Aussie football in mourning as giant of the game Rale Rasic dies after coaching the Socceroos to their first World Cup appearance
- Football icon Rale Rasic has passed away at the age of 87
- Coachoos at the 1974 World Cup
- Received OAM in 2004 for ‘service to football’
Rale Rasic, the man who led the Socceroos to their first World Cup in 1974, has died.
Rasic was appointed national manager in August 1970, beginning a string of successes for the Socceroos, including a 12-match unbeaten run on a 1972 world tour.
It included an undefeated tour of Asia and a 2-2 draw with Pele’s Santos.
Rasic led the team through the 1974 rounds to field matches against West and East Germany and Chile, culminating in Australia’s first appearance at the world’s biggest sporting event.
Rasic was also the inaugural NSL Coach of the Year with Marconi Fairfield in 1977, an honor he received ten years later with Apia Leichhardt.
Rale Rasic, the man who led the Socceroos to their first World Cup in 1974, has died aged 87.
Rasic (pictured right) led the Socceroos through the 1974 rounds to field games against West Germany, East Germany and Chile
In 2004 Rasic was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) for ‘service to football as a player, coach and administrator’
He has also won the national championship and the NSL Cup.
Born in Bosnia, the 87-year-old was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1989.
In 2001 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and Centenary Medal for services to football.
Additionally, in 2004 Rasic was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) for ‘service to football as a player, coach and administrator’.
Before turning his attention to coaching, Rasic was selected at the age of 17 to play for Yugoslavia’s youth team.
After then emigrating to Australia, he joined Melbourne JUST in 1962 where he helped win the State League championship and the Dockerty Cup.
Rasic represented Victoria nine times before retiring as a player in 1966.