Dragoslav Šekularac Explained

Dragoslav Šekularac
Fullname:Dragoslav Šekularac
Birth Date:1937 11, df=y
Birth Place:Štip, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Death Place:Belgrade, Serbia
Height:1.71 m[1]
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthyears1:1951–1955
Youthclubs1:Red Star Belgrade
Years1:1955–1966
Years2:1966–1967
Years3:1967
Years4:1968–1969
Years5:1969–1971
Years6:1972
Years7:1973
Years8:1974
Years9:1975
Years10:1975
Clubs1:Red Star Belgrade
Clubs2:Karlsruher SC
Clubs3:St. Louis Stars
Clubs4:OFK Belgrade
Clubs5:Santa Fe
Clubs6:Atlético Bucaramanga
Clubs7:Millonarios
Clubs8:América de Cali
Clubs9:Paris
Clubs10:Serbian White Eagles
Caps1:153
Caps2:17
Caps3:8
Caps4:38
Caps5:42
Caps6:4
Caps7:23
Caps8:7
Caps9:9
Goals1:31
Goals2:2
Goals3:1
Goals4:5
Goals5:3
Goals6:1
Goals7:1
Goals8:0
Goals9:2
Nationalyears1:1954–1956
Nationalteam1:Yugoslavia U20
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:1955–1956
Nationalteam2:Yugoslavia U21
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1956–1966
Nationalteam3:Yugoslavia
Nationalcaps3:41
Nationalgoals3:6
Manageryears1:1975
Manageryears2:1978
Manageryears3:1984–1985
Manageryears4:1986–1987
Manageryears5:1989–1990
Manageryears6:1990–1991
Manageryears7:1992
Manageryears8:1993
Manageryears9:1994–1995
Manageryears10:1996
Manageryears11:1997
Manageryears12:1999
Manageryears13:2006
Managerclubs1:Serbian White Eagles (player-coach)
Managerclubs2:New York Eagles
Managerclubs3:Guatemala
Managerclubs4:Footscray JUST
Managerclubs5:Red Star Belgrade
Managerclubs6:América
Managerclubs7:Al Nassr
Managerclubs8:Heidelberg United
Managerclubs9:Marbella
Managerclubs10:Busan Daewoo Royals
Managerclubs11:Napredak Kruševac
Managerclubs12:Obilić
Managerclubs13:Serbian White Eagles

Dragoslav Šekularac (Serbian: Драгослав Шекуларац, pronounced as /drǎgoslaʋ ʃekulârats/; 8 November 1937 – 5 January 2019) was a Serbian professional footballer and coach.

Nicknamed Šeki, he was quick and crafty with the ball, displaying creative skills which turned many heads. Possessing supreme self-confidence along with impeccable technical ability, he was one of the biggest showmen and crowd draws in the history of Yugoslav football. His enormous popularity throughout FPR Yugoslavia during the early 1960s transcended sports as he easily became one of the most recognizable individuals in the country.[1] As a coach, he led several clubs in Canada, Colombia, Australia, Serbia, Mexico, and Spain, as well as the Guatemala national team in the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Šekularac is considered one of the most important players in the history of Red Star Belgrade: he is the second (and one of only five players) to have been awarded the Zvezdina zvezda status.[2]

Early life

Šekularac was born on 8 November 1937 in Štip, Vardar Banovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia to Montenegrin Serb father Bogosav from the village of Kurikuće, Berane Municipality (the Vasojevići region in northern Montenegro)[3] and Macedonian mother Donka (née Markovska).[4] [5] His father was a lawyer whose job took him to Štip where he got married and started a family. Dragoslav was a six-month-old infant when the family moved to the Yugoslav capital Belgrade as a result of his father landing a job at the Ministry of Agriculture.[6] The family resided in central Belgrade, on Hilandarska Street near the Politika office building, and their second son, Dragoslav's younger brother Mirko, was born in 1941.

Šekularac was born bowlegged, much like Garrincha, a footballer whom he was later often compared to.[7] The youngster took up street football very early, right after World War II ended, playing on concrete in his school yard and displaying exceptional dribbling skills.

