Former Lazio coach Sven-Goran Eriksson paid tribute to Sinisa Mihajlovic following the former defender’s death.
The Serbian coach sadly passed away aged 53 at a clinic in Rome today following a long battle with leukaemia. He was diagnosed with the illness in July 2019 and retained his role as Bologna’s head coach until his dismissal in September of this year, continuing to lead the team through three cycles of chemotherapy.
Speaking to La Lazio Siamo Noi, Eriksson paid tribute to his former defender Mihajlovic.
Very very very sad, it’s clear that to die so young isn’t possible. For me he was much more than a player. I met him personally in recent years. I coached him from Sampdoria to Lazio, we had a relationship for many years.
Personally, I am linked for what we did with Lazio: so many trophies, he was very important for those successes.
He commented on various memories he had of the legendary free-kick taker.
I heard in the last few days that things were going badly, I talked to some of his former teammates. I have so many memories of Mihajlovic, from punishments to penalties.
He always did everything with a huge spirit. Great professional, he helped the youngsters so much. He knew how to read the game like very few.
In those years he was one of the best central defenders in the world. His left foot was golden.
Mihajlovic spent six years of his playing career with Lazio, from 1998 to 2004. During that time, he scored 33 goals and provided 32 assists in 193 appearances across all competitions, winning a number of major honours including the Scudetto.
The former defender was known to be one of the best free-kick takers in history and tributes have already started pouring in from across the footballing world.
