A renown Serbian footballer and Bologna Football Club Manager Sinisa Mihajlovic said during a press conference on Saturday that he has leukaemia.

“I did the tests which showed I had leukaemia. It was a hard blow and I cried for days… Your whole life flashes before your eyes,” Mihajlovic said, adding he cannot wait to go to the hospital and begin his treatment.

I told my players that he must attack and win. If we keep waiting and defending ourselves, the enemy will score a winning goal. I must, now, use my tactics and I there’s no doubt in my mind that I will win,” Mihajlovic stressed.

The Serbian football expert concluded that he will win this fight for his family, his children and all those who love him.

During his career, he played either as a defender or midfielder. He has 63 caps and scored 10 goals for Yugoslavia from 1991 to 2003, and he played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000 tournaments.

Considered by many to be among the best free-kick takers of all time, he co-holds the all-time record in Serie A for most goals from free-kicks, alongside Andrea Pirlo, with 28 goals. He was the coach of the Serbia national football team from May 2012 to November 2013 and holds an Italian passport.