Dragoslav Šekularac

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. 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…

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. Forty years later, he reminisced on the matches:

"Do I remember that match? To this day, I dream about it. We had a great team that won over the French fans. Against the home side, I took part in one of the best games in the history of football. I was convinced that the trophy would be in our hands. Against the Russians, we've never had luck. It was like that in the final match as well. I remember that we missed a few goal chances and that the Russians at times during the match were totally inferior. That Ponedelnik however was without mercy. He scored on us and prevented us from celebrating our (potentially) biggest triumph." He played his final international in June 1966 against Bulgaria.

He was known for his speed, ball control, and technical ability. His style of play, which emphasized creativity and individual skill, contributed to his popularity among spectators. During the early 1960s, he was a prominent figure in Yugoslav football and became widely recognized within 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. Others point to his lack of effectiveness and a seeming disproportion between his talent and his overall career statistics.

Šekularac was born on 8 November 1937 in Štip, Vardar Banovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia present day North Macedonia to mixed family Montenegrin Serb father Bogosav from the village of Kurikuće, Berane Municipality (the Vasojevići region in northern Montenegro) and Macedonian mother Donka (née Markovska). 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. 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. 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…