But something stronger wanted Mladen to be no longer among us.
During the match against Mladost in Lučani, his heart stopped, the ambulance failed to resuscitate him, and Mladen tragically ended his life leading his Radnički team to victory.
After the match, his great friend, Feđa Dudić, the most successful coach in the history of Radnički, spoke.
“Well, my brother… I don’t know what to write in these moments. It’s hard for me as if I’ve lost someone born, my own. I’ll miss hearing from you, and you say: “What’s up, bruda?”, and then let’s continue about football, football and football again.
We were rivals on the field, but only for 90 minutes. And then afterwards — it’s like we never even played against each other.
You ran Zrinjski, and I ran Velež. Inconceivable that we are taking pictures together, sitting together — and I respect you so much. I don’t think something like that will ever happen again.
At the time of corona, I invited you to Mostar for iftar — you came, you respected me. And if someone had seen that two coaches, such angry rivals, were sitting together in a room — no one would have believed us. But it was US.
And fate wanted me to tell Slavko about you, when he asked me about the coaches in Bosnia and Herzegovina… and lo — on my word, because he trusts me, he decided on you. I knew that you could continue in Kragujevac where I left off, but here – dear God decided otherwise.
And last night, when we spoke for the last time, I told you: “It’s going to be all right, and I’m calling you after the game to congratulate you.”
And now — instead of a congratulation — I’m writing this…
This coaching job of ours is difficult. And as long as I work — I will carry you in my heart and thoughts.
Coaching is bread with seven crusts. And people so easily think that they have the right — that every week, after a bad result — they insult and disparage… and they don’t know how hard it is for us to bear it all and collect it inside us.
I will miss talking with you and exchanging ideas. But I will remember all our conversations and remember you and your advice.
You take a break from everything — in a better place. Because this world is certainly cruel.
My Zile
