brought in to establish a robust presence on the left side of midfield as well as to score set-piece goals. In the European Cup semi-final return leg versus Bayern Munich, Mihajlović scored both Red Star goals—a free-kick opener and the injury time winner with a shot that deflected off Klaus Augenthaler. In the final, Red Star defeated Olympique de Marseille on penalties, after a 0–0 draw at full time, with Mihajlović being one of the shootout scorers.

Mihajlović was also in the team later that year when Red Star Belgrade won the Intercontinental Cup, defeating Colo-Colo 3–0. He was then included by Yugoslavia national football team to UEFA Euro 1992,[18] but the nation was disqualified from the competition by United Nations sanctions due to the Yugoslav Wars.

Roma

[edit]

In the summer of 1992, amid interest from Juventus, Mihajlović signed for Roma for a reported ITL8.5 billion (~US$5.9 million) transfer fee,[19] at the request of head coach Vujadin Boškov, also a new arrival to Olimpico. The club were looking to improve on their previous season's 5th place league finish.

Mihajlović secured a regular first team spot in the left midfield, and the team finished 10th in the league. Mihajlović also played a significant part in Roma's UEFA Cup campaign where they reached the quarterfinals—losing to Borussia Dortmund in a tie that saw the Serb score a trademark free-kick for a 1–0 first leg lead, before being beaten 2–0 in the return. Due to a long-term injury to Roma's left back Amedeo Carboni midway through the season, coach Boškov moved Mihajlović to the left back position.

The 1993–94 season started with new head coach Carlo Mazzone in charge after Boškov was sacked. In addition to the four foreigners already at the club, the club brought in Argentine Abel Balbo thus increasing competition for three foreign spots. Mihajlović continued as a left back under the new manager. In the 1993–94 season, the club finished 7th, and out of Europe for the second season running.

Years later, talking about his playing days, Mihajlović referred to his stay in Roma as "the two worst seasons of my entire career".[13]

Sampdoria

[edit]

In 1994, Mihajlović joined Sampdoria, who were the third-placed club in previous season's Serie A standings and the Coppa Italia winners, coached by Sven-Göran Eriksson. Also arriving the same summer were Inter stalwarts Walter Zenga and Riccardo Ferri as part of the deal that took goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca the other way.

In his four seasons at Sampdoria, Mihajlović saw limited success in the Serie A. In the European competitions, however, he helped Sampdoria reach the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup semifinal, where they were defeated by Arsenal on penalties.

In June 1998, Mihajlović represented FR Yugoslavia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, playing all Yugoslav matches in the tournament. He scored a goal against Iran, and conceded an own goal against Germany. This made Mihajlović one of five players to score both a goal and an own goal in the World Cup; the other ones being Ernie Brandts, Ruud Krol, Gustavo Peña and Mario Mandžukić.[citation needed]

Lazio

[edit]

In the summer of 1998, Mihajlović was brought to Lazio by head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson and club president Sergio Cragnotti for £8.5 million.[20] He won his first trophy in Italy as Lazio beat Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana during late August 1998. The club finished 7th in Serie A.

Strengthening the squad for a serious run at the Serie A title, in addition to Mihajlović, the summer 1998 transfer window also saw Cragnotti bring in Dejan Stanković from Red Star Belgrade, established goalscorer Marcelo Salas from River Plate, and finally striker Christian Vieri from Atlético Madrid.

With Lazio, Mihajlović reached the final of the 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, winning the last edition of that competition with a 2–1 victory against RCD Mallorca. Lazio also won the 1999 UEFA Super Cup. Mihajlović played 26 times and scored seven goals during the 1999–2000 Serie A season as Lazio won their second Scudetto. Mihajlović completed the double by helping Lazio win the 2000 Coppa Italia.

Mihajlović represented Yugoslavia internationally again, at the Euro 2000 tournament. In the first Yugoslav game of the tournament, he was sent off against Slovenia. He served a one-game suspension before playing the last two games of the tournament.

Mihajlović won his last trophy with Lazio in 2004, beating Juventus in the Coppa Italia final.

Inter Milan

[edit]

In 2004, Mihajlović was released from Lazio and joined his friend and former teammate Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal.[21] On 16 June 2005 Mihajlović signed a one-year extension.[22] On 9 April 2006, in a league away game versus Ascoli, he scored his 27th career free-kick goal in the Serie A championship. He retired after the 2005–06 season.

During his time with Inter, he made 43 appearances and scored 6 goals, all from direct free kicks.

International career

[edit]

Playing as a youth international, Mihajlović featured in 5 games at the 1990 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[23]

Between 1991 and 2003, Mihajlović was capped 63 times and scored 10 goals for the Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro.[24] He participated at the 1998 FIFA World Cup where he scored a free-kick against Iran as Yugoslavia reached the second round. He also participated at UEFA Euro 2000. He was sent off in Yugoslavia's opening game against Slovenia but returned after a one match ban with Yugoslavia reaching the quarterfinal. His final international was a June 2003 European Championship qualification match away against Finland.[25]

Style of play

[edit]

Early into his playing career, Mihajlović marked himself out with an extraordinary long-distance striking, crossing, and passing ability. His precise curling yet hard-driven left-footed shot allowed him to score free-kick goals on a regular basis. A set-piece and penalty kick specialist,[26] Mihajlović has said that he has scored free-kicks from as far as 35 yards, adding in a 2000 interview with BBC Sport: "I like to shoot with a swerve into both sides of the net. I often try scoring directly from the corners.".[27] Regarded as one of the greatest free kick takers of all time, he was capable of both scoring and creating chances from dead ball opportunities,[28] and holds the record for the most goals in Serie A from free-kicks, as well as the record for second most goals from free kicks for a single Serie A club in all competitions, with 43, behind Alessandro Del Piero. Along with Giuseppe Signori, he is one of only two players who have scored a hat-trick from free kicks in Serie A, a feat which he accomplished during his time with Lazio, in a 5–2 win over Sampdoria, on 13 December 1998, during the 1998–99 season.[29][30]

During his club career in Yugoslavia with Vojvodina and Red Star Belgrade as well as during his early spell at Roma, he played on the left side of midfield as winger, or as an attacking midfielder or second striker on occasion, where he was known for his stamina, speed, foot-work, and ability to cover the flank with his runs, as well as his excellent ball-striking ability with his left foot, and his ability to dictate attacking plays in midfield.[28][31][32][33] Upon moving to Italy, midway through his first season in Serie A, Mihajlović was moved to the position of left back by Roma head coach Vujadin Boškov. The following season, under Roma's new head coach Carlo Mazzone, he mostly continued at left back while occasionally being deployed as a defensive midfielder, although his performances in this position were somewhat inconsistent due to his limited tactical sense. In 1994, after transferring to Sampdoria under head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson, Mihajlović was moved to the centre of the team's defensive line, and remained in this position for the rest of his career. He later excelled in this newfound centre back role, where he functioned as a sweeper, due to his consistent defensive displays, physique, intelligence, leadership, and tenacity, as well as his good technique, touch on the ball, and long passing ability, which enabled him to play the ball out from the back; he drew praise from manager Carlo Mazzone, in particular, who described him as one of the best players in the world in his position.[34][35][36]

Managerial career

[edit]

Assistant at Inter Milan

[edit]

After retiring from playing at Inter Milan, Mihajlović began a coaching career at San Siro as assistant to head coach Roberto Mancini. Mihajlović and Mancini had played together for five seasons at Sampdoria and Lazio.

Mihajlović's free-kick expertise has been praised by Zlatan Ibrahimović,[37] who after several successful free-kicks thanked the then assistant coach Mihajlović who had trained him for two years at Inter.[38]

Mancini was fired in June 2008 by club president Massimo Moratti at the end of the 2007–08 season to make way for José Mourinho. Mihajlović left the club at the same time.

Bologna

[edit]

On 3 November 2008, Mihajlović was appointed to replace Daniele Arrigoni at Serie A relegation-battling club Bologna.[39] His Serie A bench debut came on 8 November 2008 at home versus Roma. The match ended in a 1–1 draw. His tenure began with five consecutive league draws before a 5–2 victory against relegation rivals Torino on 13 December 2008.

Mihajlović was sacked by Bologna on 14 April 2009 in the wake of a 1–4 home defeat against Siena, which dragged the team back into the relegation zone with seven matches remaining in the season. His tenure suffered from media rumours that he had numerous high-profile disagreements with senior players at the club which led to the poor form that eventually cost him the job.[40] Under new head coach Giuseppe Papadopulo, Bologna avoided relegation to the Serie B on the last day of the season with a win over Catania.

Catania

[edit]

On 8 December 2009, Mihajlović was appointed new head coach of Catania, taking over from Gianluca Atzori. [41] He signed a contract until June 2011 with gli elefanti, hiring Dario Marcolin—his former teammate at Lazio and colleague on Mancini's coaching staff at Inter—to be his assistant.[42] Arriving at the club last in Serie A, Mihajlović made his debut with a home loss against relegation rivals Livorno. However, the following week, his team beat heavily favoured Juventus away in Turin with a 1–2 scoreline.[43]

A string of good results, together with a number of key January signings such as former Argentine international striker Maxi López, helped Mihajlović keep the team out of the relegation zone. On 13 March 2010, Catania won 3–1 against league leaders and Mihajlović's former team Inter Milan.

Led by Mihajlović, Catania finished the season in 13th spot, well out of the relegation zone.

He resigned at the end of the season on 24 May 2010 amid reports linking him to incumbent UEFA Champions League winners Inter as a replacement for outgoing boss José Mourinho,[44] which did not come to anything in the end.

Fiorentina

[edit]

On 3 June 2010, Mihajlović was announced as the new head coach of Fiorentina, replacing outgoing Cesare Prandelli who had left the Tuscan club to become the manager of the Italy national team.

Fiorentina had finished the 2009–10 Serie A campaign in eleventh place, but had made the Champions League round-of-16 stage where they were eliminated by Bayern Munich on away goals. Mihajlović signed a two-year contract on a salary of just under €1 million per year.[45] Mihajlović stated that making Europe was a realistic goal for the season.[46]

2010–11 season

[edit]

The team suffered poor form in the first part of the season, with injuries to some key players. They finished the first half of the season in twelfth spot. Mihajlović signed winger Valon Behrami from West Ham United, but the alternating home and away form improved only slightly as the head coach experimented with various tactical formations.