Young Šekularac simultaneously became a fan of the recently-established Red Star Belgrade football club, sneaking into their matches at the old SK Jugoslavija ground. Though lacking in height and having a stocky build, he nevertheless also enjoyed basketball—frequently going to the Mali Kalemegdan outdoor concrete court to watch Red Star Belgrade basketball club games featuring their stars Aleksandar Gec, Tullio Rochlitzer, and Srđan Kalember.

Well versed in street football, the youngster's first attempt at structured association football took place via a tryout at the Red Star Belgrade under-14 youth squad. Adjudged to be short and physically underdeveloped, young Šekularac was rejected. Months later, he would experience another rejection before eventually being accepted on his third try, under the youth team coach Dimitrije Milojević whom Šekularac and the rest of the youth squad referred to as Čika Mitke (Uncle Mitke).

Club career

Red Star Belgrade

Šekularac made his senior debut at only 17 years of age on 6 March 1955 during the latter part of Red Star's 1954–55 league campaign under head coach Milovan Ćirić. The youngster would record only one more league appearance by the end of that season.

However, the next season, 1955–56, signaled immediate breakthrough. In addition to securing a spot in the first team, he also became an integral part of the squad that won the Yugoslav league title in convincing fashion. He contributed to the cause with 7 goals in addition to many eye-catching midfield displays that would soon become a staple of his game.

By the start of the 1956–57 season, eighteen-year-old Šekularac had already made his senior national team debut. And, in November and December 1956 during the league's winter break, he represented FPR Yugoslavia at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.[8] Despite added pressures and responsibilities, he turned in another stellar league season helping Red Star to another title. He also played an important part in Red Star's European Champions' Cup campaign that ended at semi-final stage versus AC Fiorentina.

All the success led to coach Ćirić receiving and taking the S.S. Lazio head coaching offer position. In his place came Miša Pavić who previously mentored Šekularac in the club's youth setup. The season was not much of a success, however, either team-wise or for Šekularac individually. Increased opponents' defensive focus multiplied the number of hits and knocks he was forced to endure during games. He battled injury problems that caused him to miss almost half of the season as Red Star quickly fell out of title contention.

Though the next 1958–59 season brought continued injury issues, Šekularac, by now a bona fide star across the league, managed to lead his team to league-cup double, both at the expense of arch-rival FK Partizan. In 1959 after winning the league and cup double with Red Star, Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli spared no expense in order to bring 21-year-old Šekularac to Juventus. The transfer was reportedly stopped by the highest echelons of communist nomenclature in FPR Yugoslavia, with even the interior minister Aleksandar Ranković commenting that Šeki is needed in the country to "entertain the working class".[9]

Šekularac is also remembered as the perpetrator of an infamous on-pitch incident in fall 1962 when he assaulted referee Pavle Tumbas in the middle of a league match. He ended up serving a year and a half long suspension.

He ended up playing 375 official competitive matches (156 of those in the league) for Red Star and scoring over 119 goals (32 league goals).

Playing abroad

He later played for Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia for five seasons, before transferring to Millonarios from Bogotá. He eventually ended his playing career in France with Paris FC and later on as a player-coach in Canada with the Serbian White Eagles in 1975.[10] While in Toronto, Šekularac posed for a photograph beside the royal insignia of pre-war Serbia for which he had his passport temporarily revoked by the Yugoslav government.[11] While playing in Colombia, he was referred to as el Pelé blanco (the white Pelé).[12]

International career

At only 18, he made his national team debut on 30 September 1956. He was on the national side that won the silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, and also participated in the World Cups of 1958 and 1962. He went on to make 41 senior international appearances, scoring 6 goals.

