| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1929 (1929) | ||
| Place of birth | Rijeka,Kingdom of Yugoslavia | ||
| Date of death | 8 March 2015(2015-03-08) (aged 85–86) | ||
| Place of death | Rijeka,Croatia | ||
| Position | Right winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1943–1945 | Šparta Zagreb | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1945 | Dinamo Zagreb | ||
| 1948–1949 | Čapljina | ||
| 1949–1955 | Sarajevo | 96 | (25) |
| 1955–1956 | Radnički Beograd | 4 | (0) |
| 1957–1960 | Željezničar | 41 | (11) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1962–1963 | Famos Hrasnica | ||
| 1963–1964 | Rudar Kakanj | ||
| 1965–1966 | Leotar | ||
| 1966–1967 | Željezničar | ||
| 1968–1972 | Bor | ||
| 1972–1973 | Rijeka | ||
| 1973–1974 | Orijent 1919 | ||
| 1974–1975 | Čelik Zenica | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Marcel Žigante (1929 – 8 March 2015) was a Yugoslav and later Croatian professionalfootball manager and formerplayer.
Born inRijeka,Kingdom of Yugoslavia, present dayCroatia, Žigante'sfootball career began in a small club called Šparta Zagreb in 1943. After the end ofWorld War II, he started playing forDinamo Zagreb in 1945. He did not stay there for long though. First, Žigante went toČapljina and then, in 1949, he joinedSarajevo. He played there until 1955, during which time he collected 96 league appearances. Žigante then played withRadnički Beograd as they reached 3rd place in the1955–56 Yugoslav First League season.
His next club was Sarajevo's fiercecity rivalŽeljezničar. He played in 41 league games and scored 11 goals for the club during his three-year tenure. Žigante decided to end his playing career in 1960 after leaving Željezničar. He is remembered as one of the bestright wingers during the 1940s and 1950s in Yugoslavia.
Although he was a geography teacher as well, Žigante stayed in football as a manager. He was first manager ofFamos Hrasnica (1962–1963) during which time they got promoted to theYugoslav Second League.[1] After that, he was the manager ofRudar Kakanj (1963–1964) andLeotar (1965–1966). In 1966, Žigante returned toŽeljezničar where he was one of the creators of a great generation of players that won theYugoslav First League in 1972 alongsideMilan Ribar. He worked as the manager of Željezničar in the1966–67 and1967–68 seasons.
In 1968, he became the new manager ofBor (1968–1972), which he promoted to theYugoslav First League in 1972. Žigante then managedRijeka (1972–1973) andČelik Zenica (1974–1975), with whom he won theUEFA Intertoto Cup in1975.
Žigante died on Sunday, 8 March 2015, in his hometown ofRijeka,Croatia.[2]
Bor
Čelik Zenica
