Croatian Keeper Considered ‘Best in the World’ Dies

Legendary Croatian goalkeeper Vladimir Beara, considered one of the best keepers in the world in the 1950’s, has passed away this morning aged 85 in Split, reports daily Slobodna Dalmacija…

Born in 1928, Beara played 308 times for Hajduk Split, helping them to win 3 league title in 1950, 1952 and 1955. In 1955 he transferred to Belgrade’s Red Star, winning league titles in 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960. Beara was Red Star’s goalkeeper against Manchester United in the last game United had played before the Munich Air Disaster. In 1963, the great Soviet goalkeeper, Lev Yashin said that not him, but Vladimir Beara is the greatest keeper of all times.

Beara was capped 59 times by the Yugoslav national team, between 1950 and 1960, and participated in the 1952 Olympic Games, where he won a silver medal and saved a penalty from Ferenc Puskás. He played at three World Cups (1950, 1954, 1958), and in 1953, he was one of four Croatian players on the FIFA Select XI who played against England.

Beara ended his career in Germans clubs Alemannia Aachen (1960–62) and Viktoria Köln (1963–64).