Malta coach De Leo pays touching tribute to Mihajlovic & reveals anecdote about Eto’o’s ‘two wives’

Malta coach De Leo pays touching tribute to Mihajlovic & reveals anecdote about Eto’o’s ‘two wives’

Malta coach Emilio De Leo has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Sinisa Mihajlovic, while also sharing a series of revealing anecdotes from his decade working alongside the Serbian, including a bizarre encounter involving Samuel Eto’o.

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De Leo, who is now in charge of the Maltese national team, spent ten years as Mihajlovic’s trusted assistant across multiple clubs in Italy. Reflecting on that period, he made clear the profound impact the former coach had on both his career and personal outlook.

“He showed us what it means to fight,” De Leo explained, with quotes via La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Even during the most difficult moments, he was stronger than everyone else. You would feel small next to him, almost overwhelmed, because while others felt emotion and compassion, he was the one giving strength to us.”

UC Sampdoria’s head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic reacts during the Italian Serie A soccer match between SS Lazio and UC Sampdoria at the Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, 05 January 2015. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI