The Atletico icon who led the club to a double in 1996, has died, the club has confirmed
Radomir Antic, famed for coaching Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, has died aged 71.
The Serbian, whose managerial career spanned 27 years, died on Monday and his passing has drawn an outpouring of emotion across Spanish football, where his influence was greatest.
It was at Atletico Madrid where Antic enjoyed his finest achievements, including an historic LaLiga and Copa del Rey double in the 1995-96 campaign.
Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil, who worked closely with Antic across his three spells in charge, said: “With the loss of Radomir, we lost a bit of the club’s heart.
“With him I personally learned to win, with him I learned to live with passion – the things that they make you better as a man and as a professional.
“I give a very strong embrace to his wife Vera, Dusan and Ana and tell them that they should be proud of the husband and father they had because, in addition to being a great professional and a wonderful person, he is in the history of Atletico Madrid on its own merits.”
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos tweeted: “You made Atleti bigger, you made our rivalry bigger. Goodbye to a unique career: Atletico, Barca and Real Madrid among others. RIP.”
Un adios para la leyenda rojiblanca. Mi sentido pésame a su familia y amigos y a toda la comunidad del @Atleti pic.twitter.com/n1AZAK06UZ
— Radamel Falcao (@FALCAO) April 6, 2020
Atletico legend Fernando Torres also paid tribute: “Antic has left us, a man who brought dignity to the profession of a footballer, the history of Atletico. As a champion and rojiblanca legend, Radomir will always be in the heart of all athletes. My condolences and all my encouragement to your family and friends.”
While Antic’s impact in Spanish football may have been greatest at Atletico, he had previously played and coached at Real Zaragoza, before also managing Real Madrid and Real Oviedo.
He spent a trio of spells with Atletico between 1995 and 2000, including a three-year stint until 1998, enjoying the great highs and significant lows, as they suffered relegation in the 1999-00 campaign.
Antic returned to Oviedo next, getting relegated again, but landed on his feet after a period away from management – joining Barcelona in 2003 to replace Louis van Gaal.
Although it was a relatively successful period at Camp Nou, he was replaced amid a presidential change at the club.
He went on to coach Celta Vigo, his native Serbia, Shandong Luneng and, most recently, Hebei China Fortune in 2015.
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