A highlight of his international career was the 1960 European Nations' Cup, where Šekularac earned the spot in the Team of the Tournament.[13] Forty years later, he reminisced on the matches:

Playing style

He was quick and crafty with the ball, displaying creative skills which turned many heads. Possessing supreme self-confidence along with impeccable technical ability, he was one of the biggest showmen and crowd draws in the history of Yugoslav football. His enormous popularity throughout FPR Yugoslavia during the early 1960s transcended sports as he easily became one of the most recognizable individuals in the country.

In addition to the swelling of praise and accolades for his skills, he also attracted criticism over lack of team play and overall attitude on the pitch that some found to be disrespectful to the game.[14] Others point to his lack of effectiveness and a seeming disproportion between his talent and his overall career statistics.[15]

Coaching career

Guatemala national team

Šekularac was head coach of the Guatemala national team for eighteen months from 1984 to 1985.[16] Under Šekularac, Guatemala was undefeated in 36 home matches but narrowly missed out on the 1986 World Cup after losing away to Canada in a decisive 1985 CONCACAF Championship match.[16]

Serbian White Eagles FC

In February 2006, prior to the start of the 2006 Canadian Soccer League season, it was announced that Šekularac would become head coach of the expansion Serbian White Eagles, re-founded in February of the same year, with first assistant being Stevan Mojsilović.[17] This would be Šekularac's second stint with the White Eagles having already played for and coached them in the past. With seasoned internationals being brought over from Serbia and the rest of Europe, the team was set.[17]

The stint, though short-lived, was not without success. The club was a hit in its first season, finishing first in the International Conference with 55 points and first overall (tallying both conferences). In the regular season, Šeki guided the club to 17 wins, 4 ties and 1 loss with a whopping goal differential of 66:13.[18]

The Eagles advanced to the knockout-stage, easily beating Toronto Supra Portuguese in the quarterfinals with a score of 3-0 and also easily beating the Windsor Border Stars in the semifinal 6–1. The season was almost brought to a happy end but the Serbian White Eagles lost to the Italia Shooters in the final by a score of 1–0.[18]

Personal life

Šekularac had a son named Marko and three daughters named Aleksandra (nicknamed Sanja), Ivana and Katja.[17] He had a younger brother named Mirko (born 1941) who was also a footballer.[19] Mirko’s grandson Kristian is also a professional footballer.[20]

Along with Serbian, English and Spanish, Šekularac also spoke conversational Portuguese.[21]

Šekularac was a keen chess player. At the age of 81, only weeks before his death, he drew his game in a simultaneous exhibition against Anatoly Karpov in Valjevo.[22]

In popular culture

Death and legacy

Šekularac died on 5 January 2019 in Belgrade, Serbia.[23] He is interred in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens in the Belgrade New Cemetery in a joint grave with Milunka Lazarević, next to the grave of actor Božidar Stošić and across the graves of Ranko Žeravica and Branislav Pokrajac.[24]

The Serbian White Eagles Academy was posthumously named in his honour.[25]

Honours

Player

Red Star Belgrade

1955–56, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1963–64

1957–58, 1958–59, 1963–64Independiente Santa Fe

1971

1970

Yugoslavia
Individual

1960[26]

