Former football player Jevat Prekazi has died at the age of 70. Precazi, who gained international fame with his appearances in Partizan, Hajduk Split and Galatasaray, was known not only for his football career but also for socialist views, devotion to Yugoslavia and statements against nationalism. The breakup of Yugoslavia described it as one of the biggest losses of his life. In an interview given in 2017, he had said that even when he died, he would remain Yugoslav.

Despite Albanian background, Precasi defined himself as Yugoslav and drew attention even with statements against ethnic and religious divisions.

Precazi was known not only for his football career but also for his socialist views. Criticises against the breakup of Yugoslavia and dedication to the country’s former leader, Josip Broz Tito, were among the topics often featured in his interviews.

In an interview with Socrate magazine, Prekazi had described himself as saying: I am a soldier of Tito’s while defending social solidarity and public services from the Yugoslavia era.

Commenting on his political beliefs, Prekazi had said that he had been influenced by revolutionaries like Che Guevara, Simon Bolivar and Emiliano Zapata, as well as that he would maintain his devotion to socialism throughout his life.

Despite Albanian background, Precasi defined himself as Yugoslav and drew attention even with statements against ethnic and religious divisions.

In an interview for Serbian media, Prekazi, remembering he was Albanian, while his Serbian wife had criticised people’s appreciation on the basis of ethnic affiliation. His political identity was expressed by the words: My Party is Che Guevara.

The breakup of Yugoslavia had been described as one of the biggest losses of his life. In an interview given in 2017, he had said that even when he died, he would remain Yugoslav.

Prekazi’s political views turned to attention even in the interview he gave on November 6th, just two days before his death, for Croatian medium Index.

Prekazi, saying Hajduk Split remained loyal to his socialist and anti-fascist heritage from the period of Yugoslavia, had criticised the removal of the red star from the club’s emblem.

He had shown that he had rejected Hajduk’s newly donated fans, reasoning that they had no five – pointed red star. Prekazi had stressed that the club’s history had not begun in 1991.

Source Layer: Insander