Sinisa Mihajlovic was an inspirational figure on and off the pitch and he experienced a number of important moments during his long coaching career, writes Apollo Heyes.
The former defender sadly passed away at a clinic in Rome following a long battle with leukaemia. He was a legendary player in Serie A, known for his defensive solidity and incredible free kicks, and support has already started pouring in from across the footballing world.
Mihajlovic spent 20 years on the pitch, playing for teams like Red Star, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter before retiring in 2006. Immediately after hanging up his boots, he spent two years as an assistant coach with Inter before setting off on his own coaching journey.
1 – In the shadow of Mount Etna
After a fairly brief experience in charge of Bologna, Mihajlovic took over as Catania coach in December 2009, taking over from Gianluca Atzori. He signed a two-year contract with the Sicilian outfit and immediately had a tough task, with the team languishing at the bottom of the league table.
The former defender immediately made an impact at Catania and pulled off a stunning upset in his second game in the dug-out, beating Juventus by two goals to one in Turin. Later in the campaign, the Sicilian side beat league leaders Inter 3-1, and finished the season comfortably far away from the relegation zone. He resigned at the end of that season, leaving a hero in Catania.
2 – The shattered dream of Brazil
In May 2012, Mihajlovic was appointed to be the Serbia coach, giving him a chance to lead his country on the international stage. His goal was to guide the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and hopes were high in his home nation.
Unfortunately for the former defender, things were tough for his beloved Serbia and they ultimately missed out on the tournament after finishing third in their qualifying group, three points behind Croatia. After this, he again handed in his notice.
3 – A new dawn in Liguria
Mihajlovic needed to pick himself up following Serbia’s failed World Cup bid and signed for Sampdoria in November 2013, replacing the dismissed Delio Rossi. He was handed a one-year deal with an automatic extension linked to avoiding relegation, summing up the job at hand on the Ligurian coast.
The Serbian had little trouble with Sampdoria and guided them clear from danger in his first season, earning another year in the job. He continued his impressive work in Liguria and drove the team to 7th in the Serie A table, enough to put them in the Europa League qualifying rounds.
4 – The other side of the Madonnina
Mihajlovic’s impressive results at Sampdoria didn’t go unnoticed and he was brought in to replace Filippo Inzaghi at Milan in June 2015, penning a two-year contract with the club. It was another step up for the former defender, who was keen to flex his muscles with a big club.
Things were difficult in Lombardy for Mihajlovic and he only lasted a season before being shown the door, finishing the 2015-16 season in 6th place. The Serbian coach did earn praise, however, for his trust and faith in talented teenager Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made his debut for the club at just 16.
5 – Through thick and thin
In January 2019, Mihajlovic returned to Bologna after more than a decade, again replacing Inzaghi at the helm. He guided the team clear from the relegation zone, picking up 30 points from 17 games, and was trusted to stay in charge for the following season.
That July, everything changed for Mihajlovic, who announced that he had been diagnosed with an acute form of leukaemia. Bologna decided to retain the Serbian coach despite his diagnosis and he remained in charge until September of this year, when he was dismissed after a tough start to the season.
A special moment after his diagnosis came on August 25 2019, when he left the Sant’Orsola Hospital in Bologna to sit on the bench for their season opener against Hellas Verona, showing his grit and determination.