1. Playing Career
Antić's playing career as a defender spanned 17 years across Yugoslavia, Turkey, Spain, and England, culminating in a single international appearance for Yugoslavia.
1.1. Early life and youth career
Radomir Antić was born on November 22, 1948, in Žitište, Yugoslavia. He was the second son in a Serb family; his father, Jovo Antić, hailed from the Janj area near Šipovo, and his mother, Milka Brkić, was from the Grmeč region. The family had settled in the small Banat town of Žitište shortly before his birth. He had an older brother, Dragomir, who was two years his senior. Radomir was named after his maternal uncle, Radomir "Rade" Brkić, a notable World War II Partisan guerrilla fighter who was awarded the Order of the People's Hero gallantry medal.
When Antić was six years old, his family relocated to Titovo Užice, a city he considered his hometown and where he spent his formative years. Following the family's move to Titovo Užice, his younger sister, Mira, was born.
1.2. Club career
Antić began his playing career with Sloboda Titovo Užice in 1967, remaining there until 1970. He then moved to Partizan, where he played for the majority of his career from 1970 to 1977. With Partizan, he achieved national success, winning the Yugoslav First League championship in 1976. During his time at Partizan, he made 181 appearances, scoring 9 goals.
In the summer of 1977, Antić signed with Fenerbahçe in Turkey. He spent one season in Istanbul, from 1976 to 1978, making 28 appearances and scoring 2 goals, and winning the 1. Lig title in the 1977-78 season. Following his spell in Turkey, he moved to Spain's La Liga, joining Real Zaragoza in 1978, where he played for two seasons until 1980, with 58 appearances and 7 goals.
In 1980, Antić moved to England to play for Luton Town, then competing in the Football League Second Division (the second tier of English football). Known as "Raddy" to English fans, he played 100 matches and scored 9 goals for the club. He was instrumental in helping Luton secure the Second Division title in 1982, earning promotion to the top division. He continued with the club for two seasons in the top flight. A particularly memorable moment occurred at the end of the 1982-83 season, when he scored a crucial winning goal four minutes from time in the final league match away against Manchester City, saving Luton from relegation. Manchester City, as a result, was relegated. Luton manager David Pleat famously celebrated by running across the pitch in jubilation.
Already in his 30s when he arrived at Luton, Antić began to prepare for a coaching career. While still an active player in England, he enrolled in and completed the coaching college in Belgrade, known as Viša trenerska škola. He often cited David Pleat as a significant influence on his later coaching style. After helping secure Luton's First Division status, Antić played one more season at Kenilworth Road before retiring at the age of 36 in 1984.
1.3. International career
Antić made a single appearance for the Yugoslavia national football team. This occurred on September 26, 1973, in a friendly match against Hungary in Belgrade. He came on as a substitute in the 80th minute, replacing an injured Franjo Vladić.
2. Managerial Career
Radomir Antić's extensive managerial career saw him lead numerous clubs and the Serbian national team, achieving significant success, particularly in Spain.
2.1. Early managerial career
After concluding his playing career at the age of 36, Antić embarked on his coaching journey as an assistant manager at Partizan from 1985 to 1987, working under head coach Nenad Bjeković. During this period, Partizan won the 1985-86 and 1986-87 league titles, though the 1985-86 title was marred by a match-fixing controversy.
In early July 1987, Fahrudin Jusufi was appointed as the new head coach, and Antić initially continued in his assistant role. However, during pre-season training for the 1987-88 season, a dispute arose between Jusufi and Antić regarding player personnel issues. This disagreement led to Antić being effectively demoted to the position of coach for Partizan's under-16 youth team (cadet squad).
2.2. Spanish Club Management
Antić's managerial career largely flourished in Spain, where he managed several prominent clubs, often making a significant impact on their performance and league standings.
2.2.1. Real Zaragoza
Antić's first head coaching position was with Real Zaragoza, a club he had previously played for. His appointment in 1988 was significantly influenced by the recommendation of his countryman Vujadin Boškov, who had enjoyed a successful coaching career in Spain and Italy.
Antić took charge of a relatively modest squad that lacked major star players. Notable figures included the aging Spanish international midfielder Juan Antonio Señor and forward Miguel Pardeza, a product of Real Madrid's youth system. A key summer signing just before Antić's arrival was 26-year-old striker Nasko Sirakov from Levski Sofia. The team also possessed promising young talents such as 22-year-olds Francisco Villarroya and Juan Vizcaíno, who would later become Spanish internationals, and the eccentric Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert, who joined from Argentina's San Lorenzo in the same summer.
