It has been five full years since the departure of our Krasnodar Rora

It is hard to say whether he was more strongly connected to Dinamo in his playing days or later, as a coach and even in retirement. We will remember him as one of the most significant Dinamo players of all time, perhaps the best blue number eleven ever... On this day five years ago, November 12, 2020, we lost Krasnodar Rora forever, a celebrated member of the famous Dinamo generation from 1967.

It was a Tuesday of that gloomy November when our dear and unforgettable Kraso, with a trembling voice, deeply moved, gave a farewell speech at the funeral of his friend, teammate, captain Slaven Zambata... Just two days later came another shocking news. On Thursday, November 12, 2020, we also lost our Rora.

Filigree assist by Zambata for the first goal in the legendary match against Eintracht, followed by a quick cross to Marijan Novak for the second goal barely a minute and a half later, hitting the net of Leeds United in the final itself... Rora was one of Dinamo's "jet engines" on the road to the Cup of the Fair Cities, a competition that evolved into the UEFA Cup, today's Europa League. He flew down the left wing, leaving opposing defenders "in the dust", timely and accurately centering, setting up teammates...

In his 10 years in the blue jersey, he played 459 matches with 90 goals scored.

"Rora and Stjepan Lamza were the best dribblers of our generation", recalled the celebrated Dinamo player and later coach, Zdenko Kobešćak . Rora, still as an exceptionally gifted outgoing junior, shone in the starting lineup of the then second division team Šibenik. The Šibenik team was just a step away from reaching the first league. There, for example, he gained experience with the popular Zeko, the older brother of Slaven Zambata. After all, he had the best chemistry at Dinamo with - Zambata. Perhaps even the key moment in Dinamo's quest for the Cup of the Fair Cities was a "result" of their production. In the 14th minute of the return match against Eintracht in Zagreb, where the Blues were chasing a three-goal deficit from the first match, he centered a precise ball to Zambata for an early 1:0 lead . It was just the beginning of a tremendous pressure that completely broke the German defense. Practically in the next action, Rora again turned in the middle where Novak ran and slammed for 2-0 and complete delirium in the stands. The goal for Leeds in the final for a 2-0 lead in the first clash in Zagreb enters the annals as one of the most important in the club's history.

The title of the winner of the Cup of the City of Zagreb in 1967, the Cup winner in 1965 and 1969, are the crown of Rora's impressive and extremely successful decade-long playing career in the Maksimir club.

He was born on March 23, 1945 on the island of Vis, but grew up in Šibenik. He came to Dinamo in 1964 where he inherited the number 11 jersey previously worn by Božidar Senčar, Aleksandar Benko, Dionizije Bato Dvornić, Ilijas Pašić, Tomislav Knez... He chose Maksimir with the explanation: “it is a well-known tradition of Šibenik students being drawn to Zagreb, I am glad that I also embarked on that path.“

The first coach in Maksimir was Milan Antolković, followed by Vlatko Konjevod with whom he did not get along football-wise, then again Antolković followed by Ivan Oskar Jazbinšek, Branko Zebec, Ivica Horvat, Zlatko Čajkovski, Dražan Jerković, Stjepan Bobek and Domagoj Kapetanović.

After 10 seasons spent in Maksimir, he moved to Belgian Standard, and then to French Nancy where he played in the midfield, and for a while even as a libero. In Nancy, he played alongside the later legend of French and world football, Michel Platini, with whom he stayed to practice additionally even after regular training sessions. Moreover, Platini himself, during a visit to the Croatian Football Federation, emphasized: "I wouldn't have become the player I am if I didn't stay to work extra with Roro after training."

After his playing career, Rora was a coach at Dinamo's football school, he also served as an assistant coach, and stood out as a professional commentator in the journalism field.

He was also the president of the players' council at Dinamo. He was one of the symbols of the generation from 1967, a great friend, a cohesive factor, and even a kind of "spokesperson" for the entire generation.