Velibor Vasović facts for kids
Vasović in 1967
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 October 1939 | ||
| Place of birth | Požarevac, Kingdom of Yugoslavia | ||
| Date of death | 4 March 2002 (aged 62) | ||
| Place of death | Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Sweeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1954–1958 | Partizan | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1958–1963 | Partizan | 88 | (6) |
| 1963 | Red Star Belgrade | 13 | (0) |
| 1964–1966 | Partizan | 40 | (4) |
| 1966–1971 | Ajax | 145 | (13) |
| Total | 286 | (23) | |
| International career | |||
| 1961–1966 | Yugoslavia | 32 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1971–1973 | Partizan | ||
| 1975 | Proleter Zrenjanin | ||
| 1975–1976 | Angers | ||
| 1976–1977 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| 1978–1979 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| 1982–1983 | Zamalek | ||
| 1983 | Ethnikos Piraeus | ||
| 1986–1988 | Red Star Belgrade | ||
| 1989 | Bellinzona | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Velibor Vasović (Serbian Cyrillic: Велибор Васовић; born October 3, 1939 – died March 4, 2002) was a famous Serbian footballer and manager. He is remembered as one of the best defenders of his time. Vasović was known for his strong defense, never giving up, and smart playing style. He played as a sweeper, a player who cleans up any loose balls, and could also play in midfield. He was a legendary player for both Partizan Belgrade and Ajax.
Contents
Early Life and Football Start
Velibor Vasović was born on October 3, 1939, in Požarevac, just before World War II began. He was the ninth child in his family. During the war, his father was a prisoner, and his older brothers and sisters joined the Partisan resistance.
After finishing primary school in his hometown, Velibor moved to Belgrade with his family. He started high school at the First Belgrade Gymnasium. Around this time, he also began playing football at a small local club called FK Novi Beograd.
Club Career Highlights
Joining Partizan's Youth Team
In 1955, when Velibor was fifteen, his football talent was noticed by FK Partizan youth coach Florijan Matekalo. Velibor joined Partizan's youth system, along with other talented young players. This group of players became known as "Matekalo's Babies."
In June 1958, at age eighteen, Vasović moved up to the main Partizan team. He played there for five seasons until June 1963.
A Short Time at Red Star Belgrade
In the summer of 1963, Vasović had a great season with Partizan, helping them win their third league title in a row. His contract was ending, and he decided to move to Partizan's big rival, Red Star Belgrade. This move caused a lot of discussion and was quite a surprise in the football world.
Vasović played for Red Star for about six months. He helped them lead the league by a good margin before the winter break. However, during the break, he decided he wanted to return to Partizan. After some talks and disagreements between the clubs, he was allowed to go back to his old team.
Back with Partizan
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When Vasović returned to Partizan, not everyone was happy. Some players felt that the club had gone too far to get him back. There were also some disagreements among the club's leaders, which caused problems within the team.
However, over time, the team came together. One famous moment was a friendly match against A.C. Milan where a fight broke out. Even though it was unpleasant, it actually helped the Partizan players bond and become a stronger team.
Becoming an Ajax Legend
After playing in the 1966 European Cup Final with Partizan (where he scored a goal but lost 2-1 to Real Madrid), Vasović moved to Ajax in the Netherlands.
He played five seasons for Ajax (1966–1971). He was the first foreign player to become captain in the club's history. He led Ajax to the 1969 European Cup Final, where they lost to A.C. Milan. But two years later, in the 1971 European Cup Final, he captained Ajax to a 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos, winning the prestigious European Cup!
Vasović's playing career was shorter than most, lasting only 13 professional seasons. This was because he suffered from asthma.
International Career
Velibor Vasović played for the Yugoslavia national team from 1961 to 1966. He played in 32 matches and scored two goals for his country.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 November 1962 | Belgrade, Yugoslavia |  Belgium |
3–2 | 3–2 | UEFA Euro 1964 qualifying |
| 2 | 7 November 1965 | Belgrade, Yugoslavia |  Norway |
1–1 | 1–1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Coaching Career
After he stopped playing in 1971, Velibor Vasović became a football coach. He coached several teams, including his old club FK Partizan. He also managed Proleter Zrenjanin, Angers SCO, Paris Saint-Germain, Zamalek SC in Egypt, Ethnikos Piraeus, Red Star Belgrade, and AC Bellinzona.
As a coach, he achieved success by winning one Yugoslav Championship in the 1987–88 season with Red Star. After his coaching career, he worked as a lawyer in Belgrade.
Honours
As a player
Partizan
- Yugoslav First League: 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1964–65
Red Star Belgrade
- Yugoslav First League: 1963–64
Ajax
- Eredivisie: 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70
- KNVB Cup: 1966–67, 1969–70, 1970–71
- European Cup: 1970–71
As a head coach
Red Star Belgrade
- Yugoslav First League: 1987–88
Other Activities
Velibor Vasović was also known for speaking out about how football was run in Yugoslavia. He believed in improving the sport and even founded an organization to work towards this goal. He also graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law.
Personal Life
Velibor Vasović was married twice. He had two sons, Vladimir (born 1963) and Aleksandar (born 1968), with his first wife. He also had a granddaughter, Tara, and a grandson, Stefan.
He passed away in 2002 from a heart attack when he was 62 years old. He was buried in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens at Belgrade's New Cemetery.
