An emotional Claudio Lotito had nothing but praise for former Lazio defender Sinisa Mihajlovic, who sadly passed away last week.
The former Bologna coach died at the age of 53 on Friday following a long battle with leukaemia. Mihajlovic was a modern legend in Serie A, known for his fiery character and incredible free kicks, and his long fight with leukaemia inspired many as he retained his role with the Rossoblu, leading them from both the bench and the hospital as he battled the illness.
Speaking to reporters outside Campidoglio (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), where Mihajlovic was laid to rest before his funeral, an emotional Lotito praised the qualities of Mihajlovic and touched on what he brought to the world of Italian football.
I’ve always had a friendly relationship with his family, with him, so he is a person who must be an example as a professional and above all as a man. He had courage and a lot of dignity in carrying on with a devastating illness, he must be an example of strength.
He never let anything slip, I never saw him in a state of compassion but always with a smile. This shows that he was a great man. The shirt? It’s a special memory, I put on the jersey with his number, the one he wore with Lazio.
We also met outside, his wife told me ‘you loved each other’ and it’s true. He was always a man with a capital ‘m’, he had the courage to take responsibility and never acted in his own self-interest and he always had Lazio in his heart.
For me, who knew him before I became president, I still have those memories. I told his wife she chose the right photo, he was always smiling. He always protected the football system, with strength, pride, determination and professionalism.
He was a great husband, a great father because he always kept the family together. He is a point of reference for those who work in this world. Raising awareness about the disease? I think we need to deepen certain themes that recur too often.
Mihajlovic spent six years of his playing career with Lazio, from 1998 to 2004, where he helped the side win multiple honours including their second Scudetto. During his time in the Italian capital, the Serbian scored 33 goals and provided 32 assists in 193 appearances across all competitions.