In February 2011, Fiorentina won on the road for the first time in the season with a win at Palermo. In March 2011, the team recorded two straight wins for the first time in the season, climbing up to eighth spot. The club finished the league season with 12 wins (only three of those away from home), 11 losses, and 15 draws, which secured ninth place – twelve points out of a European spot.

2011–12 season

[edit]

During the summer 2011 transfer season, Mihajlović was strongly linked with a return to Inter in head coaching capacity, with some Italian papers even reporting the specific date of his unveiling at the nerazzurri following supposed successful negotiations with Inter's sporting director Marco Branca.[47] However, Mihajlović denied those claims, pledging to stay on in Florence.[48]

The season began in August 2011, with a Coppa Italia win over AS Cittadella. However, poor league form including five matches without a win put Mihajlović's position under pressure. At a home match against Genoa in October 2011, Fiorentina's supporters shouted abuse from the terraces throughout the match with calls for Mihajlović's sacking and even racist banners and chants targeting the coach's ethnicity.[49] The fans' verbal abuse of Mihajlović made headlines for the next couple of days and sections of Fiorentina support issued an apology to the coach by hanging a banner outside of the stadium.[50][51] Mihajlović was sacked on 7 November 2011, one day after a 1–0 away loss to ChievoVerona.[52] The team was in 13th place in the league with 12 points from 10 matches.

Serbia

[edit]

In May 2012, the Football Association of Serbia signed Mihajlović to become the head coach of the Serbia national team until the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[53] Serbia finished third in Group A of the qualifying phase in October 2013 after which he resigned.

Sampdoria

[edit]

On 20 November 2013, Sampdoria named Mihajlović as the new head coach in place for Delio Rossi. He signed a one-year rolling contract with automatic extension in case of a successful escape from relegation in the ongoing season, with his assistant coach Nenad Sakić (a former Sampdoria player himself) following him too.

During his first season in charge, he guided Sampdoria to significant improvements in results and easily escaped relegation. He successively agreed to stay for one more season, after talks with new president Massimo Ferrero, who took over from the Garrone family in July 2014. In the first weeks of the 2014–15 season, he managed to obtain eight points and no defeats in the first four games of the season, overseeing quality performances from players such as Stefano Okaka. On 1 June 2015 he wrote an open letter to confirm his departure as the head coach of Sampdoria.[54]

Milan

[edit]
Mihajlović in 2015

On 16 June 2015, Milan officially sacked Filippo Inzaghi, appointing Mihajlović as their new manager, with a contract until 30 June 2017.[55] During his tenure at the club, he was highly praised for trusting and giving playing opportunities to Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was only 16 years old at the time.[56] Mihajlović was sacked on 12 April 2016.[57]

Torino

[edit]

On 25 May 2016, Mihajlović was officially appointed as the new manager of Torino, taking over from Gian Piero Ventura.[58] He made his debut on the Granata bench on 13 August 2016 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino with a 4–1 home win over Pro Vercelli in the third round of the Coppa Italia.[59] Mihajlović fielded Torino with an aggressive 4-3-3 formation and by the midway point of the season registered a record for points (29) whilst under the presidency of Urbano Cairo,[60] but a less brilliant second half of the season ended with Torino in ninth place. He was sacked on 4 January 2018 following a 2–0 defeat to Juventus in the Coppa Italia.[61]

Sporting CP

[edit]

On 18 June 2018, Mihajlović took over as manager of Sporting CP, signing a three-year contract with the Portuguese club.[62] Nine days after his arrival, he was sacked due to change of executive staff.[63]

Return to Bologna

[edit]

On 28 January 2019, Bologna parted ways with Filippo Inzaghi due to a series of poor results, and Mihajlović took over at the club for the second time in his managerial career.[64]

The team scored 30 points in his first 17 games, in comparison with 14 points achieved under Inzaghi; thanks to those results, Mihajlović managed to keep Bologna into the top flight with ease, and he was retained as manager for the following season.

On 13 July 2019, Mihajlović announced that he had been diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia, but that he planned to stay in charge of the club while undergoing treatment.[65]

Mihajlović was sacked on 6 September 2022, after Bologna secured only three points from its first five matches in Serie A, ending his three-and-a-half-year spell with the club.[66]

Controversies

[edit]

As a player

[edit]

Mihajlović developed and fostered a reputation as a hard-nosed, tough-tackling player with a short fuse and no fear. As such he had many physical and verbal run-ins with opposing players that occasionally spilled outside of the pitch.[citation needed][67]

Already known as a player not backing away from physical play, the 22-year-old was one of the main protagonists of the ill-tempered 1991 Yugoslav Cup Final between Red Star and Hajduk Split on 8 May 1991 at the JNA Stadium in front of 7,000 spectators.[68] Although of secondary importance to Red Star, which was getting ready for the European Cup Final three weeks later, the match still featured a degree of tension due to pitting a Serbian side against a Croatian one in an atmosphere of inter-ethnic incidents between Croats and Croatian Serbs in eastern Slavonia and Dalmatia regions of SR Croatia, including Mihajlović's hometown Borovo that saw a massacre only six days before the final. Early in the match Hajduk's 23-year-old defender Igor Štimac and Mihajlović began insulting each other, and according to Mihajlović during one of their exchanges Štimac told him: "I hope our guys kill all of your family in Borovo."[69][70][71] In the 70th minute Mihajlović slid in for a hard tackle on another Hajduk player Grgica Kovač that led to play temporarily being stopped as both sets of players confronted each other. Mihajlović was led away by Hajduk player Ante Miše (the two knew each other as they were both from Borovo) who grabbed him by the hair while Red Star's Ilija Najdoski grabbed Hajduk's Slaven Bilić by the hair at which point Štimac jumped into the fracas with a raised fist attempting to punch Najdoski. Mihajlović received a second yellow for the challenge on Kovač, and the referee Adem Fazlagić also gave Štimac a second yellow, which meant both players got sent off.[68]

Several years later, in October 2000, Mihajlović raised a storm of controversy due to allegedly directing racist remarks at Arsenal's Patrick Vieira.[72] The incident occurred during an ill-tempered Lazio vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League match on 17 October 2000 at Stadio Olimpico. Throughout the contest, Mihajlović had run-ins with several Arsenal players, including Martin Keown and Robert Pires. After the final whistle, Mihajlović and Vieira were seen trading insults and trying to get at one another physically before being restrained by teammates. After the match, Vieira spoke to the media, accusing Mihajlović of racist abuse, saying that Mihajlović had called him "nero di merda" (black piece of shit) or "fucking black monkey."[73] Mihajlović subsequently apologized, but contended that his words were in retaliation to Vieira calling him a "zingaro di merda" (Gypsy piece of shit).[74] Two months later, in December 2000, Mihajlović came under police investigation over the event for possibly violating an anti-racism law in Italy. Italian investigators planned on using Mihajlović's own post-game admission about insulting Vieira to file charges of violating a 1993 law that criminalizes the "spreading ... of ideas based on racial or ethnic superiority or hate",[75] but no charges were made. Six years later Mihajlović and Vieira became part of the same team when the Senegalese-born Frenchman joined Inter where Mihajlović was already assistant to head coach Roberto Mancini. Vieira was later one of the guests for Mihajlović's testimonial match on 28 May 2007 in Novi Sad.[76]

On 7 November 2003, Mihajlović received an eight-match suspension by UEFA for spitting at and kicking Chelsea's Adrian Mutu during a Champions League group stage match.[77][78] Six and a half years later, Mihajlović became the head coach of Fiorentina, where Mutu was playing at the time.

As a manager

[edit]

A vocal and outspoken presence, known for his leadership,[79] Mihajlović attracted much controversy throughout both his playing and coaching careers, for his political views and affiliations.[26][73]

Amid Javier Clemente's failure to qualify the Serbia national team for Euro 2008, and Serbian press reports that then Inter Milan assistant coach Mihajlović was set to take over,[80] Mihajlović publicly came out against the Serbia FA (FSS) president Zvezdan Terzić, accusing him in October 2007 of "giving national team call-ups to players [he had private contracts with] in order to boost their transfer value".[81] Terzić did not directly respond to the accusation, which Mihajlović repeated several months later during early March 2008 in the wake of Terzić's time on the run from Serbian law enforcement over accusations of player transfer fee skimming.[82]

In May 2012, Mihajlović landed the Serbia national team head coaching job (under the new FA president Tomislav Karadžić) and instituted a new code-of-conduct to be signed by players called up for international duty. One of the central points was his insistence that players sing the national anthem before matches. On 28 May, after Adem Ljajić failed to do so despite signing the code-of-conduct, Mihajlović removed him from the national team.[83]

In December 2012, Mihajlović sued football agent Zoran Đurić for libel over his claims expressed during SOS channel's Total Soccer programme that "sports agents Fali Ramadani and Sergio Berti have a large influence on Mihajlović's national team squad selection".[84][85]

In late March 2013, in the wake of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier loss to Croatia, Mihajlović and Terzić reignited their public feud from six years prior, with the former Serbian FA president—who had in the meantime returned to the country from being on the run and completed a prison term following a plea deal—repeating Đurić's accusation about Mihajlović having "his national team match day squads selected by Sergio Berti".[86] Mihajlović announced plans to sue Terzić for libel over the remark.[87]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Mihajlović was married to Arianna Rapaccioni, an Italian former television presenter, with whom he had five children: three sons and two daughters.[88] On 13 July 2019, Mihajlović announced that he had been diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia, but would stay on as manager of Bologna.[65] He underwent a bone marrow transplant after three cycles of chemotherapy.[89]

In October 2021, he became a grandfather, after his daughter Virginia gave birth to a daughter. The father is Alessandro Vogliacco, who, at the time, played for Genoa.[90]

