FK Radnicki 1923’s head coach Mladen Zizovic collapsed on the sidelines just 22 minutes into a Serbian SuperLiga clash against Mladost Lucani.
The 44-year-old, only three games into his new role, was rushed to hospital but tragically passed away en route, per BBC News.
Despite medical staff rushing to his aid, confirmation of Zizovic’s death arrived just 20 minutes later, halting the match entirely.
"I'm Not Feeling Well": Player Recalls Coach's Final Moments
Details surrounding Zizovic’s sudden collapse have since emerged, painting a harrowing picture of his final hours.
Radnicki 1923 player Mehmed Cosic, who was on the pitch at the time, revealed that Zizovic had complained about the lunch served to the team earlier that day.
“They say he complained about the fish, said he wouldn't eat it anymore. That's what he was talking about,” Cosic told Faktor. “There were no problems during the warm-up, the game started, everything was ok.”
Zizovic sadly passed away. Credit: Ben McShane / Getty
Cosic also shared how the scene unfolded in real time: "I'm replaying the movie in my head. He was giving me instructions, turned around and at one point I saw that he was talking to the referee by the benches.
"Then he went towards our bench, turned to the others and said 'I'm not feeling well, I'm not feeling well'.
"He fell, you saw everything else. In the video that appeared on social networks, you can also hear screams."
Even in the face of the unfolding tragedy, the players tried to hold it together.
"We continued the game, hoping that the worst wouldn't happen and that he would be with us again. It was clear that that wasn't it, but we said that we were playing for him and that we wanted to reward him with a victory. We weren't focused, we were in disbelief, but we didn't want to disappoint him.
"We believed that he would come back and be with us again, and that we would celebrate the victory. Then there was complete shock. The referee suddenly stopped the game. Someone said 'he died'. Everything stopped in an instant."
The manager suffered a heart attack on the touchline. Credit: Jurij Kodrun / Getty
Grief on the Pitch: Players Break Down in Tears
As the tragic news made its way back to the players and staff, footage shared online captured a truly heartbreaking scene. Some players dropped to their knees, others bowed their heads in silence, while several could be seen in tears.
The match, which had initially resumed after the collapse, was abandoned completely before half-time. The emotional impact was immediate and overwhelming.
Cosic revealed that the squad had been granted a week off to mourn, and their next match against Cukaricki has been postponed.
A Legacy That Will Not Be Forgotten
Zizovic’s football journey spanned both player and coach. He represented Bosnia and Herzegovina twice at the international level and played for clubs in his homeland and Albania, per The Sun.
As a coach, his impact stretched across the Balkans, earning admiration wherever he went.
The Football Association of Serbia honored his memory, stating: “Your love for football and the mark you left will remain with us forever.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s FA also acknowledged the magnitude of the loss: “Our football community has lost another true football professional.”
Even Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade joined the tributes: “With sadness, we received the news that Radnicki’s coach from Kragujevac, Mladen Zizovic, has suddenly passed away.”