Rale's legend grows

The Serbian Football Federation made a special presentation to Australian football coaching legend Rale Rasic at the VIP function before the Qantas Socceroos and Serbia match at Etihad Stadium.

The Serbian Football Federation made a special presentation to Australian football coaching legend Rale Rasic at the VIP function before the Qantas Socceroos and Serbia match at Etihad Stadium on 7 June 2011.

Rale represented Yugoslavia at youth level and attained a Physical Education degree at Belgrade University before coming to Australia in 1962 to play for Footscray in the Victorian State League. The rest is history, as they say.

Rale famously took the Socceroos to the 1974 World Cup finals and was a legendary figure in the NSW State League and National Soccer League.

For the record, Rale was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1999.

“This is an unbelievable honour. Next year I will celebrate 50 years in Australia, the country I love so much and my home, but to have the people of Serbia remember me is quite special,” said Rale at the VIP function before the match.