IN MEMORIAM

European and Serbian football are in mourning. One of the best Serbian coaches, Radomir Antić has died in Madrid, after a short illness, aged 72.

Former coach of the three greatest Spanish clubs, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but also of Zaragoza and Real Oviedo, was well known for his great charisma, expertise, vast knowledge and authority. “Mister”, as he was called by our national team players, but also the greatest stars of the Spanish football, left a trace wherever he had worked, being celebrated and respected by many in the Pyrenees. Above all, those are fans of Atletico Madrid, whom he presented the league and cup double.

Radomir Antić was also very successful with the Serbian national team he coached in the period 2008 – 2010, and after a long time had taken them to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Two years later, a fledgling, but ambitious Chinese football club, Shandong Luneng called him. Antić got to experience the Chinese league, also coached Hebei China FC, and was one of the first foreign coaches who embarked on that Asian adventure.

His playing career started in his hometown of Užice, where he started playing for FK Sloboda in 1967. A year later he moved to Belgrade and started performing for FK Partizan, the club that has remained in his heart till the last day. He won the best Yugoslav team title with FK Partizan in 1976. He also had an international career, first in Fenerbahce, then in Zaragoza, only to finish it in the English Luton in 1984.

Antić was always ambitious and had no time for a break. Almost a year passed between his playing and coaching career, when he became an assistant coach at his beloved club, FK Partizan in 1985. With FK Partizan, as an assistant coach he won the Yugoslav championship twice consecutively (1986 and 1987), but the world of football will remember him most for that league and cup double with Atletico Madrid in the 1995/96 season. That was the time when “Los Colchoneros” were at their best, with present Atletico coach, Diego Simeone, as well as Milinko Pantić, Ljubosav Penev, Kiko, Jose Luis Caminero… For all his successes in Madrid, Atletico flag was at half mast at the stadium Wanda Metropolitano for 24 hours. Nobody loved him as the Atletico fans did; they used to sing in his honour at every match, at the former Vicente Calderon stadium.

That 1996 success gave him an opportunity to coach both Real and Barcelona, making him unique in the football history, because no one but Mister Radomir had the privilege to take charge of the three greatest Spanish clubs!

An empty feeling will remain in the hearts of all who knew Radomir Antić, and Serbia can be proud of being represented throughout the world by such a person, always proud of his country. He has left behind a wife, a son, a daughter, two granddaughters and two grandsons.

Football Association of Serbia express their deepest condolences to the Antić family. May you rest in peace, Mister.