Obituary: Aleksandar Joncic (1935-2018)

Aleksandar Joncic, former Partizan defender and member of legendary 60s Partizan Babies team, died on Tuesday in Vrnjacka Banja age 82.

Joncic was born in Trstenik on 9^th of April 1935. He started playing football locally but upon moving to Kragujevac to pursue his education he signed for Radnicki. In 1955, Joncic moved to Radnicki Nis.

His performances for Radnicki and Yugoslav national B team recommended Joncic to Partizan and Aca Atanackovic signed him for Partizan in September 1956.

Aleksandar Joncic made 222 Partizan appearances winning three league titles and one cup trophy with the club. Late in 1963, He moved to Spartak Subotica followed by a 4-year spell at Dutch second-tier side Xerxes.

He also received a national team call-up for a 1962 Chile WC but a head injury prevented him from joining his teammates Soskic, Galic, Jusufi and Kovacevic at the biggest stage.

Joncic hanged his boots in 1969. In his career, he played with Partizan greats such as Radovic, Soskic, Kovacevic, Galic, Belin,  Cebinac and Milutinovic brothers, but he always underlined the greatness of legendary Partizan football star Stjepan Bobek.

Rest in Peace, Jon.