Antić made his La Liga coaching debut on September 4, 1988, in a 0-0 draw against Valencia. The initial period was challenging, with the club frequently hovering around the relegation zone. While there was a slight improvement, the team remained stuck in the lower half of the table. A sudden and unexpected breakthrough occurred during the final eight league matches of the season, as Antić's Zaragoza embarked on a rapid climb up the table, securing win after win. They ultimately finished the season in fifth place, which qualified them for the UEFA Cup. Antić managed Real Zaragoza for two full seasons, from 1988 to 1990.
2.2.2. Real Madrid
Antić had two stints as manager of Real Madrid, both marked by high expectations and controversial departures.
Upon his first arrival in late March 1991, Antić took over from club legend Alfredo Di Stéfano. This change followed los Merengues' elimination from the European Cup by Oleg Romantsev's Spartak Moscow in the quarter-finals. Di Stéfano's position had become precarious after a 1-0 league defeat to Logroñés in mid-March, which was Real Madrid's third consecutive league loss. The decisive factor for his removal was the 1-3 home loss in the return leg of the European Cup quarter-final against the Russians at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on March 20, 1991. In La Liga at that time, after 26 matches, the club was in seventh position. Accustomed to winning major trophies, the royal club was in turmoil, with Antić becoming their third head coach of the season, following John Toshack and Di Stéfano.
2.2.3. Real Oviedo
Antić was appointed to coach Real Oviedo after the club's management dismissed longtime coach Javier Irureta following matchday 19 of the 1992-93 season. The club was dangerously close to the relegation zone, occupying 16th spot, and had experienced a brief one-match stint under caretaker Julio Marigil Marín. Antić took over from matchday 21 and successfully guided the club through the remainder of the season, managing to avoid relegation by finishing two spots above the drop zone. He remained at the club for two additional seasons.
During the 1993 summer transfer window, Antić signed Slaviša Jokanović from Partizan, whose midfield presence significantly bolstered the squad. Expectations at Oviedo were considerably more modest compared to Real Madrid, with the primary goal being merely to survive in the top league. It was therefore a considerable surprise that Antić, leading a team with a very low budget, guided Oviedo to a ninth-place finish in the 1993-94 league season.
Antić's most notable signing at Oviedo came before the start of the 1994-95 season when he brought in the often-injured Robert Prosinečki from Real Madrid, thus reuniting with a player he had first signed to Madrid. Oviedo once again finished the La Liga season in a respectable ninth position, missing out on a European spot by only a few points.
2.2.4. Atlético Madrid
Radomir Antić's most significant coaching successes are closely associated with Atlético Madrid, a club he managed in three separate stints, achieving historical triumphs.
His accomplishments in transforming Oviedo's fortunes attracted offers from larger Spanish clubs. Despite being in the final stages of negotiations with Valencia and even having a pre-contract signed, Antić chose to accept the offer from Atlético's controversial club president Jesús Gil. This marked the beginning of Antić's first engagement with the club, which lasted for three seasons (1995-98). The squad he inherited in the summer of 1995 was talented, featuring a quality core of José Luis Caminero, Kiko Narváez, and Diego Simeone, but it had a reputation for consistent underachievement. In the season prior to his arrival, the club narrowly avoided relegation, finishing just one point above the drop zone after securing a 2-2 draw against Sevilla on the last matchday.
2.3. Return to Atlético
Antić's absence from Atlético was brief, as Arrigo Sacchi was sacked midway through the 1998-99 season after matchday 22. Following a five-match interim period under caretaker coach Carlos Sánchez Aguiar, Antić returned for his second spell, which lasted from matchday 28 until the end of the season (11 league matches). With Atlético languishing in a lowly 13th spot in the league standings upon Antić's return, a repeat of his previous league success proved elusive. The team recorded three wins, four losses, and four draws under his command, finishing the season in the same 13th place. However, Antić managed to inspire the team to reach the 1999 Copa del Rey final at the newly opened La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, where they suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat to Claudio Ranieri's Valencia. Antić was again dismissed at the season's end and eventually replaced by Ranieri.
2.4. Third time at Atlético
Antić's third tenure at the club began in February 2000 during the latter part of the 1999-2000 season under challenging circumstances. Following Ranieri's dismissal after league matchday 26, the club was in administration due to accumulated debts, and the squad was already in a tailspin, sitting in 17th league spot, barely above the relegation zone.
