Miroslav Blažević was a prominent Bosnian-Croatian footballer and manager, known for his impactful career from 1935 to 2023.
He received the prestigious Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport, recognizing his contributions to football.
Blažević was honored with a star on the Croatian Walk of Fame, celebrating his legacy in sports.
Biography
Early Life
Miroslav "Ćiro" Blažević was born on February 9, 1935, in Travnik, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, to a Bosnian Croat family. He was the youngest of eight children, and his parents did not register his birth until the next day, leading to his official birthday being recorded as February 10. In his youth, he trained in skiing before turning his focus to football.
Playing Career
Blažević began his football journey with local team NK Travnik before moving to Zagreb to join GNK Dinamo Zagreb. His playing career spanned from 1954 to 1966, during which he played as a forward for several clubs, including Dinamo Zagreb, FK Sarajevo, HNK Rijeka, and Swiss teams FC Sion and Moutier. Although he described his playing career as average, he transitioned into coaching early on, leveraging his experiences on the field.
Managerial Career
After retiring as a player, Blažević began his coaching career in Switzerland, where he managed teams like FC Vevey and FC Sion, winning the Swiss Cup in 1974. He returned to Yugoslavia in 1979 to coach NK Rijeka, leading them to the quarter-finals of the 1979–80 European Cup Winners' Cup. His most notable achievement came when he took over Dinamo Zagreb in 1980, where he won the club's first Yugoslav league title in 24 years during the 1981–82 season, solidifying his status as a club legend.
Personal Life and Legacy
Blažević married Zdenka Đorđević in 1962, and together they had three children and five grandchildren. He held both Croatian and Swiss citizenship. Blažević passed away from prostate cancer on February 8, 2023, just one day before his 88th birthday, and was laid to rest at Zagreb's Mirogoj Cemetery. His contributions to football, both as a player and a manager, have left a lasting legacy in the sport.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
Blažević began his youth career in local team NK Travnik, after which he moved to Zagreb and joined Dinamo Zagreb. His career as a player was, by his own admission, average; therefore, he began his coaching career at a relatively early age. As a player, he played for Dinamo Zagreb, Lokomotiva Zagreb, Rijeka, Sarajevo, and Sion. He also played for Moutier, gaining promotion to LNA in 1966.
Coaching in Switzerland
Blažević started as a coach when he ended his playing days in Switzerland. He first led FC Vevey (1968–71) then his former team FC Sion (1971–76), FC Lausanne-Sport (1976–79) and finally Switzerland's national team (as interim coach for two games in 1976). With Sion he won the Swiss Cup with club as a player and as manager in 1974.
NK Rijeka
Blažević returned to Yugoslavia in 1979 to coach Rijeka. Rijeka finished tenth in the 1979–80 season. Although not a very good league season the club got to the quarter-finals of 1979–80 European Cup Winners' Cup where they lost to Juventus. NK Rijeka's best European placement. Blažević also lost the 1979–80 Balkans Cup final to Studențesc București.
Success with Dinamo
Blažević took over Dinamo Zagreb on 11 December 1980, one of Yugoslavia's big four clubs (the other three being Hajduk Split, Red Star Belgrade and Partizan) in 1980. After a mediocre first season, in which Dinamo finished fifth, Blažević became an instant club legend in the 1981–82, winning the first Yugoslav league title for the Zagreb outfit after a 24-year drought. Next year, Dinamo won the Yugoslav Cup and led a long battle with Partizan and Hajduk Split in the league. Partizan became 1983 champions and Blažević left Dinamo for the first time.
Grasshopper and Priština
Blažević went back to Switzerland, winning the Swiss Championship with Grasshopper-Club Zurich in 1984. He advanced to the second round of…
- Club
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb (1957–1958)
- Club
- FC Sion (1966–1968)
- Club
- HNK Hajduk Split (1966–1968)
- Club
- HNK Rijeka (1959–1964)
- Club
- FK Sarajevo (1958–1959)
Trophies & Awards
- Award
- star on Croatian Walk of Fame
- Award
- Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport
Personal
Blažević was born to a Bosnian Croat family in Travnik, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina) on 9 February 1935. However, his parents did not register his birth until the next day, resulting in his official birthday being listed as 10 February. He was the youngest of eight children. In his teens he trained in skiing.
Blažević married Zdenka Đorđević in 1962. The couple had three children and five grandchildren. Apart from Croatian, he also held Swiss citizenship. Blažević died of prostate cancer in Zagreb on 8 February 2023, one day before his 88th birthday. He was buried at Zagreb's Mirogoj Cemetery on 15 February.
Clubs
Played together with
Abdelmoumene DjabouFC Sion · 2008–2008- Abdulah GegićFK Sarajevo
- Abiodun BaruwaFC Sion · 1997–1998
- Adaílton José dos Santos FilhoFC Sion · 2010–2012
- Adaílton José dos Santos FilhoFC Sion · 2013–2014
Adel ChedliFC Sion · 2006–2007
Adem LjajićFK Sarajevo · 2025
Adis JahovićFK Sarajevo · 2009–2011- Adis JahovićHNK Rijeka · 2014–2014
- Adnan GušoFK Sarajevo · 2002–2002
- Adrian AliajHNK Hajduk Split · 1996–1998
- Adrian ŠemperGNK Dinamo Zagreb
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Miroslav "Ćiro" Blažević was a Bosnian and Croatian professional football manager and player. A former right winger, his professional playing career spanned from 1954 to 1966, during which he played for Dinamo Zagreb, Lokomotiva Zagreb, Sarajevo, Rijeka as well as Swiss clubs Sion and Moutier.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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