Around 2,000 fans gathered outside
Rome's Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri Basilica to pay
tribute to Sinisa Mihajlovic on Monday, when the former soccer
player and coach's funeral was held.
The Serbian, who was based in Italy, died at the age of 53 last
week after a long battle with leukemia.
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi, Italian Olympic Committee (CONI)
President Giovanni Malagó and Italian Soccer Federation
President Gabriele Gravina were among the mourners, along with
many of Mihajlovic's friends, such as former AS Roma and Italy
players Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi.
During his homily, Matteo Maria Zuppi, the archbishop of Bologna
and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, paid tribute
to how Mihajlovic fought his cancer.
"He never ran away," Zuppi said.
"He faced it with courage, giving courage to others too.
"He did so by showing the fragile sweetness of a warrior, who is
such because he knows how to get back up and try again.
"Fragility is a door, not a wall".
A tough defender and midfielder with a thunderous free-kick, he
made 63 appearances and scored 10 goals for Yugoslavia/Serbia
and Montenegro between 1991 and 2003.
After playing for Vojvodina and Red Star Belgrade, he spent the
rest of his career in Italy, with stints at Roma, Sampdoria,
Lazio and Inter.
After hanging up his boots, he went into coaching first as
Roberto Mancini's assistant at Inter.
He had spells at many Serie A clubs and stint in charge of
Serbia between 2012 and 2013.
He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019 and faced the illness
with remarkable courage, continuing as Bologna head coach as he
battled the cancer until he was dismissed in September.
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