Sinisa Mihajlovic, a legend in Serbian football, passed away at age 53.
The 63-cap Yugoslavia international had been battling cancer while managing Serie A team Bologna until September.
Mihajlovic, who received his initial leukemia diagnosis in 2019 before experiencing a relapse in March, is survived by his wife Arianna and his six children.
Mihajlovic played for Yugoslavia in the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 Euro.
He played for Red Star Belgrade and Vojvodina in his native Serbia, as well as Inter Milan, Lazio, Roma, and Sampdoria for the majority of his club career in Italy.
Following the news of his passing, tributes poured in. In an emotional statement, Serie A called Mihajlovic “an icon of football and life.”
It said: “Serie A is deeply saddened by the passing of Sinisa Mihajlovic, an icon of football and life.
“His pure class as a footballer and coach, his strength and his humanity are an example that leaves an indelible mark on Italian and world football.”
After retiring from playing, Mihajlovic transitioned into coaching. He remained in Italy, with the exception of a brief stint with Sporting Lisbon in 2018.
Mihajlovic revealed in 2019 that he had been diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia while serving as the manager of Bologna.
Prior to being fired in September of this year, he continued in his position while he was battling the illness.
Following the news of his passing, Bologna posted on Twitter, “Goodbye, Mister, you will forever be in our hearts.”
While former team Lazio, where Mihajlovic played for six years, wrote: “SS Lazio mourns the passing of Sinisa Mihajlovic: a great Lazio man, a warrior on the pitch and in life.
“His courage on the pitch was second only to that shown in the face of a serious illness, which never weakened his spirit and temper.
“An indelible trace in the history of Lazio will remain of this fighter with a big heart, not only for having been Champion of Italy, but for the message of hope in the face of the difficulties that he was able to represent up to the last moment of his life.
“We will remember him as he deserves, with the infinite embrace of his team and his people. Our deepest condolences to the family.”
In April, a heartbreaking video captured the moment he received a surprise visit from his teammates while receiving treatment in the hospital.
Mihajlovic, who is renowned for his ability to score from set pieces, scored a free kick in France ’98 against Iran.
At the club level, he won the Serie A twice, once with Lazio and once with Inter.
