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A memorial service has been held in Serbia to honour football manager Mladen Zizovic, who died at the age of 44 after collapsing during a match on Monday.
Zizovic collapsed on the side of the pitch 22 minutes into Radnicki 1923's match against Mladost, and later passed away after being taken to hospital.
The match, which was initially suspended when Zizovic collapsed and then restarted, was abandoned entirely just before half-time after confirmation of his death was relayed to the players and coaching staff.
Footage of the incident was shared on social media on Monday, showing players and staff breaking down in tears and attempting to comfort each other.
Radnicki held a memorial service at the Kragujevac city assembly hall on Wednesday morning to pay their respects.
Members of the squad and club staff were in attendance, along with dignitaries from the Serbian Football Association including the newly appointed national team coach Veljko Paunovic.
A memorial service has been held in Serbia to honour Mladen Zizovic, who died at the age of 44
Zizovic had been taken to hospital after collapsing mid-match on Monday, with players and staff visibly distressed after being told of his death while on the pitch
Members of Radnicki's squad were present at the memorial service in Kragujevac on Wednesday
A photo of Zizovic was displayed alongside flowers, Radnicki's team shirt, scarf and a tactics board.
'Today, in the assembly hall of the City of Kragujevac, a commemorative assembly was held regarding the death of our coach Mladen Zizovic,' Radnicki wrote on social media.
'The meeting was attended by representatives of the Football Association of Serbia, clubs from the country, as well as friends, associates and admirers of the work and personality of Mladen Zizovic.
'In an atmosphere of silence and deep respect, the attendees recalled his professional path, his football passion and the human nobility that adorned his every step.
'In the speeches that followed, it was pointed out that Mladen was more than a coach — a man who inspired by his example players, associates and everyone who had the opportunity to meet him.
'Although he spent a short time in Kragujevac, it was enough for us all to make sure that he was an exceptional sportsman, but above all about a man and coach who left a deep mark on our club. His calmness, dedication and love for football will remain in our memories forever.
'FC Radnicki 1923 once again expresses its gratitude to everyone who paid tribute to our deceased coach with their presence, words of support and sincere emotions.
'Rest in peace, Young one.'
Several speeches were given in recognition of Zizovic's personality and his football passion
Radnicki shared photos on social media of attendees paying their respects to Zizovic
One attendee was seen kissing a photo of Zizovic which had been displayed in his honour
Radnicki said 'his calmness, dedication and love for football will remain in our memories forever'
New Serbia manager Veljko Paunovic was among those in attendance at the service
Photos shared by the club included images of some attendees kissing the photo of Zizovic as they offered tributes to the late football coach.
Zizovic's funeral has been scheduled for Thursday.
Radnicki 1923 star Mehmed Cosic, who had been on the pitch at the time players were informed of Zizovic's death, had revealed that coach was complaining about feeling unwell shortly before his heart attack.
The Bosnian manager, who was taking charge of just his third game at the top-flight Serbian outfit following his appointment on October 23, complained about his fish and refused to eat any more of it during the team's lunch together, according to Cosic.
'I didn't fall asleep until almost 3.30am. I have no words, we are stunned,' Cosic told Faktor as he opened up on the harrowing incident.
'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. Then he went towards our bench, turned to the others and said "I'm not feeling well, I'm not feeling well".
'He fell, you saw everything else. In the video that appeared on social networks, you can also hear screams.
'They say he complained about the fish, said he wouldn't eat it anymore. That's what he was talking about. There were no problems during the warm-up, the game started, everything was ok.
One of the footballers who broke down after learning Zizovic had died midway through a match has revealed that he 'complained about his fish lunch' hours before the heart attack
Zizovic had collapsed next to the pitch after suffering a heart attack during Monday's match
Radnicki 1923 star Mehmed Cosic, pictured for Bosnia against the USA (right), claimed the manager complained about feeling unwell just hours before
'We continued the game, hoping that the worst wouldn't happen and that he would be with us again. It was clear that that wasn't it, but we said that we were playing for him and that we wanted to reward him with a victory. We weren't focused, we were in disbelief, but we didn't want to disappoint him.
'We believed that he would come back and be with us again, and that we would celebrate the victory. Then there was complete shock. The referee suddenly stopped the game. Someone said "he died". Everything stopped in an instant.'
Cosic revealed that Radnicki 1923's players and staff have been given the week off from training to mourn, with next weekend's clash against Cukaricki now postponed.
Fans of his old team FK Borac Banja Luka have already paid tribute by painting a mural of their former manager outside the club's stadium.
The Bosnian club, who were coached by Zizovic in Europe last season, were among those to pen emotional tributes to the manager.
‘Boss, Our Ziza, We can't believe that you left us,' the Borac squad said.
‘We are shaken by the terrible news that reached us at Platanova 6 and 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, that we will no longer listen to you talk about the football you gave your life to.
‘You left us at the age of 44, and we can only remember every moment you spent at the City Stadium. First as a player, and then as a coach who achieved the greatest European success in our history.
Tributes have since flooded in for Zizovic, who led seven clubs during his managerial career
Zizovic had coached Bosnian side Borac Banja Luka in European football last season
Fans of the club have already painted a mural of their old manager outside their stadium
His heartbroken former players at Borac also penned an emotional tribute on social media
‘We will remember that you gave your best to Borca and Banja Luka and that together we wrote stories for eternity.
‘It's hard to admit that you're gone. Life is cruel and takes the best of us too soon.
‘It remains for us that you live through us and that we pass on the story of Mladen Zizovic, a man, a husband, a father, a brother, a son, a coach and a football player.
‘Young man, may your glory be eternal. Banjaluka and Borac will forever remember you.’
Radnicki 1923 also issued a tribute to Zizovic in a statement, expressing their 'deep pain and disbelief' of his passing.
‘A man who left a deep mark wherever he worked with his knowledge, calmness and nobility,' the statement read.
‘Although he spent a short time in Kragujevac, he managed to gain the respect of everyone at the club, among players, associates and fans, with his energy, professionalism and human qualities.
‘FK Radnički 1923 expresses its deepest condolences to the family, friends and everyone who knew Mladen.
'His dedication to football, passion for the game, and human warmth will forever remain etched in the memories of all who had the honor of knowing him.
‘Rest in peace, Mladen.’
Zizovic made two appearances for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, having spent all of his career in either his homeland or Albania.
