Death during a match. Players in tears, tragedy in the top league.

The tragic incident occurred on Monday (November 3rd). It was on that day that a match in the Serbian football league was being played between FK Mladost Lucani and FK Radnicki 1923. The visiting team made a coaching change less than two weeks ago, with Mladen Zizović taking over.

Death During Match: Tragedy involving coach Mladen Zizovic

The new coach of FK Radnicki 1923 was well-known in the world of football. He was, in fact, a former Bosnia and Herzegovina international, having played for the national team in 2018. Zizović won the national championship and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national cup twice, among other titles. He retired from football in 2016.

Zizović has become increasingly confident as a coach. In the 2024/25 season, he coached Boruc Banja Luka, with whom he secured promotion to the UEFA Conference League. He also played for the club as a player.

The tragedy involving Zizović occurred on Monday evening during a league match. At the Lucani stadium, the visiting coach collapsed in the 22nd minute. The coach, who was already 2-0 up and playing very well, was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, as it turned out, his life could not be saved. The news was announced during the first half. The referee immediately stopped the match.

Players, fans and coaching staff of both teams burst into tears.

Twitter

Zizović was only 44 years old. His death is a huge tragedy not only for the football world in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, but also for the entire world of football – judging by the reactions to the videos on social media immediately following the tragic events on Monday evening.