PHOTOS: Bill Belichick gets decorated by Croatian president in Zagreb
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Bill Belichick and President Milanović (Photo credit: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)
ZAGREB, 1 June (Hina/CW) – Croatian President Zoran Milanović decorated William Stephen Belichick, the coach with the most trophies in the history of American football, with the Order of the Croatian Morning Star with the image of Franjo Bučar, the Office of the President said on Friday.
“The President decorated Belichick for special merits in promoting Croatia’s reputation and interests in the United States of America during an exceptional sports career over many years,” an official press release notes.
(Photo credit: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)
Bill Belichick, an American of Croatian descent, coached several professional American National Football League clubs in his long and prosperous career.
(Photo credit: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)
His greatest success was with the New England Patriots. Under his leadership, the Patriots won six Super Bowls, the final playoff game for the NFL champion and arguably the most watched sporting event in the United States.
During his career, Belichick often proudly underscored his Croatian origin.
(Photo credit: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)
Belichick, which is an Americanised version of the surname Biličić from his grandfather Ivan, originates from Draganić near Karlovac, from where his grandfather Ivan and his wife Marija went to Monessen near Pittsburgh in 1897.
(Photo credit: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)
“My grandfather emigrated and got his citizenship (US) in 1915. My grandfather came over by himself, he was married to Mary (Marija) and came over to work in the coal or steel mills in western Pennsylvania. After two years, Mary decided to come over and look for him. She got on a boat and came to the United States and so they were kind of reunited then and started the family,” Belichick said earlier.
(Photo credit: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas)
The celebrated coach arrived in Croatia as a special guest of the third edition of the Sunset Sports Media Festival, which will be held in Zadar from 6 to 8 June and whose delegation was received by President Milanović in his office.
