Blagoje Moša Marjanović | Origin of Street Names

For Blagoje Moša Marjanović (1907-1984), there are few people today who haven't heard of him. While the younger generations may remember him from their contemporaries, the youngest ones have "met" him through stories, memories, and the popular TV series "Montevideo, God Bless You!"

However, the first and greatest football star of Belgrade, Serbia, and Yugoslavia at that time was the complete opposite of the card shark, ladies' man, and troublemaker he was portrayed as in the series. An extremely calm man, who contemporaries say never raised his voice, he was a true gentleman, often referred to as Mr. Gol.

Most of his football qualities have already been said and written. However, it is little known that he acquired the nickname "Moša" thanks to his distinctly wavy hairstyle, which was so typical for Jews at that time (among whom "Moša" was a very common name) and, according to testimonies, he never wore a hat.

A top-notch goal scorer with gentlemanly manners, he was so popular in pre-war Yugoslavia that people greeted him by taking off their hats wherever he went. Tailors gifted him with the best fabrics, suits, and ties, and he was treated to drinks whenever he entered a tavern.

During World War II, he served as a driver in the Yugoslav Royal Army, and after its surrender, he was captured and taken to the German camp of Firstenberg, where he remained until the end of the war. Testimonies say that he even played football in the camp for the "prisoner team" representing France.

In 1961, during the height of his successful coaching career, where he produced extraordinary players like Bobek, Mitić, Zebec, Toplak, and Skoblar, he suffered a severe stroke from which he never recovered.

He passed away in 1984 and was buried in the family grave at the New Cemetery in Belgrade.

Today, a street in Bežanijska Kosa, Belgrade, bears the name of this great footballer.