Aleksandar Živković, handball legend and Železničar Niš icon, dies at 80

Aleksandar Živković, a legendary handball player and coach for Železničar Niš, has passed away at the age of 80.

Živković was a central figure in the history of the Niš-based club, achieving success both as a player and a coach. As a player, he was part of the generation that won the Yugoslav Cup in 1977 and reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1978, where the team narrowly lost 13-15 to Gummersbach in Dortmund despite playing with a man disadvantage for much of the match.

His coaching career included winning the Yugoslav Cup in 1985 as an assistant coach and working with various clubs in Serbia and abroad, including stints in Greece, Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain. The Serbian Handball Federation and Železničar Niš released statements honoring his authority, mentorship, and lifelong dedication to the sport. His funeral is scheduled for Monday, September 28, at the New Cemetery in Niš.