Radomir Antic, Coach Of Barca, Real Madrid And Atleti, Passes Away

He was, and still is, the only man to coach all of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid during his career.

Radomir Antic passed away on Monday aged 71, and his death will be felt at all three clubs, who were quick to send their heartfelt condolences.

As a coach, his biggest successes came with Atleti. Whilst in charge of the Rojiblancos, he led them to the LaLiga title and a Copa del Rey win in the 95/96 campaign.

He would go on to take charge of the club on two further occasions, both times when they were struggling to stay in the division.

The miracle worked once, but not both times, though he was never anything but loved by the Atleti faithful.

Not too bad a feat when you consider that he had already managed their cross-city rivals, Real Madrid, some years before.

He took over the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu for the 1990/91 season after replacing club legend, Alfredo Di Stefano.

Although he was able to help Real claim a seventh-place finish, which saw them qualify for the following campaign’s UEFA Cup, he wasn’t able to see the job through after being sacked during that season.

Time spent at Real Zaragoza – whom he led to the UEFA Cup – and Real Oviedo in Spain was more than acceptable, as was his 24 matches in charge of Barcelona, where he replaced Louis van Gaal.

Whilst there, he managed the likes of Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Victor Valdes in what was the early stages of their respective careers at the Camp Nou.

Celta Vigo was his final stop before international football, where he led Serbia into the 2010 World Cup.

After being sacked for exiting at the group stage, spells at Shandong Luneng and Hebei China Fortune in China followed.

He had begun his coaching career as an assistant at Partizan Belgrade, one of the clubs he turned out for as a player, Zaragoza being another.

Sloboda Uzice, Fenerbahce and Luton Town were other stop offs in a varied and storied playing career.

It’s perhaps his time at the English club that is still the most memorable thanks to goal against Manchester City which kept Luton from being relegated.

On May 14th, 1983, David Pleat’s Luton travelled north to Manchester, and were hosted at City’s former ground, Maine Road.

Both teams were in danger of being relegated, but City only needed a draw to preserve the top-flight status they had held for the previous 17 years. Luton had to win.

A 42,000 sell-out crowd were in high spirits, and with four minutes left, the 0-0 scoreline still favoured the hosts.

Step forward Antic, who fired a low drive through a crowd of players. That goal was enough to keep Luton in the division, and meant Antic would forever be remembered.

In his later years, he became a well respected radio pundit for the likes of Cadena SER, COPE and Radio MARCA.