Antić's third arrival at the club ahead of matchday 27 did little to alter the situation, as Atlético lost on his return, falling back into the relegation zone and remaining there until the end of the season. Despite the goalscoring exploits of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, they were eliminated from the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup at the round of 16 stage by Lens. However, the relegation from La Liga several months later proved to be the most painful blow of all. Antić was terminated after matchday 37, with Atlético already relegated and one league match remaining in the season; for the final match, the team was coached by Fernando Zambrano. Reaching the Copa del Rey final for the second consecutive season was a rare bright spot in an otherwise disastrous season, but even that ended in disappointment as they were beaten to the trophy by Espanyol.
2.5. Return to Real Oviedo
Antić returned to Real Oviedo in the summer of 2000. His team subsequently suffered their first relegation in 13 years, and he was sacked on July 6, 2001.
2.6. FC Barcelona
After taking a year-and-a-half-long break from coaching, Antić took over FC Barcelona mid-season in late January 2003. This appointment was initiated by club president Joan Gaspart following the sacking of Louis van Gaal. Antić assumed control with the team occupying the 15th spot in La Liga standings, having accumulated only 23 points from 20 league matches (six wins, five draws, and nine losses). However, they were well-positioned in the Champions League second group stage with two wins from as many matches. The club's league position was so precarious that mere top-flight survival was set as Antić's immediate goal, while substantial expectations were placed on their Champions League performance. Some press outlets reported that his six-month contract, worth 600.00 K EUR, was incentive-based, stipulating an automatic one-year extension at the end of the season if the club qualified for the following season's Champions League based on their domestic league finish (top-four).
Antić immediately brought in Juan Pablo Sorín from Lazio. He also began giving regular first-team appearances to young goalkeeper Víctor Valdés and introduced another youngster, Andrés Iniesta, into the first team. Additionally, Antić moved Xavi further up the field, just behind the line of forwards, thereby freeing him from the defensive duties he had under Van Gaal and allowing the diminutive midfielder to fully showcase his creativity.
Antić successfully stabilized the squad and guided it to a sixth-place finish in La Liga, ensuring UEFA Cup qualification. His record with the club during his tenure was nine wins, six draws, and three losses. In the Champions League, under Antić, Barça dominated their group in the Second Group Stage throughout February and early March, which provided the team with a much-needed confidence boost for the remainder of the season across all competitions. In fact, just his third match in charge of Barça was a crucial Champions League clash at home against Inter Milan, which the Catalans won 3-0. This victory marked the coach's return to the Champions League after six years and also extended the team's winning streak to 11 consecutive Champions League matches, breaking the previous record held by A.C. Milan. However, Antić's Barcelona ultimately lost in extra time of the quarter-final to Marcello Lippi's Juventus.
On June 23, 2003, the newly elected club president Joan Laporta announced that the optional second year in Antić's contract would not be activated, and Frank Rijkaard was appointed in his place.
2.7. Celta de Vigo
On January 29, 2004, Antić succeeded Miguel Ángel Lotina at RC Celta de Vigo, a side positioned one point and one place above the relegation zone. He lost 1-0 away to Real Betis in his debut match. Following this game, in which he felt Celta deserved a more positive result, Antić identified overcoming the loss of self-confidence among some of his players, due to the club's weak league position, as his biggest challenge.
Exactly two months after his hiring, Antić resigned from Celta on March 29, 2004. At the time of his departure, Celta was second from bottom in the league. He had accumulated seven points from his nine league games, and the team had been eliminated from the Champions League last 16 by Arsenal.
2.8. National Team Management
Antić's most significant national team role was as head coach of the Serbian national football team, leading them to a FIFA World Cup.
On August 19, 2008, following reported two-day contract negotiations with the Serbian Football Association (FSS), Antić was announced as the new Serbia head coach. He was officially presented at the FSS headquarters on August 25. This appointment marked Antić's return to coaching after a four-year hiatus. According to both Antić and FSS president Tomislav Karadžić, negotiations concluded quickly after Antić's primary request-to bring in his own coaching staff, led by long-time assistant Rešad Kunovac-was accepted. Antić's annual salary was reported to be in the range of 305.00 K EUR to 325.00 K EUR, along with a 500.00 K EUR bonus incentive tied to qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This salary was less than the 360.00 K EUR per year commanded by previous coach Javier Clemente during his 2006-2007 tenure, when the team failed to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008. Furthermore, Antić's appointment occurred amidst turmoil within the FSS, as the previous seven-month head coach Miroslav Đukić had been released following a disastrous 2008 Olympic appearance and public feuding with FSS president Karadžić.
