Miroslav Blažević

Miroslav "Ćiro" Blažević was born in Travnik, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (modern Bosnia and Herzegovina). After a modest playing career in Yugoslavia and Switzerland, he transitioned to management, winning the Swiss Cup with Sion in 1974 before taking over Dinamo Zagreb in 1980.

Wearing his trademark white scarf, Ćiro guided Dinamo Zagreb to their first Yugoslav First League title in 24 years in 1982, an achievement imbued with deep Croatian national pride. In 1994, he took charge of newly independent Croatia, guiding a golden generation featuring Davor Šuker, Zvonimir Boban, and Robert Prosinečki to the quarter-finals of Euro 96. At the 1998 World Cup in France, Blažević carried a French gendarme's cap in honor of policeman Daniel Nivel, leading Croatia on a fairytale run to beat Germany 3-0 and defeat the Netherlands to win the bronze medal in their first World Cup appearance. Revered across the Balkans for his charisma, theatrical wit, and psychological brilliance, Ćiro was hailed as the "coach of all coaches."