A Serbian football manager died after suffering a heart attack during a league fixture on Sunday evening, having earlier complained of feeling ill following a fish meal.
Mladen Zizovic, 44, collapsed beside the pitch 22 minutes into his side Radnicki 1923's encounter with Mladost. The Bosnian manager was transported to hospital but could not be saved.
According to team member Mehmed Cosic, Zizovic had expressed discomfort about fish consumed during the squad's lunch gathering hours before kick-off. The manager had declined to finish the meal after voicing concerns about how he felt.
Zizovic was overseeing only his third match since taking charge of the Serbian top-tier club on 23 October.
Mladen Zizovic collapsed as his side were playing after suffering a heart attack
|PA
Cosic, who was playing when the tragedy unfolded, provided a detailed account of his manager's final moments to Faktor.
"I'm replaying the movie in my head. He was giving me instructions, turned around and at one point I saw that he was talking to the referee by the benches," the Bosnian international recalled.
The player described how Zizovic then moved towards the team's bench before telling colleagues "I'm not feeling well, I'm not feeling well" and subsequently collapsing.
Cosic revealed he struggled to sleep until 3.30am following the incident, describing himself and teammates as "stunned" by events.
The defender confirmed that during pre-match preparations and the opening stages, everything had appeared normal with no indication of any health issues.
The world of football is in mourning after Serbian Super League manager Mladen Zizovic died suddenly at the age of 44 following a heart attack during a match on Sunday evening | XThe match officials initially halted play when Zizovic collapsed, but proceedings resumed as those present hoped for positive news from the hospital.
Players attempted to continue, believing their manager would recover. "We believed that he would come back and be with us again, and that we would celebrate the victory," Cosic explained.
However, the fixture was permanently halted just before the interval when devastating confirmation arrived. "The referee suddenly stopped the game. Someone said 'he died'. Everything stopped in an instant," the defender recounted.
Distressing video footage circulated on social media on Monday captured the raw emotion as players and coaching staff learned of Zizovic's death. The recordings showed team members weeping and embracing one another as they struggled to process the shocking news delivered during the match.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS
Radnicki 1923 have suspended all training activities this week to allow players and staff to grieve, with their scheduled fixture against Cukaricki at the weekend now postponed.
Zizovic's funeral will take place on Thursday, with the football community preparing to pay their respects.
Supporters of FK Borac Banja Luka, where Zizovic previously served as manager, have already created a memorial mural depicting him outside their stadium. The Bosnian club achieved their most significant European success under his leadership last season.
Cosic disclosed that disturbing audio could be heard in the social media footage that emerged. "In the video that appeared on social networks, you can also hear screams," he told Faktor.
Mladen Zizovic had complained about the fish lunch he had hours before his death
|PA
The defender emphasised how the squad had attempted to honour their manager by continuing the match, hoping to secure victory for him before receiving the tragic news.
The Borac squad released a heartfelt statement addressing their former manager as "Boss, Our Ziza", expressing disbelief at his passing at just 44 years old.
"We refuse to admit that we will no longer see you smiling, that we will no longer hear you making jokes at your own expense and that of others," the players wrote, highlighting Zizovic's character beyond his tactical expertise.
The Bosnian club acknowledged his dual contribution as both player and coach, noting he had guided them to their most significant European achievement.
Radnicki 1923 expressed "deep pain and disbelief" in their official statement, describing Zizovic as someone who made an immediate impact despite his brief tenure in Kragujevac.
The Serbian club praised his "energy, professionalism and human qualities", noting how quickly he had earned respect from players, staff and supporters alike.