2.8.1. 2010 World Cup qualifying
Hired barely two weeks before the start of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, Antić's debut on the bench took place on September 6, 2008, in a home qualifier against the Faroe Islands at the Red Star Stadium in front of fewer than 10,000 spectators. Antić introduced some fresh talent from the domestic league, such as midfielders Nenad Milijaš and Zoran Tošić, as well as defender Ivan Obradović, in addition to bringing back the skillful CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder Miloš Krasić, who had been overlooked by Đukić. Despite an unconvincing 2-0 win, the focus quickly shifted to the away match against group-favorites France in Saint Denis four days later. Although returning to fielding tried and tested players, Antić still caused a surprise by starting 19-year-old Miralem Sulejmani on the left wing and opting for a 4-5-1 formation with only one striker, Marko Pantelić, instead of the tall target forward Nikola Žigić. While Serbia lost 2-1 to a somewhat vulnerable France, the Serbian press still found positives from the match at Stade de France, such as a brave attacking approach with significant running from the wings.
In October 2008, Serbia faced an in-form Lithuania that had recently defeated Romania and Austria without conceding a goal. Contrary to expectations, Antić's team easily dispatched the Lithuanians in front of 20,000 home fans, scoring twice early and adding one more goal towards the end for a 3-0 final score. Four days later, the team traveled to Vienna to face Austria and again delivered an assured performance, scoring three goals within a ten-minute span during the first half, leaving the shell-shocked Austrians unable to recover.
At the qualifying winter break, Serbia was at the top of the group, tied on points with Lithuania but ahead on goal difference. Simultaneously, on the player personnel front, Antić was involved in efforts to secure the national team loyalty of two young, up-and-coming players who had grown up outside of the country: 20-year-old defender Neven Subotić and 18-year-old striker Bojan Krkić. Subotić ultimately chose to represent Serbia over the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 2008, while Bojan opted to represent Spain despite Antić's numerous approaches.
As the qualifying campaign resumed in late March 2009, Antić's Serbia faced Romania in chilly conditions on a hard surface away in Constanța. In its toughest test of the entire campaign, Serbia once again prevailed with a 3-2 win. Antić's commitment to playing attacking football-with two strikers, Žigić and Pantelić, upfront, as well as two offensively minded wingers, Krasić and Milan Jovanović, just behind them-paid off, as Serbia all but eliminated Romania from contention for the top two spots.
In his first qualifying campaign managing Serbia, Antić led the team to first place in their group, thereby directly qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In the wake of this successful qualification, amidst Serbian press reports of strained relations between Antić and FSS president Karadžić, news emerged that Antić and the FSS had agreed on a new contract. Over the following weeks, Antić's new base salary became the subject of widespread press speculation, with reported annual sums ranging from 528.00 K EUR to 1.20 M EUR. Since the contract was not formally signed and announced by mid-December 2009, despite assurances to the contrary from Antić's agent Miško Ražnatović, reports of the Antić-Karadžić feud reignited, including an irritated Antić flippantly claiming he knew nothing about a new contract. Eventually, on December 18, 2009, Antić's new contract was announced, extending his term to 2012.
During the early part of 2010, in addition to his regular assistants, Antić brought in the experienced globetrotting Serbian coach Bora Milutinović in an advisory role. Milutinović, in turn, brought along his long-time assistant, the Chilean Julio César Moreno. Antić primarily relied on them for opponent scouting. In the lead-up to the World Cup, among the players Antić had used in qualifying and subsequent friendlies, only the aging defender Ivica Dragutinović and midfielder Boško Janković were ruled out due to injury. Antić announced his 24-man squad in mid-May 2010, with no major surprises, and an understanding that one player would be cut by June 1.
2.8.2. Training camp and friendlies
The World Cup training camp commenced with a gathering in Kovilovo on May 24, 2010, with all but one player present: captain Dejan Stanković was permitted to join the team directly in Austria due to his participation in the Champions League final for Inter two days prior. After one light training session on the day of the gathering, the team departed for Leogang the next morning. Nikola Žigić was not on the plane to Austria, as he was allowed to fly to England on May 26, 2010, to sign with Birmingham City. The absence of two starters was not the only issue at the beginning of the camp for Antić; Luković missed the first training session in Austria due to a high fever, and Krasić had to train separately due to muscle pain. During the training in Austria, Branislav Ivanović was granted a short leave from the squad to serve as best man at a wedding back in Serbia.
