The Serbian football community is in shock after Radnicki 1923 head coach Mladen Zizović tragically died on Sunday evening, aged just 44. Zizović collapsed on the touchline 22 minutes into Radnicki’s top-flight fixture against Mladost and, despite receiving immediate medical attention, was later pronounced dead in hospital.
The match was briefly suspended as paramedics rushed to assist the Bosnian manager before he was transported for emergency treatment. Play resumed once he left the pitch, as officials and players awaited updates. Approximately 20 minutes after the game restarted, word reached both teams that Zizović had not survived the cardiac arrest — prompting players and staff to collapse onto the turf
in despair. The referee then formally abandoned the match.
Distressing footage shared across social media on Monday shows players in tears, holding one another as they tried to process the sudden loss.
Zizović, a former Bosnia international midfielder who played more than 300 professional matches, only took charge of Radnicki 1923 on October 23. Sunday’s fixture was just his third match in the dugout for the club.
Tributes are pouring in from across the region’s football and coaching circles, with several SuperLiga clubs issuing statements of condolence. The Serbian FA is expected to release further guidance about the match’s status and rescheduling later this week.
Source:Africa Publicity
