Bora Milutinovic’s name may not ring a bell for young football fans around the world, but for the game’s enthusiasts in Qatar he is an almost ubiquitous fatherly figure who is as much at ease with stars as well as kids who are just learning the ropes of the game.
A resident of Qatar for more than 10 years, the 73-year-old Serbian coach is now an ambassador for Generation Amazing, the Supreme Committee’s flagship legacy project that is involved with several community-based initiatives around the world. That gives him an incredible insight into Qatar’s ingenuity, dynamism and vision, especially when it comes to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Known as the “Miracle Worker” for helping five countries — the US, Nigeria, Costa Rica, China and Nigeria qualify for the World Cup — Milutinovic is a highly-respected figure in all continents. Past players speak of him with reverence, while younger coaches aspire to emulate his achievements.
“Oh, I miss coaching,” he said yesterday, hastening to add, “oh no, I don’t miss, I still coach,” pointing some 20 odd kids who had gathered at Aspire Zone for a Generation Amazing function to mark four years before the 2022 World Cup kicks off in Qatar on November 21 that year.
“I enjoy coaching. Coaching is the same, be it kids or professional players. It is the same game, it requires the same passion.”
With age he has mellowed. A no-nonsense coach during his heyday – he once told legendary US goalkeeper Alexi Lalas to get a haircut if he wanted to be on the team – Milutinovic speaks softly, always sporting a cheery smile.
“Life in Qatar has been good. I have enjoyed every moment of it. Now, I look forward to the next four years, and of course to the World Cup,” which, according to him, is going to be “perfect.”
“I first came to Qatar in 1993 and since then I’ve visited regularly before settling down. I can tell you with confidence that Qatar’s World Cup dream is perfect. Their vision is perfect. It will be a dream World Cup. The venues are all close by. The players won’t be tired.” Milutinovic, whose two brothers played for the Yugoslavian national team, is partly credited with the invention of the Mexican wave that has spread across the world.
“Well, it was a coincidence that it happened during an important match whilst we were preparing for the ’86 World Cup. We were playing against Argentina, and the people of Monterrey were so happy that they expressed their joy by doing a wave, and that was the beginning of the ‘Mexican Wave, in September 1984,” Milutinovic had said during an earlier interview.
“Every time I go to stadiums around the world today and see a Mexican Wave, I remember those days when, thanks to the quality and the efforts of my players, this expression of joy was born.”
He speaks fondly of Mexico where he finished his club career playing for the Pumas.
“It is my beloved team – one of my beloved teams. There I became a coach. So with Pumas we got excellent results, and after the ’82 World Cup, I started managing Mexico’s national team, where I stayed until ’86. We came sixth at the ’86 World Cup.
“I remember before the match against Belgium there were sound problems, so they couldn’t play the national anthem, and Tomás Boy, the then captain, asked what we should do, and I told him to stay in the middle of the pitch and start singing the national anthem. So they started singing the national anthem and everyone in the stadium sang it too. I thought to myself: ‘Today, no one will be able to beat us’.”
But nothing beats Qatar, according to him.
“Of course, Qatar is exceptional. There is no doubt about that.”
Bora Milutinovic, also seen below conducting a coaching clinic. Pictures: Thajudeen