Mihajlović died on 16 December 2022 at a clinic in Rome, following complications of leukemia.[91][92]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[23]
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Vojvodina 1988–89 Yugoslav First League 31 4 — — 31 4
1989–90 Yugoslav First League 28 11 2[b] 1 — 30 12
1990–91 Yugoslav First League 14 4 — — 14 4
Total 73 19 2 1 — 75 20
Red Star Belgrade 1990–91 Yugoslav First League 14 1 3 1 5[b] 1 — 22 3
1991–92 Yugoslav First League 24 8 8 3 10[b] 4 2[c] 0 44 15
Total 38 9 11 4 15 5 2 0 66 18
Roma 1992–93 Serie A 29 1 7 5 5[d] 1 — 41 7
1993–94 Serie A 25 0 3 0 — — 28 0
Total 54 1 10 5 5 1 — 69 7
Sampdoria 1994–95 Serie A 25 3 2 0 6[e] 1 1[f] 1 34 5
1995–96 Serie A 30 4 2 0 — — 32 4
1996–97 Serie A 28 2 1 0 — — 29 2
1997–98 Serie A 27 3 4 1 2 0 — 33 4
Total 110 12 9 1 8 1 1 1 128 15
Lazio 1998–99 Serie A 30 8 4 1 9[e] 0 1[f] 0 44 9
1999–2000 Serie A 26 6 7 4 12[g] 3 1[h] 0 46 13
2000–01 Serie A 18 4 2 1 8[g] 2 1[f] 1 29 8
2001–02 Serie A 6 0 2 0 2[g] 0 — 10 0
2002–03 Serie A 21 1 1 0 6[d] 0 — 28 1
2003–04 Serie A 25 1 6 0 5[g] 1 — 36 2
Total 126 20 22 6 42 6 3 1 193 33
Inter Milan 2004–05 Serie A 20 4 6 1 4[g] 0 — 30 5
2005–06 Serie A 5 1 5 0 3[g] 0 — 13 1
Total 25 5 11 1 7 0 — 43 6
Career total 426 66 63 17 79 14 6 2 574 99
  1. ^ Includes Yugoslav Cup, Coppa Italia
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in European Cup
  3. ^ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, one appearance in Intercontinental Cup
  4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Cup
  5. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
  6. ^ a b c Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  7. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  8. ^ Appearance in UEFA Super Cup

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
SFR Yugoslavia 1991 4 0
1992 0 0
FR Yugoslavia 1993 0 0
1994 2 0
1995 3 2
1996 7 0
1997 10 2
1998 11 2
1999 5 0
2000 6 1
2001 6 2
2002 8 1
Serbia and Montenegro 2003 1 0
Total 63 10
Scores and results list Yugoslavia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mihajlović goal.
List of international goals scored by Siniša Mihajlović[93]
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 November 1995 Estadio Nacional Flor Blanca, San Salvador, El Salvador 8  El Salvador 1–0 4–1 Friendly
2 15 November 1995 Estadio Tecnológico, Monterrey, Mexico 9  Mexico 3–1 4–1 Friendly
3 10 September 1997 Štadión Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia 23  Slovakia 1–1 1–1 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 11 October 1997 Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta 24  Malta 2–0 5–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 3 June 1998 Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland 30  Japan 1–0 1–0 Friendly
6 14 June 1998 Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne, France 32  Iran 1–0 1–0 1998 FIFA World Cup
7 15 November 2000 Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania 48  Romania 1–1 1–2 Friendly
8 24 March 2001 Stadion Partizana, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia 49   Switzerland 1–0 1–1 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 15 August 2001 Stadion Crvene Zvezde, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia 54  Faroe Islands 1–0 2–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 16 August 2002 61  Finland 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying

Managerial statistics

[edit]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Bologna 3 November 2008 14 April 2009 22 4 8 10 25 36 −11 018.18
Catania 8 December 2009 24 May 2010 25 10 9 6 32 23 +9 040.00
Fiorentina 4 June 2010 7 November 2011 52 18 18 16 66 56 +10 034.62
Serbia 21 May 2012 19 November 2013 19 7 4 8 28 21 +7 036.84
Sampdoria 20 November 2013 1 June 2015 69 26 23 20 93 87 +6 037.68
Milan 16 June 2015 12 April 2016 38 19 10 9 57 37 +20 050.00
Torino 25 May 2016 4 January 2018 64 23 24 17 116 100 +16 035.94
Sporting CP 18 June 2018 27 June 2018 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
Bologna 28 January 2019 6 September 2022 142 46 38 58 196 228 −32 032.39
Total 431 153 134 144 613 588 +25 035.50

Honours

[edit]

Player

[edit]

Vojvodina[94]

Red Star Belgrade[94]

Lazio[94]

Inter Milan[94]

Yugoslavia U21

Individual

Manager

[edit]

Individual

Notes

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Siniša Mihajlović

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Siniša Mihajlović (20 February 1969 – 16 December 2022) was a Serbian professional footballer and manager renowned for his defensive prowess and exceptional free-kick ability, holding the Serie A record for the most goals from direct free kicks with 28. Born in Vukovar, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia, to a Serb father and Croat mother, he began his playing career at Vojvodina before starring at Red Star Belgrade, where he contributed to their 1991 European Cup victory, and later excelled in Italy with clubs like Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio, and Inter Milan. His club achievements included two Serie A titles—one with Sampdoria in 1991 and one with Lazio in 2000—along with multiple Coppa Italia wins and the 1999 UEFA Super Cup. Internationally, he earned 63 caps for Yugoslavia and its successor states, scoring 10 goals, including participation in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. As a manager, Mihajlović coached several Serie A sides including Catania, Fiorentina, Milan, Torino, and Bologna, often succeeding in averting relegation through his tactical acumen and intense motivational style, though he secured no major trophies in that role. His career was marked by occasional controversies, such as on-field altercations including spitting incidents and retaliatory exchanges with opponents like Patrick Vieira, amid the backdrop of Balkan ethnic tensions that shaped his personal identity and public persona. Mihajlović died in Rome from leukemia after a public battle with the disease diagnosed in 2019.

Early Life

Family Background and Ethnic Heritage

Siniša Mihajlović was born on February 20, 1969, in , within the , part of the . His father, Bogdan Mihajlović, was a Bosnian Serb and worked as a , while his mother, Viktorija, was Croatian and employed in a local shoe factory, reflecting the working-class milieu of the family. The family resided in Borovo Naselje, a suburb of with a predominantly Serb population amid the broader multi-ethnic fabric of pre-1990s , where Serbs, Croats, and others coexisted under the federal system. This environment exposed Mihajlović to Yugoslavia's official narrative of "," though underlying regional and ethnic distinctions persisted, particularly in eastern near the Serbian border. Despite his mixed parentage, Mihajlović identified publicly as Serbian, a self-identification that aligned with his paternal heritage and became evident during his formative years as ethnic nationalisms began to intensify across in the late 1980s. This personal ethnic alignment occurred against the backdrop of a promoting civic Yugoslav identity while allowing for republican-level cultural expressions, without overt family relocation tied to employment that shifted their primary residence from the Vukovar area during his childhood.

Youth and Entry into Football

Mihajlović began his organized football involvement in the youth ranks of NK Borovo, a lower-division club based in his hometown of , around 1984 at approximately age 15. He demonstrated early promise as a versatile player capable of contributing in midfield and defense, progressing quickly within the club's setup amid the structured youth development common in Yugoslav football during the 1980s. His senior professional debut came with Borovo in 1986, at the age of 17, under coach Zvonko Popović in the Yugoslav third tier. This marked his entry into competitive adult football, where he featured regularly, appearing in 37 and scoring 8 goals over two seasons, honing skills in set-piece execution and left-footed delivery that would define his . The regional football culture in and emphasized technical proficiency and physical resilience, influences evident in Mihajlović's adaptation from youth to senior levels without formal academy pedigrees beyond local clubs. In 1988, at age 19, he transferred to in , a top-flight Yugoslav side, signaling the culmination of his formative phase and transition toward elite competition. Coaches like Popović provided foundational guidance on tactical awareness, though Mihajlović credited the meritocratic Yugoslav system for rewarding raw talent over structured academies in his rapid ascent.

Professional Playing Career

Early Club Career in Yugoslavia

Mihajlović transitioned to professional football with in in 1988, after initial experience with lower-tier clubs such as NK Borovo near his hometown of . He made an immediate impact in the season, featuring in 31 matches and scoring 4 goals as secured the national title—the club's first since 1966. His debut goal for the club came on 14 August 1988, demonstrating early technical promise in a competitive domestic environment dominated by powerhouses like and Partizan. In the subsequent 1989–90 season, Mihajlović adapted to heightened professional demands, balancing defensive duties with offensive contributions in midfield or as a left-sided player. qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup, where he scored once in a 2–1 home win over Budapest Honvéd on 27 September 1989, marking his initial continental exposure. These performances drew scouting interest from larger Yugoslav clubs and signaled his potential for national team consideration, amid a league still unified but increasingly strained by ethnic and political frictions that foreshadowed the federation's dissolution. By 1990, as edged toward fragmentation with rising separatist movements, Mihajlović's tenure encapsulated the tail end of a cohesive domestic structure, before conflicts disrupted organized football across the region.

Red Star Belgrade and European Success


Siniša Mihajlović joined Red Star Belgrade from Vojvodina in December 1990, marking his integration into one of Yugoslavia's premier clubs during a transformative season. Under manager Ljupko Petrović, who had previously guided Mihajlović at Vojvodina and brought him to the team, Red Star secured the 1990–91 Yugoslav First League title, finishing atop the standings with a robust defensive and counterattacking style. Mihajlović, deployed primarily on the left flank, contributed to the squad's cohesion, leveraging his versatility across defensive and midfield roles in Petrović's fluid 3-5-2 formation that emphasized quick transitions and set-piece threats. In the 1990–91 European Cup, Mihajlović played a key role in Red Star's campaign after joining post-group stage, featuring in knockout ties against Rangers, Dynamo Kyiv, and Bayern Munich. He scored during the semi-final second leg victory over Bayern Munich on 17 April 1991, helping secure a 2–0 win that advanced the team to the final with an aggregate 2–2 draw resolved by the away goals rule. The final on 29 May 1991 at Stadio San Nicola in Bari ended 0–0 after extra time against Olympique de Marseille, with Red Star prevailing 5–3 in the penalty shoot-out; Mihajlović converted the second kick for the winners, underscoring his composure under pressure. This triumph represented the club's—and Yugoslavia's—sole European Cup victory, achieved through disciplined defending and opportunistic play amid a multi-ethnic squad blending talents like Dejan Savićević and Darko Pančev. Red Star's success extended to the Intercontinental Cup in December 1991, where they defeated 3–0 in , with Mihajlović participating in the global showdown. However, escalating led to UN sanctions, barring the club from from the 1991–92 season onward and preventing defense of their title, though the win encapsulated a peak of Yugoslav football unity before fragmentation. Petrović's tactical acumen, prioritizing adaptability and counter-speed, positioned Mihajlović as a dynamic outlet, his left-footed deliveries from free-kicks and crosses proving pivotal in set-piece scenarios throughout the campaign.

