Sad news: Croatia loses a true legend whose life inspired many

Ivan Gudelj, one of Hajduk Split’s greatest footballers, has died at the age of 67 after a serious illness. His career had promised a move to Real Madrid, but hepatitis B abruptly changed his life.

Gudelj was 25 when he collapsed during Hajduk’s match against Red Star Belgrade at Poljud after feeling a sharp pain in a muscle. Doctors soon diagnosed hepatitis, and the game became his last. He had to leave football at 26, ending a career that had appeared destined for the Bernabéu.

Before the illness, Gudelj had already established himself among Europe’s leading young players. He was named Europe’s best young player in 1979 and became the youngest captain in the history of the Yugoslavia national team. He was also selected among the ideal 11 players at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

Gudelj played 362 matches for Hajduk and scored 93 goals. He made 33 appearances for Yugoslavia, scoring three times, and played at the 1980 Olympics, the 1982 World Cup and Euro 1984. His life after football was marked by the effort to overcome the disease and the setbacks that ended his playing career.