Despite missing two regulars-Ivanović and captain Stanković-for the first preparation friendly in Klagenfurt against minnows New Zealand, the 0-1 loss was still shocking. A lethargic Serbia, playing in a 4-4-2 formation, created very little offensively, with midfield motor Krasić and Jovanović completely neutralized by Ghana's pressure tactics of double-teaming the Serbian wingers to cut off supply from the flanks. Since Milijaš and Stanković also achieved little through the middle, Serbia was quickly reduced to launching long balls from the back, bypassing their own midfield, which was completely disrupted by the quick and physical Ghanaians playing in a 3-6-1 formation set up by their Serbian head coach Milovan Rajevac. Hoping to inject some energy in the second half, Antić substituted an invisible Milijaš with Zdravko Kuzmanović. While some openings were finally created (Žigić latching onto Pantelić's cross and mis-hitting the ball away from goal in the 59th minute), the match remained mostly a sedate and disjointed affair. Swapping forward for forward, Antić took off a misfiring Žigić and inserted Danko Lazović. As the match seemed headed for a drab goalless draw, central defender Luković pulled down a Ghana player in the 74th minute and was sent off for a second bookable offense. As a result of being reduced to ten men, Antić was forced to patch a hole in central defense by bringing on Subotić instead of the largely ineffective Jovanović. Surprisingly, Serbia began to play much better, creating two excellent scoring opportunities in quick succession. However, in the 85th minute, following a harmless-looking Ghana cross, Kuzmanović handled the ball in his own penalty area, gifting Ghana a penalty and a 1-0 lead. Forced to chase the result for the remaining five minutes, ten-man Serbia pushed forward in numbers in a desperate attempt to find an equalizer, thus leaving themselves vulnerable to counterattacks from the quick Ghanaians. They were extremely fortunate not to concede a second goal, as Ghana hit the post in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Stojković.
2.8.3. 2010 World Cup
Failing to secure any points from the opening match meant that Serbia faced a must-win situation against its next opponent, powerhouse Germany, which had decisively defeated Australia in their first match. Antić decided to switch the tactical formation to a 4-3-3, which could adapt to a more defensive 4-5-1 when needed. Young Subotić replaced the suspended Luković in central defense, the three-man midfield comprised Ninković, Kuzmanović, and Stanković, while upfront, the tall target-man Žigić was joined by wingers Krasić and Jovanović. After a cautious opening, German forward Miroslav Klose received a second yellow card in the 37th minute. Only a minute later, Krasić stormed down the right flank, outrunning Holger Badstuber in the process and looping a high ball into the middle, where the tall Žigić headed it down for Jovanović, who blasted it past Manuel Neuer from close range. Despite being a man down, Germany managed to create some chances in the remaining minutes of the first half, with Sami Khedira hitting the crossbar. The first fifteen minutes of the second half featured a complete onslaught by the undermanned Germany. With chances coming one after another, a confused and disorganized Serbia was completely pushed back despite having an extra player on the pitch. The German offensive culminated in the 60th minute when Vidić needlessly handled the ball in the Serbian penalty area, leading to a penalty shot being awarded to Germany. However, Lukas Podolski's low shot was parried by Stojković, while Subotić then provided a crucial clearance to deny Mesut Özil a chance to get a shot away off the rebound. The penalty save provided an injection of confidence for Antić's team, as it finally began to play in the second half. Even then, 10-man Germany still held the initiative, but Serbia also created a few good chances, such as Žigić's header bouncing off the crossbar. Serbia eventually won the match 1-0, rekindling hopes of progressing from the group.
In the final group game against Australia, Serbia needed only a single point to reach the knockout stages and named an unchanged lineup from the 1-0 win over Germany. They were defeated by Australia 2-1 in an entertaining match where Serbia's dominance in the first half and in periods of the second half would have suggested a Serbian victory. Their failure to convert numerous chances again proved costly, with Australia scoring two goals in the second half through Tim Cahill and Brett Holman. A late Marko Pantelić goal served only as a consolation. Serbia finished last in the group, missing out by one point.
2.8.4. Euro 2012 qualifiers and sacking
After the unsuccessful World Cup campaign, Serbia lost 1-0 at home to Greece in a friendly match, placing pressure on Radomir Antić. He started the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign strongly with a 3-0 away win over the Faroe Islands. However, a frustrating 1-1 draw with Slovenia at home resulted in Antić's sacking on September 15, 2010. He expressed disappointment upon leaving the post and subsequently sued the Serbian Football Association.
