Athletes in tears as manager passes away amid fixture
The manager only took charge of his team just weeks ago
Athletes collapsed on the field weeping as they discovered of their head coach's demise throughout a match in Serbia's top flight
Team manager Mladen Zizovic collapsed and received treatment on the sidelines before being taken to hospital during his side's game at the away venue on Monday
The top-tier contest continued but was called off shortly before the interval when news of the coach's passing reached the stadium
Recordings of the match showed players and officials from each team in grief at the development
The former Bosnian national team member, forty-four, was only appointed head coach of his team on late October
"The organization has suffered the loss of not only a excellent coach but primarily a decent person, a friend, and a competitor who, with his expertise, enthusiasm and integrity has created lasting memories on the souls of all who knew him"
The country's soccer authority said its "soccer family has suffered the loss of an additional dedicated sports professional" with his death
"In the course of his rich playing career, the manager represented numerous clubs in the first tier of the nation, most notably his former club, Radnik Bijeljina and FK Borac Banja Luka, and he additionally represented the uniform of the national squad"
"After ending his professional playing days, he dedicated himself to management, leading organizations in the region and surrounding countries"
"The premature death represents a great loss for Bosnian-Herzegovinian football"
"The dedication for the sport and the impact you established will remain with us forever"
Prominent teams additionally expressed condolences, including the famous club, who conveyed their "deepest condolences"
