Sinisa Mihajlovic's toughest 40 days: Serbian coach cried in anger, his players cried when he spoke

Despite his illness and the doctors' advice, "Grande Sinisa" decided to make good on the promise he made to his players

Sinisa Mihajlovic, the Serbian coach of Italian football side Bologna, is recovering from a serious illness - but he decided to leave his hospital bed and be on the bench of his team's season opener against Hellas Verona, showing what kind of a fighter and warrior he is.

In the end, Bologna and Verona drew 1-1, but the result was completely overshadowed by "Grande Sinisa" showing by example that nothing is impossible. No one, not even the biggest optimists, had hoped for this 40 days ago when Sinisa Mihajlovic was diagnosed with leukemia - but Sinisa promised to his players that he would be with them for the first match of the new Serie A season, and he has fulfilled that promise.

Recommended

La Gazzetta dello Sport has a report today explaining what actually happened and how Sinisa left the hospital.

"I promised to be with you. Here I am. To some, I'm a fool for getting out of the hospital. But I wanted to be here," Mihajlovic told his footballers.

The newspaper cites Andrea di Cara, who noted that the players were completely shocked and delighted to see Sinisa enter the hotel.

"When he started talking, the players were in tears," he said.

The article added that doctors advised Sinisa a few days ago not to leave the hospital because it was too risky. But he first insisted, then "cried in anger" - and then looked the doctors in the eye and told them:

"I promised and I'll get up. I know everything. I'll be back in two days."

So the doctors prepared him, and he left the hospital to lead Bologna on Sunday against Verona. Still, when he first left the hospital, he felt his knees shaking because of the 40 days he spent there, but then showed the true strength of a warrior.

"The last 40 days have been the worst in Sinisa Mihajlovic's life, spent in a 3 by 3 square meter room, listening to the sound of alarms from machines announcing the end of chemotherapy, antibiotics and fluids. In the first days, he prepared himself for what would happen later: having all his hair cut because it was to fall out due to the treatments - but it began to grow back immediately. It was the first sign of revenge that his body had in store for the illness," the article said.

(Telegraf.rs/La Gazzetta dello Sport)