Sinisa Mihajlovic, who played for and coached numerous Italian Serie A teams and was famed for his spectacular free kicks, died on Friday after a long battle with cancer.
Mihajlovic was sacked as manager of Serie A club Bologna in September after they failed to record a win in their first five league matches.
The Serbian had become Bologna manager for the second time in 2019 and had been in charge while battling leukaemia.
Terrible news. Sinisa Mihajlovic has passed away at 53 after long fight with illness.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 16, 2022
“I respect the illness, I will face it, with chest puffed out, looking it in the eyes, the way I always have done”, he said years ago.
Fighter, great man. Shocking news.
RIP ??????? pic.twitter.com/V84McAeeMO
His playing career included lengthy spells at Sampdoria and Lazio and he also managed Serbia.
"You fought like a lion on the pitch and in life ... you are and you will always be a winner," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a tweet as tributes began to flood in from inside and outside the football world.
Mihajlovic's death, confirmed by his family in a statement, went immediately to the top of the main newspapers' websites in Italy, where he played for most of his career.
He also managed a number of clubs, including AC Milan.
"Goodbye boss, you will always live in our hearts," Bologna said in a tweet.
Goodbye, Mister, you will forever be in our hearts. pic.twitter.com/QeMs4zeUJc
— Bologna FC 1909 (@BolognaFC1909en) December 16, 2022
"Heaven has gained another legend. You will be sorely missed Sinisa," was the message from AC Milan.
Heaven has gained another legend. You will be sorely missed, Siniša.
— AC Milan (@acmilan) December 16, 2022
A midfielder or defender, Mihajlovic scored a number of spectacular goals from free kicks.
He made his name as part of the Red Star Belgrade team that won the European Cup in 1991.
He moved to Italy the following year when he joined AS Roma and went on to play for Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter. He was part of squads that won Serie A title with Lazio in 2000 and then Inter in 2006 in his last season as a player.
His coaching career began at Bologna in 2008 and took in stints at Catania, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Torino, as well as AC Milan, where he was in charge for less than a year.
No player in Serie A history has scored more direct free-kicks than Siniša Mihajlovic.
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 16, 2022
28 of his 38 goals in Italy's top-flight were scored that way, winning two league titles.
A legend of the game. ?? pic.twitter.com/F8VvHevb9S