FOOTBALL

RUDOLF BELIN PASSES AWAY

tsg_news November 3, 2025

Rudolf Belin, legendary Dinamo Zagreb player, passed away one day before his 83rd birthday on November 3, 2025.

Despite his long and courageous battle with the disease, he managed to maintain a cheerful spirit, and his positivity and wide smile lit up Dinamo’s halls almost every day. Until the last moment, he followed the events in his favorite club in detail, experiencing every game with great emotion, watching over the results, over every move of his successors in the blue jersey. And that love bound us until the last day – GNK Dinamo

Belin, born November 4, 1942, in Zagreb, played 410 matches for Dinamo from 1959-1970, scoring 74 goals; he featured in two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup finals (loss to Valencia 1963, win over Leeds United 1967) and won the Yugoslav Cup in 1963, 1965, 1969. Later with Beerschot (1970-1974), he earned 29 caps for Yugoslavia with 6 goals.

Post-retirement, Belin coached Dinamo in three stints (1977/78, Aug-Sep 1983, end of 1989 season), assisted Miroslav “Ćiro” Blažević in their 1982 title win, and led Iraq’s national team in 2002, notably against Iran under Blažević.

Youngest of three brothers—Roland (early retirement), Bruno (star player killed in car crash at 33)—Belin started at Jedinstvo before Dinamo; Dinamo praised his positivity and lifelong club devotion.