Manager

Red Star Belgrade

1989–90

1989–90

Heidelberg United

1992–93

Serbian White Eagles

External links

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Vuković, Jovo. Ja, Šeki. 2011. IP Beograd. Serbia. 978-86-84057-37-4. 21. sr.
  2. Web site: Nije dozvoljavao da ga zovu deda . . 2019-09-02 . 2019-01-21 . sr.
  3. Web site: Ispovest, Dragoslav Šekularac: Lik iz romana . Ekspres . 2019-01-08 . 2018-02-24 . sr.
  4. Web site: LEGENDA DVA PUTA ROĐENA: Dragoslav Šekularac proslavio 158. rođendan!. Kurir. sr. 1 December 2016. 14 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180401212808/https://www.kurir.rs/sport/fudbal/2567609/legenda-dva-puta-rodena-dragoslav-sekularac-proslavio-158-rodendan. 1 April 2018. live. dmy-all.
  5. http://yugopapir.blogspot.ca/2013/09/dragoslav-sekularac-moj-zivot-1.html Bezobrazluk se čitao u očima!
  6. http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2006/01/31-02/srpski/S05123007.shtml Džajić nije najbolji
  7. Web site: Uvek nekako naopačke . . 2019-01-19 . 2003-07-26 . sr.
  8. Web site: Dragoslav Šekularac . Olympedia . 1 December 2021.
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20101228030413/http://www.pressonline.rs/sr/vesti/magazin/story/145440/SRPSKI+FUDBAL+-+Od+Montevidea+do+Dejana+Stankovi%C4%87a.html Srpski fudbal od Montevidea do Dejana Stankovića
  10. News: May 13, 1975. Street Soccer. C2. Toronto Star.
  11. News: Serge. Joe. August 16, 1975 . Yugoslavs hold Serbian star . D3 . .
  12. News: Fajardo. Valentina. Dragoslav Sekularac, el yugoslavo que participó en el Torneo del Olaya . . 19 December 2021 . 3 August 2023 . es.
  13. Web site: EURO 1960 team of the tournament. 2016-02-22. uefa.com. UEFA. 2019-05-22.
  14. Web site: Početna.
  15. Web site: All Latest News and Interviews - FC Red Star . 2007-05-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070606223121/http://www.fc-redstar.net/content.aspx?cultureID=2&ID=763&sectionID=24 . 6 June 2007 . dmy .
  16. Web site: Yugoslav star arrives to rescue JUST . Schwab . Laurie . Laurie Schwab . . November 15, 2023 . February 6, 1986.
  17. News: Vujčić. Prvoslav. Prvoslav Vujcic. Get Out of Here, I am Sekularac . Urban Book Circle . 6 June 2006 . 25 January 2024 . en.
  18. Web site: Najbolji kanadski fudbalski klub i prvi srpski, profesionalni, fudbalski klub u dijaspori . Vujcic, Djuradj . 2012-05-17 . 2006-10-18 . sr . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208134624/http://serbianwhiteeagles.ca/serbianwhiteeagles.ca/SerbianWhiteEagles%20Old%20Website/sr/2006/vesti20061018mi.html . 8 December 2015 . live . dmy-all .
  19. Web site: Jača su dvojica nego jedan... . Espreso.rs . 2018-07-15 . 2016-01-27 . sr . https://web.archive.org/web/20180715210808/https://www.espreso.rs/sport/fudbal/27700/jaca-su-dvojica-nego-jedan-najpoznatija-braca-koja-su-igrala-u-zvezdi-video . 15 July 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  20. Web site: SEKULARAC IN JUVENTUS! Josip Broz Tito prevented his famous grandfather from leaving "Marakana" for Turin, BUT HIS GRANDSON SUCCEEDED!. sportal.blic.rs.
  21. Web site: Serbian White Eagles 2006 CSL Quarterfinal . Dimsung . . 2011-06-10 . 2006-10-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160731222122/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wMI2cmHp_k . 31 July 2016 . live . dmy-all .
  22. Web site: "PRE 10 DANA JE IZVUKAO REMI PROTIV KARPOVA" Vlade Đurović o velikom Šekularcu: Bio je vedar, ali fizički slab, maltene smo ga nosili.... blic.rs. 2019-01-05. sr. 2019-05-22.
  23. News: Otišla je druga Zvezdina zvezda – preminuo Dragoslav Šekularac . b92.net . 5 January 2019 . 5 January 2019 . sr . https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201103/https://www.b92.net/sport/fudbal/vesti.php?yyyy=2019&mm=01&dd=05&nav_id=1489756 . 5 January 2019 . live . dmy-all .
  24. Web site: ŠEKI U ALEJI BESMRTNIH: Šekularac sahranjen na Novom groblju . . 2019-01-12 . 2019-01-10 . sr.
  25. Web site: Šeki, ovo je tebi u čast! . Alo.rs . 2019-02-12 . 2019-01-13 . sr.
  26. News: 1 February 2011. 1960 team of the tournament. Union of European Football Associations. 14 May 2020.