Ilija Petković


Ilija Petković was a Serbian footballer and manager. From the early 1990s until his death, Petković was a football manager, with his most notable appointment being with the Serbia and Montenegro national team.
Petković played 43 games for Yugoslavia, and participated in UEFA Euro 1968, and in the 1974 FIFA World Cup where he scored a goal in a big 9–0 win against Zaire. He played much of his career between 1964–1983 in OFK Beograd, with a stint in the middle in Troyes AC between 1973–1976.
He began his coaching career in 1990 with his original club, OFK Beograd, and coached many clubs. He coached Yugoslavia three times, first as an assistant in 1997–98, then in 2000–01, following Vujadin Boškov's departure after UEFA Euro 2000.

Coaching career

In late December 2009, Petković accused Dragan Stojković of starting a media smear campaign against him back in late May 2006 right before the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Petković claimed that he refused to name some Red Star players in the final squad that the club was looking to sell at a better price by having them showcased at the World Cup, all of which prompted Stojković's ire. Stojković denied such claims.

Death

Petković died on 27 June 2020 in Belgrade after complications with his ulcer breaking and getting infected with COVID-19.