Sinisa Mihajlovic was a legendary player in Serie A and tributes have poured in for the former defender following his death.
The 53-year-old Serbian coach sadly passed away aged 53 in a clinic in Rome today following a long battle with leukaemia. He was originally diagnosed with the illness in July 2019 whilst in charge of Bologna and retained the role until his dismissal in September of this year.
During his playing career, Mihajlovic was known to be both a formidable and hard-working defender and a free-kick specialist, once scoring three in a single match against Sampdoria.
Milan posted a touching tribute, saying: “Heaven has gained another legend. You will be sorely missed, Siniša.”
Fiorentina offered support to Mihajlovic’s loved ones: “Fiorentina mourns the passing of Sinisa Mihajlovic and rallies around his family and loved ones.”
Hellas Verona also reacted, saying: “It was an honour, Sinisa.”
Salernitana highlighted the impact Mihajlovic made to many, posting: “U.S. Salernitana 1919, President Danilo Iervolino, executives, coach, players and the entire staff stand around the grief of the football world at the passing of Siniša Mihajlović and extend their deepest condolences to his family.”
Sampdoria posted a touching statement paying tribute to the former defender.
“’I approached every game like it was life and life like it was a game.’ Sinisa Mihajlovic’s match of a lifetime ended this afternoon, due to a b*stard recurrence of myeloid leukaemia. Three sharp whistles in the deafening silence of a Rome already ready for the upcoming holiday season.
“Whistles like icy blades in the chest for all those who loved him. We Sampdorians are certainly among those. And today, as never before, we cannot but be proud.
“Because Sinisa is a part of our us, a part of our being, a part of our history. First as an opponent, in the most epic away match ever, on that night in Sofia when we tasted his deadly left foot. Then as a player, defensive leader for four seasons of a team that knew how to entertain but could have done more.
“And finally, as coach, when he took us to the bottom of the standings and led us in a year and a half to savour again the taste of Europe. Him and us, us and him: a sincere relationship of respect and gratitude, a treasure chest of indelible frames for the collective Blucerchiata memory.
“Sinisa throwing the bomb. Sinisa scoring at the start in the Super Cup. Sinisa scoring at the start in the league. Sinisa who missed the penalty with Arsenal. Sinisa who turned free in Cagliari. Sinisa who failed to score on a free kick with Piacenza. Sinisa who got sent off in Perugia.
“ Sinisa who celebrated with the bench at San Siro. Sinisa who put it in from a corner on the head of the Mancio. Sinisa putting it in on Verón’s right. Sinisa who ran to Vuja. Sinisa who scored three against us in Rome with Lazio. Sinisa coming back and quoting Kennedy. Sinisa hugging Krsticic. Sinisa who won two derbies, with Maxi and Gabbia. Sinisa whose cologne you could smell from a distance (even years away).
“Sinisa who talked to you about his Serbia. Sinisa who got p*ssed off. Sinisa who put punitive workouts at 7 a.m. Sinisa who chased Regini at the end of the derby. Sinisa cheering with Sakic. Sinisa smiling.
“Sinisa waving goodbye to the Sud for the last time. Sinisa who there would be hundreds to say. Sinisa who was and is all of this: a true and courageous man, a true legend that we, at Sampdoria, will never forget.
“To his wife Arianna, his children Viktorija, Virginia, Miroslav, Dušan and Nicholas, his granddaughter Violante and the entire Mihajlovic family, the deepest condolences from President Marco Lanna and the entire club.”
Inter also wrote a long and touching message, remembering Mijalovic.
“FC Internazionale Milano, its president Steven Zhang, vice president Javier Zanetti, CEOs Alessandro Antonello and Giuseppe Marotta, coach Simone Inzaghi and his staff, the players and the entire Inter world, join in the condolences for the passing of Sinisa Mihajlovic and, in remembering him, embrace his family members.
“One is never ready to say goodbye to a fellow traveller. It seems that time has been too short, already faded, just a memory. Saying goodbye forever to Sinisa Mihajlovic is difficult for so many reasons. It is painful, unfair, deeply melancholic.
“First an opponent on the field, then as a Nerazzurri, as a player and as an assistant coach. Then again opposite, on rival benches. Always true to himself: in grit and attitude, in pride and seriousness.
