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Malta coach Emilio De Leo has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Sinisa Mihajlovic, while also sharing a series of revealing anecdotes from his decade working alongside the Serbian, including a bizarre encounter involving Samuel Eto’o.
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De Leo, who is now in charge of the Maltese national team, spent ten years as Mihajlovic’s trusted assistant across multiple clubs in Italy. Reflecting on that period, he made clear the profound impact the former coach had on both his career and personal outlook.
“He showed us what it means to fight,” De Leo explained, with quotes via La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Even during the most difficult moments, he was stronger than everyone else. You would feel small next to him, almost overwhelmed, because while others felt emotion and compassion, he was the one giving strength to us.”
De Leo: ‘Mihajlovic would call us from the hospital to criticise!’
Recalling Mihajlovic’s battle with illness, De Leo added: “He would call the team from the hospital and still criticise performances. After one comeback win, he said the first half had been awful. That was his mentality, always demanding more.”
De Leo also offered a glimpse into Mihajlovic’s intense management style. “After a 3-0 defeat, he made the squad watch the match three times over three days. Nobody could leave. On the fourth day, the captain told him they had understood.”
Alongside the emotional memories, there was also room for lighter moments, including one involving former Inter striker Eto’o. “He would show up with a different car every day and sometimes skip training,” De Leo recalled. “One day he introduced a woman as his wife. A few days later, he introduced another woman, again saying she was his wife.”
Despite the humour, De Leo returned to Mihajlovic’s legacy in closing: “He taught me that what you need is already inside you. He didn’t leave as a defeated man, but as a winner.”