Transition to Serie A: Roma and Sampdoria

In July 1992, Mihajlović transferred from Red Star Belgrade to Roma for a fee of approximately ITL 8.5 billion, equivalent to about US$5.9 million at the time, despite interest from Juventus; the move was facilitated by Roma's manager Vujadin Bošković, who persuaded the player to join the Giallorossi instead. His adaptation to Serie A proved challenging, marked by an unhappy spell amid the league's tactical demands and the three-foreigner rule limiting playing time, though he featured in 69 matches over two seasons, scoring all 7 of his goals in the 1992–93 campaign. Mihajlović's left-footed free kicks stood out, including a notable strike in the 1992–93 Coppa Italia final second leg against Torino, contributing to Roma's 5–2 victory in that match despite an overall aggregate loss. Discontent at Roma led to his departure in June 1994, when he joined Sampdoria—a club that had finished third in and won the the prior season—for a transfer fee of €6 million, under manager . At Sampdoria, Mihajlović experienced stronger integration, transitioning primarily to central defense while retaining offensive duties from set pieces; he formed effective partnerships, notably with attacking talents like , and appeared in 128 league matches across four seasons (1994–98), netting 15 goals. His contributions helped Sampdoria maintain competitiveness in races, including a fourth-place finish in 1994–95 with 32 appearances and 4 goals from him, though the team fell short of the title amid Milan's dominance. Free-kick prowess remained evident, bolstering Sampdoria's set-piece threat during mid-table to upper-mid-table campaigns.

Peak at Lazio

Mihajlović joined from Sampdoria in the summer of 1998 for a reported fee of around 20 billion lire, reuniting with manager and quickly establishing himself as a versatile left-sided defender capable of contributing offensively through set pieces. In his debut season, he made an immediate impact by scoring a of direct free-kicks in a single match against Sampdoria on December 13, 1998, securing a 5-2 victory and setting a unique record in Italian top-flight history for three goals from dead-ball situations in one game. During the 1999–2000 Serie A campaign, Mihajlović featured in 26 league matches, scoring seven goals, many from free-kicks, while providing defensive solidity on the left flank alongside players like and Giuseppe Favalli. His contributions helped clinch the on the final day with a 3–1 win over Reggina, ending Juventus's three-year dominance and marking the club's second league title. Lazio's success under Eriksson extended to European and domestic honors, with Mihajlović playing key roles in winning the 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (defeating Mallorca 2–1 in the final), the 1999 UEFA Super Cup (2–1 aggregate over Manchester United), and the 2000 Coppa Italia (beating Casertana in the two-legged final). He also contributed to the 1998 Supercoppa Italiana victory over Milan (2–1). Over his Lazio tenure, Mihajlović's set-piece prowess yielded numerous goals, bolstering the team's attack from defense and aligning with his career total of 28 Serie A free-kick strikes, a record later matched by Andrea Pirlo.

Inter Milan and Career Wind-Down

In July 2004, Mihajlović joined on a free transfer from , signing a two-year contract at age 35. Over the subsequent two seasons, he appeared in 43 matches across all competitions for the club, scoring 6 goals and recording 11 assists, primarily from set pieces. His role diminished due to age-related physical decline and persistent injuries, limiting him to sporadic starts and substitute appearances in and fixtures. Despite reduced minutes—averaging under 20 league games per season—Mihajlović contributed to Inter's defensive organization and dead-ball execution, drawing on his expertise as one of Serie A's premier free-kick specialists, though his output tapered compared to prior clubs. The team secured the title amid the scandal, with Mihajlović featuring in key matches before his departure. Mihajlović announced his retirement from professional football on 14 May 2006, following Inter's final league game of the season, concluding a career that spanned over two decades with approximately 110 club goals across and . In alone, he amassed more than 300 appearances and 61 goals during his stints with Roma, Sampdoria, , and Inter. Immediately after hanging up his boots, he entered coaching as assistant manager under at Inter, marking a seamless shift from player to staff role.

International Playing Career

Representations for Yugoslavia

Mihajlović earned four caps for the (SFR Yugoslavia) national football team in 1991, prior to the country's dissolution amid ethnic conflicts and wars in 1992. His debut occurred on 16 May 1991 in , where defeated the 7–0 in a qualifier for Euro 1992; he played the full 90 minutes without scoring. This match highlighted the team's attacking prowess, though Mihajlović's role was primarily defensive with contributions in set pieces, reflecting his club form at . Subsequent appearances included a 2–0 away victory over the on 16 October 1991 in another Euro 1992 qualifier, again playing the full match. He also featured in a friendly loss to (1–3) on 31 October 1991 in and a 2–0 win against on 13 November 1991 in during qualifiers. Across these four matches, Mihajlović scored no goals and completed all fixtures, totaling 360 minutes played. These limited outings occurred amid a talented Yugoslavia squad featuring midfielders like and , part of the "golden generation" that had success at club level but faced internal divisions. Yugoslavia qualified for Euro 1992 through these efforts but was disqualified in May 1992 due to UN sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), the Serb-dominated successor state, preventing further participation and major tournament exposure for Mihajlović during this era. No appearances materialized, as qualifiers for 1990 had concluded before his emergence, and 1994 efforts were halted by the ban.

Serbia and Montenegro Era

After the breakup of the in 1991–1992, Siniša Mihajlović continued his international career with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) national football team, representing amid international isolation due to UN sanctions related to the . The sanctions restricted official competitive matches from 1992 to 1994, limiting the team to friendlies, yet Mihajlović earned the majority of his 63 total caps during this period, spanning 1991 to 2003, with 10 goals scored overall. By the late , the lifting of bans enabled participation in major tournaments, where the squad, composed primarily of Serb and Montenegrin players following the secession of other republics, demonstrated cohesion despite regional ethnic tensions. Mihajlović played a key role in FR Yugoslavia's return to the international stage at the in , featuring in all four matches as the team advanced to the quarterfinals. On June 14, 1998, he scored the tournament's opening goal—a in the 73rd minute—securing a 1–0 group stage victory over . In the subsequent 2–2 draw against on June 21, an off his leg in the 74th minute contributed to the equalizer, though Yugoslavia topped Group F ahead of the . The run ended with a 1–1 draw against the on June 28, followed by a loss, marking FR Yugoslavia's best performance since 1962. At in and the , Mihajlović appeared in three group stage matches for , which exited after earning four points. On June 13 against , he received a second yellow card in the 62nd minute while trailing 0–3, but the team mounted a comeback to draw 3–3, with goals from Saša Savićević, , and Slobodan Komljenović. then defeated 1–0 on June 18 before a 3–4 defeat to on June 21, where early pressure from the yielded no lead despite Mihajlović's involvement in set pieces. Post-Euro 2000, Mihajlović's appearances dwindled as he transitioned toward club commitments, earning four caps for the rebranded team from 2003 onward, including one goal, before retiring from international duty in 2003. The era underscored his set-piece prowess and defensive contributions amid a national team adapting to geopolitical constraints and a narrower ethnic base, with no major internal conflicts documented affecting team selection or performance.

Key Tournaments and Performances

Mihajlović's standout international performances occurred primarily during Yugoslavia's return to major tournaments after the UN sanctions were lifted, with notable contributions in the . In the group stage match against on June 14, 1998, he scored the decisive goal in the 73rd minute, securing a 1–0 victory that helped advance the team from Group F. This dead-ball strike exemplified his set-piece prowess, though disciplinary issues marred his tournament; during the 2–2 draw with on June 21, 1998, he committed an in the 74th minute and was involved in a heated incident with , highlighting his volatile temperament without resulting in an immediate ejection. At , Mihajlović featured in three matches for (later representing ), registering no goals but influencing key outcomes through his aggressive leadership. In the group stage opener against on June 13, 2000, he received a straight red card in the 61st minute while trailing 3–0, yet the team mounted a remarkable comeback to draw 3–3, demonstrating resilience possibly galvanized by his fiery exit. This draw, combined with a 4–3 extra-time win over , propelled to the quarter-finals, where they lost 2–1 to the on June 25, 2000, ending Mihajlović's major tournament run. Across 63 caps from 1991 to 2003, Mihajlović netted 10 goals, often from free-kicks that boosted team morale by providing momentum in tight fixtures, though his ejections underscored a style that prioritized intensity over discipline, occasionally disrupting defensive stability. He retired from international duty in 2003 following unsuccessful Euro 2004 qualifiers, shifting focus to club commitments.

Playing Style and On-Field Characteristics

Technical Skills and Set-Piece Mastery

Mihajlović demonstrated versatility across defensive and roles, frequently deployed as a centre-back, left-back, or defensive throughout his career, allowing him to contribute both defensively and in attack. His technical proficiency encompassed strong ball control, precise long-range passing, and effective crossing, enabling him to initiate plays from deep positions with accuracy. These attributes stemmed from the technically rigorous Yugoslav football training system, which emphasized skill development from youth levels, as evidenced by his early performances at where he honed these abilities in competitive environments. He was particularly distinguished for his set-piece mastery, especially left-footed free-kicks, which combined power, swerve, and precision to bend over walls and past goalkeepers. Mihajlović holds the record for the most goals from direct free-kicks, with 28 scored between 1992 and 2006. A hallmark of his expertise occurred on 13 December 1998, when he netted three direct free-kick goals in Lazio's 5-2 victory over Sampdoria, converting attempts from varying distances and angles in the 29th, 45th, and 52nd minutes. This performance underscored his ability to exploit set-pieces repeatedly in high-stakes matches, a rarity among defenders. His free-kick technique involved striking with the instep for velocity or the outside of the foot for curl, often targeting the upper corners, which contributed to a conversion rate superior to many peers in terms of efficiency per opportunity. Observers noted similarities to in the explosive power of his left-footed shots, though Mihajlović's set-piece specialization yielded higher volume in league play. Overall, his 105 goals as a defender, many from dead-ball situations, highlighted how technical set-piece acumen elevated his defensive profile into that of a scoring threat.

