Andrija Delibasic has passed away - the man who made Montenegro happy

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

Everyone who has the Montenegrin national football team close to their hearts will forever remember October 7, 2011, the magical goal for a sensational 2:2 draw against England and a place in the play-offs for the European Championship. They will still cry today, because the author of one of the most famous goals in the short history of our football, Andrija Delibasic, has passed away at the age of 44.

The stout Nikšić, who left an indelible mark on Partizan and Rayo Vallecano, lost his battle with the most serious illness. The striker, who was born in Sutjeska, from which he joined the ranks of the "black and whites" as a 14-year-old, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2023, while he was the coach of Mornar.

He underwent emergency surgery, and support came from all sides. During the match against Serbia, the fans of Montenegro unfurled a banner "Andrija, win once more", and in his fight for life he was supported by Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad, Hercules and Mallorca, whose jerseys he wore, as well as La Liga.

After the operation, Delibasic returned to football and in the summer became the sports director of Buducnost, and he chose Mladen Milinkovic, a Serbian expert to whom he was an assistant during his first term on the Podgorica bench, as his coach.

Unfortunately, the disease returned, but this time there was no help.

We will remain with memories of the famous goal against the English, the goal against Georgia for the first victory of the "brave falcons" in official matches, three goals in the Champions League in the 2003/2004 season in the Partizan jersey, two of which were against the later European champion - José Mourinho's Porto...

Montenegrin football has lost another national team player who will never be forgotten, after Matija Šarkić. And one more early, too early...

Goodbye Deli. We will remember you forever as the man who made Montenegro happy.