Tomislav Ivić


Tomislav Ivić was a Croatian professional football player and manager. Often described as a brilliant strategist, Ivić is credited with helping develop the modern style of the game. In April 2007, Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport proclaimed him as the most successful football manager in history, due to his seven league titles won in five different countries.

Managerial career

Ivić managed teams in 14 different countries along with four national teams, and he won titles and cups in seven countries: Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and France. Ivić never won the league title in Greece.
Ivić won seven top flight championships ; six national cups ; an UEFA Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup.
In Croatia, Ivić coached RNK Split, Hajduk Split, Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatia national team; in the Netherlands, Ajax; in Belgium, Anderlecht and Standard Liège; in Turkey, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe; in Italy, Avellino; in Greece, Panathinaikos; in Portugal, Porto and Benfica; in France, Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille ; in Spain, Atlético Madrid; in the United Arab Emirates, Al Wasl and the UAE national team; and in Iran, Persepolis and the Iran national selection.

European and international club competitions

He took Hajduk Split to the European Cup quarter final two times: 1975–76 and in 1979–80, he also reached it with Ajax in 1977–78. His biggest achievement in the European Cup was reaching the semi-finals during the 1981–82 season with Anderlecht. With Porto he won the 1987 European Super Cup and the 1987 Intercontinental Cup.
Ivić has one of the best Champions League win ratios, having won 29 out of 46 matches with a ratio of 63.0%.

International career

He was national team head coach of Yugoslavia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and even Croatia for one match as caretaker manager subbing in for Miroslav Blažević.
While UAE head coach, Ivić lost the 1996 AFC Asian Cup final against Saudi Arabia on penalties.

Retirement

In 2001, under the advisement of his doctor Ivić retired from coaching so he could be under less stress. Three years later he coached Al-Ittihad Club for a season before taking up the youth selections of Standard Liège.

Death

Ivić died on 24 June 2011, six days before his 78th birthday, in his hometown of Split. He was reportedly suffering from cardiac troubles, as well as diabetes.

Managerial statistics

Club

National teams

Honours

Manager

Hajduk Split
Hajduk Split
Ajax
Anderlecht
Porto
Atlético Madrid
Marseille
Al-Ittihad
United Arab Emirates