Temperament, Discipline, and Incidents

Mihajlović exhibited a fiercely competitive on the pitch, characterized by intense passion that propelled his defensive tenacity and set-piece prowess but frequently manifested in disciplinary lapses, including aggressive tackles, toward officials, and confrontations with opponents. This combative edge contributed to a marked by ejections and suspensions, often stemming from his reluctance to yield ground in physical duels or verbal exchanges, though it also underscored his unyielding commitment to winning. In , where he played 315 matches across clubs including Roma, Sampdoria, , and from 1992 to 2006, Mihajlović received 10 red cards, reflecting a rate of roughly one ejection every 31.5 games amid a league known for its tactical rigor and physicality. These dismissals typically arose from second yellows for reckless challenges or direct reds for violent conduct, disrupting team continuity and drawing extended bans from Italian football authorities. A prominent occurred on , 2000, during against , when Mihajlović was sent off in the 60th minute with a yellow-red card for a studs-up tackle on Sašo Udovič while trailed 0–3; the team mounted a remarkable comeback to draw 3–3 post-ejection, though he served a one-match suspension for the next fixture against . Another key club ejection took place on November 4, 2003, in a group stage match versus Chelsea, where he accumulated two yellow cards leading to a sending-off, compounded by separate sanctions of an eight-match ban for spitting at striker and kicking toward an assistant referee amid escalating tensions. Such episodes highlighted a pattern where Mihajlović's high-stakes aggression—tied to his role as a vocal leader and free-kick specialist—occasionally overrode restraint, resulting in avoidable absences; for instance, multiple reds in the late 1990s at correlated with heated derbies, yet his overall contributions often outweighed the setbacks in successful campaigns like the 1999–2000 win.

Managerial Career

Initial Coaching Positions

Mihajlović began his coaching career immediately after retiring as a player in 2006, serving as assistant manager to at from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2008. In this capacity, he acted primarily as a bridge between the head coach and the squad, drawing on his extensive playing experience to foster team cohesion during a successful period that included consecutive titles in 2006–07 and 2007–08. On 3 November 2008, Mihajlović secured his first head coaching position at , replacing Daniele Arrigoni after a 5–1 loss to left the club rooted to the bottom of with just six points from 11 matches. Facing acute defensive vulnerabilities—Bologna had conceded 20 goals in those opening fixtures—Mihajlović prioritized organizational stability and pragmatic setups to halt the slide. His intervention yielded 30 points across 25 league games in charge (compared to 14 under his predecessor in a similar span), propelling the team clear of immediate danger despite ongoing challenges. Bologna ultimately finished 17th in the standings, securing survival by a single point, though Mihajlović was dismissed on 14 April 2009 amid a run of four defeats in five matches that threatened a late collapse. This stint marked his debut in top-flight management, emphasizing resilience over flair to preserve elite status for a squad ill-equipped for mid-table contention.

Mid-Tier Italian Clubs: Bologna, Catania, Fiorentina

Mihajlović assumed his first head coaching position at Bologna on 3 November 2008, replacing Daniele Arrigoni during a Serie A relegation struggle where the club sat near the bottom of the table. Over 22 matches, he recorded a points-per-match average of 0.91, implementing a disciplined defensive structure that emphasized compactness and counter-attacks to grind out results against stronger opponents. Despite early draws stabilizing the squad, inconsistent performances led to his dismissal on 14 April 2009, with Bologna ultimately finishing 17th and securing survival under interim management; Mihajlović's tenure laid groundwork for the escape by halting a slide that included prior heavy defeats. His approach highlighted tactical pragmatism suited to mid-table survival, though player discipline issues surfaced, foreshadowing his reputation for demanding accountability. In December 2009, Mihajlović took charge at Catania, inheriting a side rooted to the Serie A relegation zone after Gianluca Atzori's sacking. Appointed on 8 December, he oversaw 25 matches across league and cup, achieving a 1.56 points-per-match rate with 10 wins, 9 draws, and 6 losses, including a strong 9-9-5 record in 23 Serie A fixtures. This haul propelled Catania to a comfortable 13th-place finish, 9 points clear of the drop zone, through an aggressive pressing system that leveraged set-piece threats drawn from his playing expertise and fostered resilience in away games. He resigned on 24 May 2010 amid reported board tensions, but his intervention marked a clear upturn, transforming a faltering team into one capable of mid-table security without major squad overhaul. Mihajlović's stint at Fiorentina began on 4 June 2010, where he managed 52 games until his dismissal on 7 November 2011 following a 1-0 loss to Chievo Verona amid a winless run. Yielding a 1.38 points-per-match average, his tenure featured tactical shifts toward a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation emphasizing wing play and midfield control, though results fluctuated with a mid-table 2010-11 campaign giving way to early struggles in 2011-12. Discipline remained a hallmark, with public clashes over player commitment underscoring his no-nonsense ethos, yet defensive lapses and injuries undermined consistency. Fiorentina hovered around 10th-12th positions under him, avoiding peril but failing to contend for Europe, reflective of transitional challenges in a squad blending veterans and youth without dominant success in domestic cups.

National Team Tenure with Serbia

Siniša Mihajlović was appointed of the on 21 May 2012, signing a two-year contract to lead the side following their failure to qualify for under predecessor . At 43 years old, Mihajlović, who had recently managed Italian clubs , , and Fiorentina, aimed to instill discipline and eradicate perceived lacks of commitment and patriotism within the squad, vowing to address fan violence and player dedication issues. One of his first notable actions came during preparations for a friendly against on 26 May 2012, when Mihajlović suspended midfielder indefinitely after the Bosniak player refused to sing the "Bojna Čača Nikad Ne Čuje" due to personal beliefs. Ljajić, a Fiorentina player of Muslim heritage, maintained his stance in a meeting with the coach, leading to his exclusion from the match—which Serbia lost 2-0—and subsequent national team call-ups under Mihajlović, highlighting the coach's emphasis on unified national team culture and symbolic gestures of loyalty. Under Mihajlović, Serbia competed in the qualifiers in Group A alongside , , , , and Macedonia, achieving mixed results across 10 matches: 4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, totaling 14 points and finishing third behind (26 points) and (17 points), thus missing direct qualification and playoffs. Key fixtures included a 0-2 home loss to on 22 March 2013 amid heightened tensions, a 1-1 draw against , and a 5-1 victory over Macedonia on 15 October 2013, but defeats to and contributed to elimination. Overall, Mihajlović's tenure yielded 7 wins and 8 losses in 19 matches, with early friendlies like the defeat underscoring defensive vulnerabilities. Mihajlović resigned on 20 November 2013, shortly after the qualifiers concluded, citing the failure to reach the in and announcing his immediate move to manage Sampdoria in , ending his national team stint amid internal expectations for qualification success.

High-Profile Roles: Sampdoria, Milan, Torino

Mihajlović was appointed head coach of Sampdoria on November 20, 2013, replacing amid a struggle against relegation in . Over 68 matches until his departure on June 11, 2015, he achieved a points-per-match average of 1.49, stabilizing the team and guiding them to a 12th-place finish in the 2013–14 season before elevating them to 7th in 2014–15, securing qualification. His tenure featured confrontations with players, including a post-match altercation with defender Vasco Regini following a derby draw against in February 2015, stemming from dissatisfaction with a late foul. At , Mihajlović signed a two-year contract on June 16, 2015, succeeding , with expectations of restoring competitiveness at a club then owned by . In 38 matches until his sacking on April 12, 2016—after just 10 months and a points-per-match of 1.76—the team experimented with a 4-3-3 formation but endured inconsistent results, culminating in a 7th-place finish and failure to qualify for . The dismissal followed a poor run, including only two points from the last five league games and a home loss to Juventus, amid tensions over tactical rigidity and limited rebuilding time under ownership constraints. Mihajlović joined Torino on May 25, 2016, overseeing 64 matches until his dismissal on January 4, 2018, with a points-per-match of 1.45. He implemented an aggressive 4-3-3 system, leading to a 9th-place finish in 2016–17 and a strong mid-season points tally of 29 in 2017–18 before a downturn. The sacking came after a 2–0 quarterfinal loss to Juventus on January 3, 2018, where Mihajlović was sent off for protesting a non-called foul on the second goal, exacerbating a recent league slump and staff disputes, such as a sideline push of an assistant over a substitution error in August 2017.

Later Appointments: Sporting CP and Bologna Return

On 18 June 2018, Mihajlović was appointed manager of Sporting CP on a three-year contract, succeeding amid the club's internal turmoil following fan violence and player unrest. However, he was dismissed on 27 June 2018, just nine days later, without managing a single match, after the club's president Bruno de Carvalho was ousted in elections, leading to a reversal of the appointment by the new leadership. Mihajlović returned to on 28 January 2019 as head coach, replacing , with the team languishing in the relegation zone of after a poor run of form. Under his guidance, secured survival that season, accumulating sufficient points from the remaining fixtures to finish 17th and avoid relegation playoffs. In the following 2019–20 campaign, despite the disruptions of the , the team achieved a mid-table 12th-place finish, marking a stabilization and revival from their earlier struggles. On 13 July 2019, Mihajlović publicly disclosed his diagnosis of , stating he would continue managing while undergoing treatment, emphasizing his determination to overcome the illness. He underwent starting in late July but returned to the touchline by 25 August 2019, just six weeks after diagnosis, leading Bologna in their opener against . Throughout his tenure, Mihajlović balanced ongoing medical monitoring with coaching duties, adapting training and match preparations around hospital visits while maintaining team focus on consistent mid-table performance and avoiding relegation threats in subsequent seasons.