“The number 10 of defenders. Physical prowess, tactical wisdom and a blessed left foot: rarely on football pitches has such a powerful, such a precise left-hander been seen. King of set pieces, author of beautiful goals, even in a Nerazzurri shirt.
“When he arrived at the age of 35 at Inter, he immediately made things clear, right from his first press conference: ‘I’m here to play and to win. I still have something inside and I can give it to Inter.’ He was true to his word.
“Two seasons, one Scudetto, two Coppa Italia. One, marked with a free kick to the cross in the final, at San Siro. Shocking. Forty-three games and six goals, all, of course, on free kicks. Wonders to remember, one by one.
“Then the experience on the Nerazzurri bench, deputy alongside his great friend Roberto Mancini. Fundamental presence: two years, two Scudetti and the Supercoppa. Beautiful victories, indelible victories. An important mark in Nerazzurri history, before embarking on a coaching career.
“Personality and confidence transmitted to his players, a fighter on and off the field, when he had to undertake the most difficult and important challenge, that against illness. Tackled Sinisa-style: the will to live, to fight.
“’I fought Leukaemia,’ he said. Because he fought it with pride, returning to coaching, also revealing a side he always hid for years: ‘I learned to cry: to see a tough man crying, it’s tender.’
“Sinisa to the core. With a message that has reached and will remain in the hearts of all football fans. Sports and life.
“Inter, in embracing his family at this very sad moment, remembers him with immense affection and friendship.
“Goodbye Sinisa.”
His most recent club Bologna paid tribute to him in a statement:
“Goodbye Mister, you will live forever in our hearts
“Sinisa Mihajlovic left us today, at the age of 53, after a long and moving battle with leukaemia. Bologna Fc 1909 mourns the coach who led the Rossoblù until last September.
“Sinisa Mihajlovic was born in Vukovar on February 20, 1969, and it was in Bologna that he began his coaching career in 2008, after successes as a player with Red Star, Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter Milan.
“And on the Bologna bench he had returned in January 2019, leading the team to tenth place after an incredible chase for salvation ended with 30 points won in the 17 games of his management.
“But right at the start of the following season, on July 13, 2019, came the news that shocked the club, fans and all football fans: Mihajlovic announced in an emotional press conference at Casteldebole that he had contracted an acute form of leukaemia.
“His hospitalization and the heavy treatment he is undergoing do not prevent him from continuing his work: the club confirmed from the first moment its intention to continue with Mihajlovic, he followed the team from a distance and communicated with the players thanks to technology and the constant mediation of his staff of collaborators.
“After 44 days of hospitalization, Mihajlovic surprisingly left the hospital on August 25 to sit on the bench at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona for the first league trip.
“For three more seasons, Mihajlovic continued to lead the Rossoblù, but on March 26 he was forced to report the reappearance of the illness and subsequent re-hospitalization. In September the painful decision by the club to relieve him of his duties: ‘The most difficult choice,’ says Joey Saputo, ‘since I have been president of Bologna.’
“In these months Sinisa continued to struggle away from the spotlight, surrounded by the affection of his wonderful family. He wanted to live, he wanted to return to the football pitches, which had been his life since he was a child. He didn’t make it, Mihajlovic, yet he won this time as well.
“He won by the example he set for us. He won by not hiding his own weaknesses and very human fears. Mihajlovic, whom so many liked to call ‘the warrior,’ won with the gentleness of fragility, teaching younger people that true strength lies not in feeling invincible, but in always trying to get back up.
“In Bologna we lived together with him three and a half wonderful and terrible years, in a state of mind that does not usually accompany the carefree affairs of football. Not only the club, but the whole city accompanied him as much as it could on this hard journey: the City Council gave him honorary citizenship, the fans addressed their wishes for his recovery to heaven by going up in procession to the basilica of San Luca, the place of the soul of all Bolognese.
“Bolognesi who mourn you today, Sinisa, ideally embracing Arianna and your children, knowing full well that such a ‘fellow citizen,’ once he enters everyone’s heart, will remain there forever. More alive, more victorious than ever.
“Goodbye Mister.”
His former club Lazio mourned the passing of Mihajlovic.
Roma sent support to the former defender’s family and said farewell.
RIP LEGEND.
Very very sad news, one of my favorites. RIP Miha
Omg 😪😪😪
RIP Sinsia ❤❤❤❤