The world of football is in mourning. Sinisa Mihajlovic passed away at age 53 this afternoon.

He had been fighting leukemia since July 2019.

The last public appearance of the Serbian took place in early December, for the presentation of a book. As a footballer, he wore the shirts of Borovo, Vojvodina, Estrella Roja, Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter Milan. He scored nearly 100 goals in his 563 professional games and on December 13, 1998 made history in Serie A, becoming the first player capable of scoring a hat-trick from direct free-kicks, during Lazio-Sampdoria (5-2).

He began his coaching career in 2006 at Inter as an assistant, and was head coach of Bologna, Catania, Fiorentina, Serbia, Sampdoria, Milan, Torino, Sporting Lisbon and again Bologna, who fired him on September 6 after having had three draws and two losses in the first five weeks of Serie A.

The family confirmed the sad news with a statement: “Wife Arianna and children Viktorija, Virginia, Miroslav, Dusan and Nikolas, the Violante granddaughter, mother Vikyorija and brother Drazen, they announce in their pain the unjust and premature death of their husband, father, son and exemplary brother, Sinisa Mihajlovic.

"A unique and extraordinary professional man, available and good to everyone. He bravely fought against a terrible disease, we thank the doctors and nurses who followed him these yearss, with love and respect, in particular Francesca Bonifazi, Dr. Antonio Curti, Professor Alessandro Rambaldi and Dr. Luca Marchetti. Sinisa will always be with us, we live with the love that he gave us."