Political Views, Nationalism, and Controversies

Context of Yugoslav Wars and Personal Associations

Siniša Mihajlović was born on February 20, 1969, in Borovo, a town near Vukovar in eastern Croatia, to a Serbian father and a Croatian mother, placing him within the ethnic mosaic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during a period of rising tensions. Vukovar became a focal point of the Croatian War of Independence in 1991, enduring a brutal siege by Yugoslav People's Army forces and Serb paramilitaries from August to November, resulting in widespread destruction and civilian casualties, though Mihajlović had already begun his professional football career elsewhere in Yugoslavia. His mixed parentage underscored the personal fractures of the dissolving federation, where familial ties crossed emerging ethnic lines amid escalating conflicts from 1991 onward. Mihajlović maintained no direct involvement in combat during the , focusing instead on his burgeoning football career, which saw him transfer from to in 1988 and contribute to their 1991 European Cup victory before moving to with Roma in 1992, amid the federation's disintegration and on Yugoslav sports. The wars disrupted national team aspirations, with Yugoslavia's expulsion from and competitions, limiting opportunities for players like Mihajlović, though his relocation to insulated him from frontline perils while his family in the region faced hardships, including the destruction of his childhood home. A notable personal association was his friendship with Željko Ražnatović, known as Arkan, a figure who transitioned from Red Star ultras leader to paramilitary commander during the conflicts; the two met through football circles at Red Star, where Arkan supported Mihajlović early in his career. Mihajlović publicly mourned Arkan following his assassination on January 15, 2000, despite Ražnatović's indictment by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 1999 for crimes against humanity in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, reflecting enduring ties forged in the pre-war Belgrade football scene. These connections later influenced perceptions of Mihajlović's loyalties, complicating his post-war career transitions and public image in a polarized Balkan context.

Allegations of Racism and Nationalism

In October 2000, during a match between and on October 17, midfielder alleged that Siniša Mihajlović subjected him to sustained racial abuse, including calling him a "monkey" repeatedly before, during, and after the game in . launched an investigation into the claims, resulting in a two-match ban for Mihajlović for "sustained racist insults throughout the match," alongside a public apology he issued at the time. Italian authorities also opened a criminal probe, with potential penalties including up to three years in prison for racial insults under Italian law, though no followed and the case appears to have been resolved without further sanctions. Mihajlović denied the racial motivation, attributing his comments to Vieira's on-field provocations rather than ethnicity. As head coach of the Serbia national team in May 2012, Mihajlović expelled midfielder from the squad indefinitely after Ljajić declined to sing the "" before a friendly match against on May 26, citing personal beliefs. Ljajić, a Bosniak Muslim, had informed Mihajlović of his stance beforehand, but the coach enforced a team rule requiring anthem participation as a demonstration of respect for the country, leading to the player's removal mid-camp. The decision drew criticism for perceived , particularly given Ljajić's ethnic background and the anthem's associations with Serbian identity, though Mihajlović framed it as a matter of discipline applicable to all players regardless of origin. Ljajić was later reinstated under a subsequent coach in 2014. Mihajlović's playing career included multiple incidents of on-field aggression, such as the 1991 final on May 15 between (his team) and Hajduk Split, marked by post-match brawls involving players including Mihajlović and , contributing to widespread violence amid rising ethnic tensions. These events, along with other ejections for spitting and striking opponents, resulted in fines and suspensions, including UEFA's two-game ban in 2000 and an eight-match suspension in 2003 for unrelated conduct. Media outlets have frequently portrayed Mihajlović as embodying nationalist fervor and volatility, linking his disciplinary record and anthem enforcement to a pattern of ethnic insensitivity, though such depictions often emphasize unproven intent over verified outcomes.

Stances on Kosovo, NATO, and Serbian Identity

Mihajlović vocally opposed the 1999 bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of , which targeted Serbian military positions during the conflict to halt of . He publicly protested the airstrikes, including by meeting Italian government officials to discuss the attacks and aligning with sentiments portraying the intervention as an assault on civilians in his homeland. In later reflections, he evoked Serbian victimhood by critiquing media portrayals that framed Serb casualties as victims of Serbian aggression, such as a front-page photo of his former Serb classmate mislabeled as killed by "Serbian ," arguing that " is always written by the victors" and that Serbs bore undue blame. His stances extended to unapologetic defense of personal ties rooted in Serbian wartime experiences, particularly his friendship with , the leader implicated in atrocities during the Yugoslav conflicts, including in and . In a 2020 tied to his , Mihajlović stated, "I will never share what he did, and he did terrible things. But I cannot deny a relationship that is part of my life, of what I have been. Otherwise I would be a hypocrite," emphasizing over condemnation despite Arkan's notoriety. This reflected a broader rejection of external narratives pressuring disavowal of ethnic affiliations forged amid the wars. Mihajlović embodied Serbian pride through enforcement of national symbols, such as expelling national team player in 2012 for refusing to sing the anthem before a match, underscoring his insistence on collective ethnic identity and belonging. Born to a Serb father and Croat mother in , he consistently affirmed his Serbian heritage, viewing it as integral despite the Balkan conflicts' divisions, and critiqued the geopolitical outcomes—like NATO's role in enabling Kosovo's separation—as part of a victor-driven distortion of Serbian historical claims.

Public Defenses and Reconciliatory Efforts

Mihajlović consistently denied , framing them as misinterpretations of on-field passion or retaliatory responses to provocations rather than ideological prejudice. In response to the 2000 Champions League incident involving Arsenal's , where he was alleged to have used racial slurs, Mihajlović asserted that Vieira had first insulted him by calling him a "gypsy," stating, "If I'm a racist then at this point so is he for calling me a gypsy," and emphasized, "I don't have anything against blacks." He further distinguished his defensive aggression from by highlighting his own experiences with ethnic discrimination tied to his partial Romani heritage, positioning such exchanges as mutual escalations in high-stakes matches rather than evidence of . Against labels of , Mihajlović defended his expressions of Serbian pride as patriotic fervor, not ethnic supremacy, often citing his mixed heritage—Serbian father and Croatian mother—as proof of his nuanced identity and rejection of pure . In interviews, he rejected media portrayals of him as a "nationalist ," arguing that loving one's country did not equate to hating others, and pointed to his coaching of multi-ethnic squads in , including players from African and Balkan backgrounds at clubs like and Fiorentina, as evidence of inclusive leadership. He clashed publicly with journalists who equated his comments on Serbian suffering with , insisting that acknowledging historical grievances was not advocacy for division but a call for honest reckoning without . Mihajlović engaged in reconciliatory efforts by mending personal ties fractured by the , notably reconciling with Croatian coach in 2012 after two decades of enmity stemming from a 1991 cup final brawl. The two met at Warsaw's Hilton Hotel during Euro 2012, burying the hatchet through dialogue that emphasized moving beyond war-era hatreds, and later publicly committed to setting a positive example ahead of the 2013 Croatia-Serbia qualifier by urging players and fans to prioritize over lingering animosities. He also reflected on unity in a 2016 interview, forgiving childhood friend —a Croatian international and former teammate—for wartime divergences, underscoring enduring bonds from Yugoslavia's multi-ethnic football era despite political ruptures. These actions highlighted his post-war emphasis on personal reconciliation and shared sporting heritage as bridges over ethnic divides.

Personal Life

Family, Relationships, and Private Challenges

Mihajlović entered into a long-term relationship with Arianna Rapaccioni, an Italian former , shortly after arriving in in 1992; the couple married in July 2005 after over a decade together. They raised six children in total, comprising five biological offspring—daughters Viktorija (born February 19, 1997) and (born May 29, 1998), and sons Miroslav (born 2000), Dušan, and —along with Marco from Mihajlović's prior relationship, whom Rapaccioni accepted and helped raise as part of the family. The family primarily resided in , , reflecting Mihajlović's extended professional tenure there and subsequent coaching roles across the country, though he maintained strong personal ties to with occasional visits. No major public financial difficulties or initiatives tied directly to family hardships were documented, as Mihajlović emphasized self-reliance in personal matters. Mihajlović guarded details of domestic life closely, rarely discussing relational dynamics or internal family issues in interviews, portraying his household as a private refuge amid his high-profile career; he occasionally shared glimpses, such as family photos or affirmations of Rapaccioni's role, but avoided deeper revelations to shield loved ones from scrutiny.

Illness, Treatment, and Death

In July 2019, Mihajlović was diagnosed with while serving as manager of . He immediately began treatment, undergoing three cycles of followed by a transplant. Despite the severity of his condition, he was discharged from the hospital on August 28, 2019, after completing the initial rigorous phase, and resumed coaching duties at by late August. Mihajlović continued in his role amid ongoing health challenges, but in March 2022, medical scans revealed a risk of , necessitating rehospitalization for additional treatment cycles. He persisted in managing the team through periods of remission and complications until his condition deteriorated further. Mihajlović died on December 16, 2022, at age 53, succumbing to after a three-year battle. His family publicly announced the death that day, confirming the cause as complications from the disease. His funeral took place on December 19 in , drawing tributes from Italian clubs including and , with pallbearers such as Italy national team manager and former teammate among the attendees. FIFA President issued a statement expressing profound sadness over the loss of a figure who had significantly impacted European football.

Legacy and Assessment

Sporting Achievements and Records


As a player, Siniša Mihajlović won the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade in the 1990–91 season. He secured two Yugoslav First League titles with the same club in 1990–91 and 1991–92. Later, with Lazio, he claimed the Serie A title in 1999–2000, the Coppa Italia in 1999–2000 and 2003–04, the Supercoppa Italiana in 1998–99 and 2000–01, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1998–99, and the UEFA Super Cup in 1999–2000. At Inter Milan, he added another Serie A title in 2005–06, along with Coppa Italia wins in 2004–05 and 2005–06, and the Supercoppa Italiana in 2005–06. Mihajlović co-holds the record for the most goals scored from direct free kicks, with 28, tied with . On 13 September 1998, he achieved a unique feat by scoring three direct free-kick goals in a single match for Lazio against Sampdoria in a 5–2 victory. Internationally, he earned 63 caps for and its successor teams, scoring 10 goals. As a manager, Mihajlović won no major trophies across 419 matches, recording 171 wins, 112 draws, and 136 losses for a win percentage of approximately 40.8%. Notable highlights include guiding to survival in the 2009–10 season after taking charge in , when the team sat in the relegation zone. With in 2015–16, he achieved a 50% win rate over 38 matches, securing sixth place and Europa League qualification.