2.9. Chinese Club Management
Following his departure from the Serbian national team, Antić ventured into Chinese club football.
On December 25, 2012, it was announced that Antić had signed a two-year contract with Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng Taishan. He was joined by Aleksandar Rogic as his assistant. Although Shandong Luneng had finished in 12th position in the 2012 season, Antić successfully guided them to a second-place finish in the league. Despite this achievement, he was released by Shandong on December 21, 2013.
On January 27, 2015, he signed a three-year contract with China League One side Hebei Zhongji. However, he was sacked on August 18, 2015, after failing to lead the club into the promotion zone. After his coaching career in China, Antić primarily worked as a football commentator in Spain.
3. Managerial Statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Zaragoza | July 1, 1988 | June 30, 1990 | 86 | 35 | 24 | 27 | 40.70 |
| Real Madrid | March 21, 1991 | January 27, 1992 | 39 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 69.23 |
| Real Oviedo | February 5, 1993 | June 30, 1995 | 112 | 41 | 31 | 40 | 36.61 |
| Atlético Madrid | July 1, 1995 | June 30, 1998 | 157 | 81 | 41 | 35 | 51.59 |
| Atlético Madrid | March 24, 1999 | June 30, 1999 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 28.57 |
| Atlético Madrid | March 4, 2000 | May 15, 2000 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 13.33 |
| Real Oviedo | July 1, 2000 | June 30, 2001 | 39 | 11 | 8 | 20 | 28.21 |
| Barcelona | February 7, 2003 | June 30, 2003 | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 50.00 |
| Celta Vigo | January 29, 2004 | March 29, 2004 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10.00 |
| Serbia | August 20, 2008 | September 15, 2010 | 28 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 60.71 |
| Shandong Luneng | December 24, 2012 | December 21, 2013 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 59.38 |
| Hebei China Fortune | January 27, 2015 | August 18, 2015 | 23 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 47.83 |
| Total | 579 | 261 | 142 | 176 | 45.08 | ||
4. Honours
Radomir Antić achieved significant honours both as a player and as a manager throughout his career.
4.1. Player Honours
- Partizan
- Yugoslav First League: 1975-76
- Fenerbahçe
- 1. Lig: 1977-78
- Luton Town
- Second Division: 1981-82
4.2. Managerial Honours
- Atlético Madrid
- La Liga: 1995-96
- Copa del Rey: 1995-96
4.3. Individual Awards
- Don Balón Award: Best Coach 1995-96
- Serbian Coach of the Year: 2009
5. Personal Life
Antić's personal life included his family, residences, and a notable legal dispute.
5.1. Family and Residence
Radomir Antić was married to Vera. Together, they had two children: a daughter named Ana, who is married to basketball player Nikola Lončar, and a son named Dušan, who is married to Mirjana. Antić was a grandfather to four grandchildren: two grandsons, Marko and Radomir, and two granddaughters, Ivan and Petra. He maintained residences in both Madrid and Marbella in Spain.
5.2. Defamation Suit
During the 1995-96 double-winning season in Spain, Antić was involved in a notable public dispute with Spanish political columnist Hermann Tertsch of the El País daily newspaper. In an interview with journalist Carmen Rigalt, published on September 10, 1995, in El Mundo, Antić expressed strong objections to views articulated by Tertsch. Perceiving Tertsch's opinions and coverage of the Yugoslav Wars as anti-Serbian, Antić referred to the columnist as a "Nazi."
In response, Tertsch filed a slander lawsuit against Antić and received a court ruling in his favor, awarding him 2.00 M ESP. Following a series of appeals, the case eventually reached the Spanish Supreme Court, which, in mid-November 2003, upheld the original ruling in Tertsch's favor. Consequently, Antić was ordered to pay the euro equivalent of the originally awarded amount, which was approximately 12.00 K EUR.
6. Death and Legacy
Radomir Antić's passing marked the end of an influential career, but his contributions to football continue to be remembered.
6.1. Death
Radomir Antić died on April 6, 2020, in Madrid, Spain, at the age of 71. His death was attributed to COVID-19, following several years of struggling with pancreatitis.
6.2. Commemoration and Legacy
Antić's contributions to football are commemorated in various ways. On August 12, 2021, the stadium of FK Sloboda Užice, a club where he began his playing career, was officially renamed the Radomir Antić Stadium in his honor. He is remembered as a pioneering figure in football, particularly cherished in Spain and Serbia, for his tactical acumen and his unique achievement of managing three of Spain's biggest clubs.
