Marcel Žigante

Marcel Žigante (1929 – 8 March 2015) was a Yugoslav and later Croatian professional football manager and former player.

Marcel Žigante
Personal information
Date of birth 1929 (1929)
Place of birth Rijeka, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Date of death 8 March 2015(2015-03-08) (aged 85–86)
Place of death Rijeka, Croatia
Position(s) Right winger
Youth career
1943–1945 Šparta Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1945 Dinamo Zagreb
1948–1949 Čapljina
1949–1955 Sarajevo 96 (25)
1955–1956 Radnički Beograd 4 (0)
1957–1960 Željezničar 41 (11)
Managerial career
1962–1964 Famos Hrasnica
1964–1965 Rudar Kakanj
1965–1966 Leotar
1966–1967 Željezničar
1968–1972 Bor
1972–1973 Rijeka
1973–1974 Orijent 1919
1974–1975 Čelik Zenica
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born in Rijeka, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, present day Croatia, Žigante's football career began in a small club called Šparta Zagreb in 1943. After the end of World War II, he started playing for Dinamo Zagreb in 1945. He did not stay there for long though. First, Žigante went to Čapljina and then, in 1949, he joined Sarajevo. He played there until 1955, during which time he collected 96 league appearances. Žigante then played with Radnički Beograd as they reached 3rd place in the 1955–56 Yugoslav First League season.

His next club was Sarajevo's fierce city rival Željezničar. He played in 41 league games and scored 11 goals for the club during his three-year tenure. Žigante decided to end his playing career in 1960 after leaving Željezničar. He is remembered as one of the best right wingers during the 1940s and 1950s in Yugoslavia.

Managerial career

Although he was a geography teacher as well, Žigante stayed in football as a manager. He was first manager of Famos Hrasnica (1962–1964) during which time they got promoted to the Yugoslav Second League.[1] After that, he was the manager of Rudar Kakanj (1964–1965) and Leotar (1965–1966). In 1966, Žigante returned to Željezničar where he was one of the creators of a great generation of players that won the Yugoslav First League in 1972 alongside Milan Ribar. He worked as the manager of Željezničar in the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons.

In 1968, he became the new manager of Bor (1968–1972), which he promoted to the Yugoslav First League in 1972. Žigante then managed Rijeka (1972–1973) and Čelik Zenica (1974–1975), with whom he won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1975.

Death

Žigante died on Sunday, 8 March 2015, in his hometown of Rijeka, Croatia.[2]

Honours

Manager

Bor

Čelik Zenica

References
  1. Podsjetnik NK Famos p. 6
  2. "U 87. godini preminuo Marcel Žigante". fksarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 8 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
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