Influence on Football and Broader Culture

Mihajlović's expertise in set-pieces, honed during his playing career where he executed free-kicks from distances up to 35 yards, positioned him among the elite specialists in football history. As a manager, he integrated aggressive pressing and structured formations like the 4-3-1-2, which emphasized disciplined defensive organization and counter-attacking efficiency, influencing teams such as Sampdoria and AC Milan during his tenures. His approach to player development extended to mentoring emerging talents, notably guiding young defender Alessio Romagnoli at Milan, where Mihajlović's defensive insights contributed to the player's technical growth and leadership qualities. In the , Mihajlović emerged as an enduring icon of Yugoslav and Serbian football, symbolizing resilience and success abroad that resonated across the region amid fragmentation. His prominence in , combined with occasional media commentary in both Serbian and Italian outlets, amplified his role as a cultural bridge between Eastern European football traditions and Serie A's tactical sophistication. Following his death on December 16, 2022, football communities worldwide honored Mihajlović through widespread tributes, including minutes of silence observed by clubs like in their return matches and attendance at his funeral by figures such as and . These gestures underscored his inspirational off-pitch legacy, extending to broader Serbian sports icons like , who credited Mihajlović's indelible mark on national pride and perseverance.

Balanced Evaluation of Contributions and Criticisms

Mihajlović's contributions to football lie in his tactical versatility and motivational intensity, which enabled underperforming teams to achieve unexpected results, such as promotions and cup successes, though these were often undermined by recurrent disciplinary conflicts and abrupt terminations that reflected his uncompromising style. His empirical record demonstrates resilience in , where as a non-Italian he secured multiple coaching roles across clubs like and Torino, fostering player loyalty through direct confrontation rather than , a approach that admirers credit for injecting authenticity and grit into squads lacking direction. However, critics point to a pattern of sackings—stemming from clashes with management and inconsistent league finishes—as evidence that his intensity prioritized personal conviction over pragmatic stability, limiting long-term achievements compared to more adaptable contemporaries. Regarding nationalism's role in his persona, supporters viewed Mihajlović's unyielding defense of Serbian positions amid the Yugoslav conflicts as a mark of principled realism, enhancing his appeal as a figure of cultural resilience who transcended ethnic divides by maintaining friendships across lines, such as with Croatian peers, thereby humanizing a fractious era. This stance, rooted in the causal realities of wartime displacement and identity assertion, bolstered his authenticity in Serbian and Italian contexts valuing stoic warriors, potentially aiding fan engagement and team morale by signaling unwavering loyalty. Detractors, conversely, argued it fostered divisiveness, portraying him as a polarizing symbol whose risked reigniting Balkan tensions in football's international arena, as seen in reactions to his public statements, which complicated efforts and alienated multicultural stakeholders. Causally, Mihajlović's outspokenness amplified his influence by cultivating a legacy of raw passion that inspired underdogs but simultaneously precipitated self-inflicted setbacks through avoidable controversies, yielding a net career marked by peaks of adoration for his candor against troughs of isolation from institutional norms. In a field prone to , this trait realistically mirrored the unfiltered demands of high-stakes competition yet hindered broader acceptance, with admirers lauding it as essential for genuine leadership while critics deemed it a relic of wartime intransigence ill-suited to modern professionalism.

Professional Statistics and Honours

Club and International Player Data

Mihajlović began his professional club career in before transferring to , where he spent the majority of his playing years as a versatile defender known for set-piece proficiency. Across all competitions, he recorded 457 appearances, 69 goals, and 77 assists at club level.
ClubAppearancesGoalsAssists
730
1752
Roma6976
Sampdoria1281523
1933341
43611
Internationally, Mihajlović represented (63 caps, 10 goals) and (4 caps, 1 goal), totaling 67 caps and 11 goals; assists were not systematically tracked for his era. He specialized in free kicks, scoring a record-tying 28 direct free-kick goals in .

Managerial Record

Mihajlović's managerial tenure from 2008 to 2022 primarily involved Italian clubs in , alongside a stint with the national team, yielding an overall win percentage of 35.35% across 413 competitive . His records featured mid-table stabilizations, such as at Torino where he secured ninth-place finishes in 2016–17 and 2017–18 before dismissal amid a winless run, and at 's second spell (2019–2022) where he lifted the team from the relegation zone to consistent mid-table positions, though he was sacked in September 2022 following five winless to start the season. Earlier dismissals included from Fiorentina in 2011 after a poor start and from his initial role in due to insufficient results.
Club/National TeamTenureMatchesWinsDrawsLossesWin %PPM
(first)Nov 2008 – Apr 200922Not specifiedNot specifiedNot specifiedNot specified0.91
Dec 2009 – May 201025109640.001.56
FiorentinaJun 2010 – Nov 20115218181634.621.38
NTMay 2012 – Nov 201319Not specifiedNot specifiedNot specifiedNot specified1.32
SampdoriaNov 2013 – Jun 201568–6926232037.681.49
Jun 2015 – Apr 2016381910950.001.76
TorinoMay 2016 – Jan 20186423241735.941.45
(second)Jan 2019 – Sep 2022131Included in combinedIncluded in combinedIncluded in combinedIncluded in 30.05 (total )1.25
Note: Bologna statistics in win-draw-loss format reflect combined stints (203 total matches, 61 wins, 30.05% win rate); discrepancies in match counts across sources may include friendlies or qualifiers. No major trophies were won, with highest league finishes being seventh (Sampdoria, 2013–14) and sixth (, 2015–16).

Major Trophies and Individual Accolades

As a player, Mihajlović won the European Cup with on 29 May 1991, defeating 5–3 on penalties in the final after a 0–0 draw. He secured the title with in the 1999–2000 season, ending Juventus's six-year dominance. Additional club honours included two titles with in 1999–2000 and 2003–04, the 1993–94 with Sampdoria, two wins with in 1998 and 2000, the in 1998–99 with , and the in 1999 with defeating Manchester United 1–0. Mihajlović was named to the ESM Team of the Year in 1999 and 2000. He holds the record for most goals from direct free kicks, with 28 across his career in the league. As a manager, Mihajlović won no major trophies but guided to the final in the 2015–16 season, where they lost 1–0 to Juventus on 21 May 2016. He received the Coach of the Month award for April 2022 while at Torino.

