Sinisa Mihajlovic discussed dealing with his illness, giving others hope and why continuing to work for Bologna “kept me going” in hospital. "Now I need my mother's cooking to fatten me up."
The Bologna coach, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in July and underwent a bone marrow transplant after chemotherapy, was at the Gazzetta Sports Awards this evening.
“Thank you for this prestigious award. I am honoured and pleased. There are a few risks being here, but it’s worth it,” he said from the stage.
Sinisa Mihajlovic discussed dealing with his illness, giving others hope and why continuing to work for Bologna “kept me going” in hospital. "Now I need my mother's cooking to fatten me up."
The Bologna coach, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in July and underwent a bone marrow transplant after chemotherapy, was at the Gazzetta Sports Awards this evening.
“Thank you for this prestigious award. I am honoured and pleased. There are a few risks being here, but it’s worth it,” he said from the stage.
“I can see the sunshine, we are at the end of the tunnel.”
The Serbian spent most of the season in hospital, communicating with his staff and players via videolink.
“The affection I received really helped me. I didn’t want to be a hero, it’s just the way I face up to problems. I don’t like to run away.
“I continued my work because it made me feel alive. I couldn’t wait to watch the training sessions directly from my hospital bed. These were the things that kept me going.
“Above all, it was my family, my wife Arianna, my children. Arianna visited me every day, she’d sleep on a chair in the hospital.
“I felt the affection of fans from all over the football world and I thank you all, because you made me feel like I was part of a big family.
“I therefore felt it was my duty to help people in a similar situation that they must not be afraid, that they must continue fighting. Not everyone has to deal with illness the way I did, but you can give yourself small objectives.”
There was a video message from his elderly mother and Sinisa reacted with a joke.
“She’s coming this weekend and I need her to fatten me up with some Slavic food.”
Mihajlovic caught the illness early with the help of the Bologna medical staff, but also knew to be wary, as he has a family history of cancer.
“My father had cancer and I was unable to give him one last embrace. Now when I drink grappa, I get one for me and one for him.”
Mihajlovic also spoke about his life, career and great friend Roberto Mancini.
“The moments of my career are four major events. The first is the football my father bought me, I remember putting moisturiser on it to soften the leather.
“Then my first football boots, as before that I had been using rugby ones. When I won the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade, because becoming part of Yugoslavian football was fantastic.
“The fourth moment was when I was fortunate enough to play alongside Mancini. I created a lot of goals for him!”
Mihajlovic then began his management career as Mancini’s assistant at Inter following his retirement.
“I started this profession thanks to Mancini and one of the greatest joys in my life was to be the coach of Serbia, representing my country.”