Belgrade commemoration for football legend

Former Yugoslav national squad member and FK Partizan's legendary player and coach Stjepan Bobek died in Belgrade on Sunday, aged 86. Today, Serbia's football elite gathered for a commemoration ceremony, where speakers remembered his life and career. Belgrade commemoration for football legend Bobek started his career in Zagreb's Gradjanski, to then move to Belgrade's Partizan, where he played from 1945 until 1959. "Our footballing Mozart has joined the legend... There are many that owe much to Stjepan Bobek. He used to say that he was born in Zagreb, a Belgrader in his heart, an Athenian in part, and thanks to football, that he felt like a citizen of the world," Serbian Football Association (FSS) President Tomislav Karadzic said. His Croatian counterpart, Vlatko Markovic, also addressed the gathering, and said that football has lost yet another great. "After Rajko (Mitic), another great has left us, a man who was the role-model for everyone. Just as Belgrade, Zagreb too is proud of Stef (Bobek's nickname). He achieved many great things in life, but what he managed to achieve with Partizan will hardly happen again," Markovic said. Bobek played 478 games in Partizan's jersey, to score a record 425 goals. As a player, he was part of the team that won two Yugoslav championships and four national cups, to then lead the club to three consecutive titles as its head coach. Bobek was also the Yugoslav national team's best scorer, with 38 goals from 63 games. He won Greek club championships twice as Panathinaikos' coach. The commemoration at the Belgrade City Hall was also attended by his family and friends, many athletes, Serbian national team boss Radomir Antic, FK Partizan coach Aleksandar Stojanovic, Education Minister Zarko Obradovic, and many others. Bobek will be laid to rest today at the Alley of the Greats, at Belgrade's New Cemetery. The commemoration (Beta)

Belgrade commemoration for football legend

Bobek started his career in Zagreb's Građanski, to then move to Belgrade's Partizan, where he played from 1945 until 1959.

"Our footballing Mozart has joined the legend... There are many that owe much to Stjepan Bobek. He used to say that he was born in Zagreb, a Belgrader in his heart, an Athenian in part, and thanks to football, that he felt like a citizen of the world," Serbian Football Association (FSS) President Tomislav Karadžić said.

His Croatian counterpart, Vlatko Marković, also addressed the gathering, and said that football has lost yet another great.

"After Rajko (Mitić), another great has left us, a man who was the role-model for everyone. Just as Belgrade, Zagreb too is proud of Štef (Bobek's nickname). He achieved many great things in life, but what he managed to achieve with Partizan will hardly happen again," Marković said.

Bobek played 478 games in Partizan's jersey, to score a record 425 goals. As a player, he was part of the team that won two Yugoslav championships and four national cups, to then lead the club to three consecutive titles as its head coach.

Bobek was also the Yugoslav national team's best scorer, with 38 goals from 63 games. He won Greek club championships twice as Panathinaikos' coach.

The commemoration at the Belgrade City Hall was also attended by his family and friends, many athletes, Serbian national team boss Radomir Antić, FK Partizan coach Aleksandar Stojanović, Education Minister Žarko Obradović, and many others.

Bobek will be laid to rest today at the Alley of the Greats, at Belgrade's New Cemetery.