References

  1. https://kids.kiddle.co/Sini%25C5%25A1a_Mihajlovi%25C4%2587
  2. https://balkaninsight.com/2022/12/16/serbian-and-yugoslav-football-legend-mihajlovic-dies-aged-53/
  3. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/erfolge/spieler/5834
  4. https://www.laziostories.com/post/sinisa-mihajlovic
  5. https://thelaziali.com/2021/05/14/sinisa-mihajlovic-lazio-legend-profile/
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12802135/bio/
  7. https://football-italia.net/five-important-moments-in-mihajlovics-coaching-career/
  8. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/01/13/sinisa-mihajlovic-talented-outspoken-footballer-who-courted/
  9. https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/mar/21/sinisa-mihajlovic-serbia-croatia
  10. https://www.euronews.com/2022/12/16/yugoslav-and-serbian-football-star-sinisa-mihajlovic-dies-aged-53
  11. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11546393/Sinisa-Mihajlovic-dies-aged-53-battle-leukaemia.html
  12. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/profil/trainer/3896
  13. https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/9147/sinisa-mihajlovic
  14. https://10footballentertainment.com/mihajlovic-sinisa-2/
  15. https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/profile-mihajlovic-out-to-prove-his-worth-on-big-stage-idUSKBN0OW1CT/
  16. https://ethnicelebs.com/sinisa-mihajlovic
  17. https://www.gentlemanultra.com/2016/12/02/sinisa-mihajlovic-exploring-the-conflicted-past-of-a-dark-moon/
  18. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/profil/spieler/5834
  19. https://www.playmakerstats.com/player/sinisa-mihajlovic/2078
  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gCMMSbA7SI
  21. http://www.eurocupshistory.com/all_goals/3393/sinisa_mihajlovic
  22. https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/rise-underdog-unfancied-red-star-conquered-europe/pr847ylc6shz1ufpoel8d3av7
  23. https://www.facebook.com/90sFootballMemories/posts/the-199091-red-star-belgrade-side-was-stackedjust-look-at-the-names-they-won-the/1030962475884404/
  24. https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/08/17/red-star-triumph-of-1991/
  25. https://community.sports-interactive.com/forums/topic/368242-a-slavic-renaissance-an-attempt-to-replicate-red-star-belgrade-1991-tactics/
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjI-2e3ppxg
  27. https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/4373--crvena-zvezda-vs-marseille/
  28. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60630701
  29. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/transfers/spieler/5834/transfer_id/19331
  30. https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2019/02/mihajlovic-at-50-freekicks-red-cards-and-a-majestic-left-foot/
  31. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/5834
  32. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/alletore/spieler/5834
  33. https://www.transfermarkt.us/uc-sampdoria/transfers/verein/1038/saison_id/1994
  34. https://www.playmakerstats.com/player/sinisa-mihajlovic/2078?epoca_id=128
  35. https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/an-ode-to-sinisa-mihajlovics-superb-hat-trick-of-free-kicks-for-lazio
  36. https://shop.mygreatest11.com/en-us/blogs/mygreatest11/when-sinisa-mihajlovic-scored-a-free-kick-hat-trick
  37. https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/04/18/lazio-and-the-great-serie-a-title-race-of-2000/
  38. https://www.gentlemanultra.com/2018/09/12/a-roman-epic-lazio-and-their-scudetto-triumph-of-1999-00/
  39. https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmetgates/2022/12/22/a-tribute-to-sinisa-mihajlovicserie-as-greatest-free-kick-specialist/
  40. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/leistungsdaten/spieler/5834
  41. https://www.inter.it/en/archivio_giocatore/G0774
  42. https://www.balkaninsight.com/2022/12/16/serbian-and-yugoslav-football-legend-mihajlovic-dies-aged-53/
  43. https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/smihajlovic-intl.html
  44. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/debuets/spieler/5834
  45. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/nationalmannschaft/spieler/5834
  46. https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/10717/Sinisa_Mihajlovic.html
  47. https://www.transfermarkt.com/sinisa-mihajlovic/nationalmannschaft/spieler/5834
  48. https://inside.fifa.com/en/watch/sinisa-mihajlovic-goal-73-yugoslavia-vs-ir-iran-1998-fifa-world-cup-france
  49. https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/198124/yugoslavia-germany
  50. https://fr.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7b3073ee49-a329af4db17f-1000--spain-pull-off-a-miracle-in-seven-goal-classic-against-y/
  51. https://breakingthelines.com/historical-series/serbia-the-dramatic-journey-in-the-2000-european-championship-as-part-of-yugoslavia/
  52. https://www.eu-football.info/_player.php?id=13955
  53. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQKn5wyDLIA/
  54. https://www.reddit.com/r/classicsoccer/comments/znlmus/euro2000_epic_comeback_by_the_10men_yugoslavia/
  55. https://www.statmuse.com/fc/ask/which-player-has-the-most-career-red-cards?l=seriea
  56. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jun/14/match.sport1
  57. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/yugoslavia/791319.stm
  58. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/nov/07/newsstory.sport6
  59. https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2008/nov/10/serie-a-mihajlovic-bologna
  60. https://sempreinter.com/2022/12/17/former-inter-coach-roberto-mancini-i-have-lost-a-brother-in-sinisa-mihajlovic-after-28-years-he-will-stay-with-me-forever/
  61. https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01d3-0f8ef2f75ae2-97069723cd73-1000--mihajlovic-takes-bologna-reins-from-arrigoni/
  62. https://www.[transfermarkt](/page/Transfermarkt).us/sinisa-mihajlovic/profil/trainer/3896
  63. https://apnews.com/article/sports-soccer-serie-a-italy-fcbbe145acbc91e21fbb3516f4330a6a
  64. https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/bologna-fc/9/
  65. https://www.transfermarkt.us/catania-calcio/startseite/verein/1627/saison_id/2009
  66. https://footystats.org/managers/serbia/sinisa-mihajlovic
  67. https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/07/sport/football/football-fiorentina-mihajlovic
  68. https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0253-0d7e0e88d771-eaf2c4efd160-1000--mihajlovic-accepts-serbia-world-cup-challenge/
  69. https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/confident-mihajlovic-takes-over-as-serbia-coach-idUSDEE84K0FM/
  70. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/28/serbia-adem-ljajic-suspended-spain-friendly
  71. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/soccer-player-suspended-for-not-singing-anthem/
  72. https://nesn.com/2012/05/serbia-cuts-adem-ljajic-from-national-team-after-he-refuses-to-sing-national-anthem/
  73. https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2014q.html
  74. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/mar/22/croatia-beat-serbia-world-cup-qualifying
  75. https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0253-0d7ee93838cd-17caa63744e2-1000--serbia-finish-with-a-flourish-against-fyrom/
  76. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/32532611
  77. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-serbia-mihajlovic-sampdoria-idUKBRE9AJ0HO20131120/
  78. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37421269/ac-milan-sack-filippo-inzaghi-appoint-sinisa-mihajlovic
  79. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37404508/sampdoria-coach-sinisa-mihajlovic-confronts-own-player-late-foul
  80. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37464687/sinisa-mihajlovic-leaves-ac-milan-replaced-brocchi
  81. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37445255/sinisa-mihajlovic-sacking-no-surprise-ac-milan
  82. https://www.besoccer.com/new/torino-sack-mihajlovic-after-juventus-loss-355650
  83. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37542087/torino-sack-sinisa-mihajlovic-cup-loss-juventus-hire-walter-mazzarri
  84. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/torino-manager-sinisa-mihajlovic-pushes-tears-assistants-after-replacing-wrong-player
  85. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sporting-lissabon/mitarbeiterhistorie/verein/336
  86. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37557389/sporting-sack-new-coach-sinisa-mihajlovic-9-days-hiring-him
  87. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/28/sporting-sinisa-mihajlovic-sack-coach
  88. https://www.transfermarkt.us/bologna-fc-1909/mitarbeiterhistorie/verein/1025
  89. https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/bologna-fires-inzaghi-and-hires-mihajlovic-as-coach
  90. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/bologna-fires-inzaghi-and-hires-mihajlovic-as-coach
  91. https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/bologna-manager-sinisa-mihajlovic-announces-he-will-undergo-another-round-of-leukemia-treatment/
  92. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7244247/Sinisa-Mihajlovic-reveals-remain-Bologna-manager-battles-leukaemia.html
  93. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49468784
  94. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38680948/bologna-manager-sinisa-mihajlovic-return-hospital-leukaemia-returns
  95. https://football-italia.net/bologna-2020-21-season-review/
  96. https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13096958.leaned-said-pray-god-whole-family-murdered/
  97. https://emancipationforgoalposts1.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/so-you-think-you-know-sinisa-mihajlovic/
  98. https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13072017.sinisa-mihajlovic-history-violence/
  99. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2007/may/31/onsecondthoughtssinisamiha
  100. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/oct/19/championsleague.sport1
  101. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/4773921/Vieira-accuses-Lazio-of-worst-racist-abuse.html
  102. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/dec/23/newsstory.sport1
  103. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/dec/22/newsstory.sport8
  104. https://balkaninsight.com/2012/05/30/bosniaks-condemn-ljajic-s-kicking-off-over-anthem/
  105. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/05/28/adem-ljajic-released--serbia-national-anthem_n_1550090.html
  106. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/17249/7783660/ljajic-suspended-over-anthem
  107. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37392255/roma-ljajic-back-serbia-squad-controversies
  108. https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/366qwa/whats_the_most_physically_violent_vicious_match/
  109. https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/croatian-players-in-yugoslavian-national-team-historic-injustice.1805884/page-4
  110. https://www.arhiva.serbia.gov.rs/news/2003-11/07/331806.html
  111. https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/serbia-already-set-tone-with-mihajlovic-appointment_sto4713205/story.shtml?welcome=eurosport
  112. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37349186/serb-croat-coaches-forget-harsh-pre-war-words
  113. https://www.hashtag.al/en/index.php/2020/11/25/mihajlovic-flet-per-luften-dhe-arkanin-ka-bere-gjera-te-tmerrshme-por-do-isha-hipokrit-nese-mohoj-miqesine-me-te/
  114. https://cultofcalcio.com/sinisa-mihajlovic-serbian-pride-in-an-italian-heart/
  115. https://en.vijesti.me/sports-e/football-c/303563/Stimac-and-Mihajlovic-reconciled-after-20-years
  116. https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/22/sport/football/serbia-croatia-war-football
  117. https://www.repubblica.it/sport/2022/12/16/news/figli_moglie_sinisa_mihajlovic_allenatore-379362558/
  118. https://www.mynewsgh.com/sinisa-mihajlovic-children-how-many-kids-does-sinisa-mihajlovic-have/
  119. https://www.ilmessaggero.it/en/arianna_rapaccioni_sinisa_mihajlovic_s_widow_opens_up_about_her_loss_and_life_after_his_death-7885821.html
  120. https://www.oggi.it/gossip/amori/2020/11/27/sinisa-mihajlovic-ci-apre-le-porte-di-casa-sua-con-la-moglie-e-i-figli-arianna-e-lunica-persona-al-mondo-che-ha-piu-palle-di-me-esclusivo/
  121. https://freedating.altervista.org/mihajlovic-and-the-family-the-thirty-year-love-affair-with-arianna-the-six-children-the-granddaughter/
  122. https://www.oggi.it/gossip/gallery/sinisa-mihajlovic-con-la-moglie-arianna-e-i-cinque-figli-mai-visti-cosi-foto-private/
  123. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/13/bologna-head-coach-sinisa-mihajlovic-diagnosed-with-acute-leukaemia
  124. https://www.france24.com/en/20190828-mihajlovic-discharged-from-hospital-following-rigorous-cancer-treatment
  125. https://www.dailysabah.com/sports/football/bologna-coach-mihajlovic-returning-to-hospital-for-leukemia-treatment
  126. https://football-italia.net/i-will-fight-to-win-mihajlovics-final-chapter-with-bologna/
  127. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63999433
  128. https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-rome-leukemia-ab738ef546fa9460bdbfa3fff708f7a5
  129. https://apnews.com/article/sports-soccer-roberto-mancini-leukemia-eagles-81a9290694bbf74023c94dd6274fd470
  130. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11554411/Italy-manager-Roberto-Mancini-helps-carry-coffin-Sinisa-Mihajlovics-funeral.html
  131. https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/president/news/fifa-president-on-the-passing-of-sinisa-mihajlovic
  132. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/478186-most-goals-scored-from-free-kicks-by-a-player-in-serie-a
  133. https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2019/09/02/italy-calcio/994402-sinisa-mihajlovic-the-fight-of-his-life.html
  134. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2544914-assessing-the-tactics-of-sinisa-mihajlovics-ac-milan-ahead-of-2015-16-season
  135. https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/04/12/alessio-romagnoli-and-the-curse-of-the-technical-defender/
  136. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/16/sinisa-mihajlovic-serie-a-and-serbian-football-icon-dies-aged-53
  137. https://twitter.com/cbssportsgolazo/status/1610676250879852546
  138. https://www.beinsports.com/en-us/soccer/articles/djokovic-joins-tributes-to-mihajlovic-your-mark-is-indelible-2022-12-17
  139. https://breakingthelines.com/manager-analysis/sinisa-mihajlovic-a-rare-breed-of-a-warrior/
  140. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/12/sinisa-mihajlovic-sacked-milan-christian-brocchi-silvio-berlusconi
  141. https://www.transfermarkt.us/sinisa-mihajlovic/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/5834
  142. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62811227
  143. https://www.transfermarkt.com/sinisa-mihajlovic/erfolge/spieler/5834
  144. https://acmilan.theoffside.com/2016/4/13/11412850/looking-back-at-the-brief-reign
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.