—- Sinisa Mihajovic, the former Red Star Belgrade star then coach, has died at 53 after suffering from leukaemia.

The ex-Yugoslavia defender, who won the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade as a player in 1991, first announced he had leukaemia in 2019.

He was successfully treated but was diagnosed with the illness for a second time in March 2022.

Mihajlovic won Serie A as a player with Lazio and Internazionale and also played for Roma and Sampdoria. He won 63 international caps between 1991 and 2003, representing the former Yugoslavia at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

He managed Serbia’s national team and was Bologna coach until September when he was sacked after a poor start to the season.

Joey Saputo, Bologna president at the time, said: “It was the most difficult decision I have made since I have been president of Bologna.

“In recent years we have lived together with Sinisa beautiful and painful moments that have cemented a relationship that is not only professional, but above all human.

“Mihajlovic has faced the disease with courage and determination since the day he wanted to make his state of health public in a moving press conference.

“Since then, despite the hospital stays and the heavy effects of the treatments he has been subjected to, he has always remained close to the team, making every effort to be in contact with the players, in person or in connection, thanks also to the professionalism of his staff.”

In a statement posted on its website, the Serbian FA wrote: “Football has lost too soon a champion of Europe and the world, one of the best performers of free-kicks in the history of football, player, coach and selector, a man who left a deep mark in the history of Serbian and Italian football with his career.”

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