(foto: Posnetek zaslona)
Serbian football mourns coach Mladen Žižović, who collapsed during a league match. Players broke down in tears after learning of his death on the pitch.
Serbian football is in mourning following the sudden death of Mladen Žižović, head coach of Radnički 1923 Kragujevac, who collapsed during Sunday’s SuperLiga match against Mladost Lučani. He was just 44 years old.
The tragedy unfolded in the 21st minute, when Žižović suddenly collapsed near the touchline. Medical staff rushed to his aid and immediately transported him to a nearby hospital. However, just twenty minutes later, news broke that he had died on the way to the hospital.
Tears and disbelief on the pitch
A deeply emotional scene followed. Referee Jovan Šegrt halted the game as the tragic news reached the stadium. In a heart-wrenching video, players from both teams can be seen falling to the ground in tears as they realised what had happened.
Some hugged each other in disbelief, while others simply sat on the turf, covering their faces. The match was officially abandoned, and the atmosphere in Lučani turned from competition to mourning.
This was only Žižović’s third game in charge of Radnički after succeeding Feđa Dudić, now coach of Maribor, who was also a close personal friend of the late Bosnian-born coach.