Their Second Round match-up would be tighter, Honved only defeated by the odd goal in seven. For the first time, a group stage was then introduced to the competition, Sampdoria finishing top of a section which included Cup-holders, Red Star Belgrade, Anderlecht and Panathanaikos. Boskov would enjoy home and away victories over his Serbian countrymen, as the Italians qualified for the Wembley Final against Barcelona, a repeat of the European Cup-Winners’ Cup Final, just three years earlier.
That game had gone the way of Cruyff’s Catalan stars and, sadly for Boskov, this one would too. The Barcelona of Koeman, Stoichkov, Laudrup and Guardiola clinched their first European Cup in extra-time, thanks to a terrific free-kick from the powerful Dutchman. The next month, June 1992, Vujudin left Sampdoria after six wonderful years to join Roma, his place in their hearts and history secured.
His single season in the Eternal City produced a run to the Quarter-final of the UEFA Cup, beaten by eventual runners-up Borussia Dortmund, and an agonising ‘away goals’ defeat in the final of the Coppa d’Italia by Torino. However, a disappointing mid-table league finish marked the end of his spell there.
He resurfaced at Napoli, in October 1994, guiding them through a UEFA Cup tie against Boavista before losing to Eintracht Frankfurt but he was unable to replicate his Sampdoria success, leaving in June ‘96.
Brief spells followed at Servette Geneva and Sampdoria, again, with his last act in club football being to preserve the Serie A status of Perugia, in 1999. The following month, Boskov commenced his final managerial role, with the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (later ‘rebranded’ as Serbia & Montenegro). He led them to the Quarter-final of Euro2000, before losing 6-1 to hosts Holland.
Stand near the pitch No 1 at Vujadin Boškov Training Center
In the early 1970’s, FK Vojvodina’s new training camp had been named the Football Centre Vujadin Boskov, after the man who had done so much to put the club on the domestic and continental map, in the preceding two decades. Those responsible for that decision would surely be so proud of what he subsequently went on to achieve, in a rich and varied career.
Vujudin Boskov, Mr Vojvodina, passed away in Novi Sad in April 2014, at the age of 82.
Hail, hail!
Matt Corr
