The Brazilians of Europe and What Might Have Been
In the annals of football history, few stories are as intriguing as that of Yugoslavia. With a national team once celebrated as ‘the Brazilians of Europe’ for its dazzling talent, Yugoslavia's legacy is now scattered across the Balkans, with its former republics each forging their own path.
Established in the aftermath of World War I, Yugoslavia was a patchwork of cultures, languages and religions. By the time the nation became a socialist republic after World War II, football had already begun to unite these diverse communities.
The national team, representing a melting pot of Serbs, Croats, Bosniaks, Slovenes, Montenegrins and Macedonians, quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with.
From the 1950s through to the early 1990s, Yugoslavia was a regular contender on the international stage. They were Olympic champions in 1960, clinched runners-up spots in two Euros (1960 and 1968) and frequently made deep runs in World Cups.
As impressive as these achievements were, there’s a lingering sense of what might have been. Dragan Džajić, now Serbia’s FA president, was one of the best wingers of his generation. Dejan Savićević, now Montenegro’s FA president, starred in a Milan midfield in the golden era of Serie A.
Despite the talent in their teams, Yugoslavia never quite managed to get their hands on the World Cup or a European Championship. Imagine if this richly talented team, from across the Balkans, had stayed together through the 90s… Would they have rivalled Brazil's appeal or matched Germany's consistency?
The 90s brought about the collapse of Yugoslavia as a state, as rising nationalism and economic woes pulled the country apart at the seams. The breakup was not peaceful but marred by the most horrific conflicts Europe had seen since World War II.
The republics declared their independence - Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Macedonia. Later, so did Montenegro and Kosovo. Along with these newly independent nations, independent football teams to represent their people.
The dissolution of Yugoslavia marked the end of, not just Europe, but one of the world’s most talented national teams. What followed was a fragmentation of talent, infrastructure and knowledge. With each new nation trying to establish itself on the international stage.
Croatia, with its third place in the 1998 World Cup and runner-up spot in 2018, has clearly been the most successful. Serbia has produced world class players over the years, though their national team has struggled to match the glory days of old.
Football in Yugoslavia was more than just a game (as it often is). It was a symbol of unity in a diverse, and often divided, country. The players who represented the Plavi didn’t just represent a nation - they represented an idea of coexistence that sadly proved unsustainable.