Mladen Žižović (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Mladen Žižović, who led Borac Banja Luka to historic European success and eliminated Olimpija, has died suddenly at 44 during a league match in Serbia.
The football world across Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is mourning the sudden death of Mladen Žižović, who collapsed and passed away during the Serbian SuperLiga match between Radnički 1923 Kragujevac and Mladost Lučani. He was just 44 years old.
Žižović had taken charge of Radnički only three matches ago, but his legacy was already firmly established in Banja Luka, where he masterminded Borac’s first-ever European campaign, making him one of the most successful coaches in the club’s modern history.
The architect of ‘European Borac’
Born in Rogatica, Žižović spent most of his playing career in Bosnia as an attacking midfielder, becoming a cult hero at Zrinjski Mostar, where he scored 34 goals in 134 appearances during his first spell. After retiring, he swiftly moved into coaching, leading Radnik Bijeljina, Sloboda Tuzla, and Zrinjski before arriving at Borac.
His 402-day spell in charge of Borac Banja Luka was short but monumental. Under his guidance, Borac achieved something never before seen in its history – a place in European competition. During the 2024/25 season, his team reached the round of 16 in the UEFA Europa Conference League, recording 18 European matches in total.
The high point came in the summer of 2024, when Borac sensationally eliminated Olimpija Ljubljana, a result that Bosnian media still describe as “a mythical success” for the club and for Bosnian football in general.
A career of promise and passion
Despite the historic run, Žižović’s journey with Borac ended abruptly after an early European exit against Santa Coloma of Andorra the following year. Yet his work had already left a lasting mark.
In recognition of his achievements, Nezavisne novine and Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina named him Coach of the Year in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024.
His death has shocked the region, with tributes pouring in from players, colleagues, and fans who remember him as a passionate, intelligent coach and a man devoted to his craft.