Vladimir Cvetković (Serbian Cyrillic: Владимир Цветковић; born 24 May 1941) is a Serbian former basketball player and sports administrator who is the honorary president of Crvena zvezda. He played with KK Crvena zvezda for 13 seasons. With Crvena zvezda he won 2 National Championships and 1 National Cup. He spent his entire playing career with KK Crvena zvezda.

Vladimir Cvetković
Cvetković with Yugoslavia at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
Crvena zvezda Meridianbet
PositionHonorary President
Personal information
Born (1941-05-24) 24 May 1941 (age 83)
Loznica, German-occupied Serbia
NationalitySerbian
Listed height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Listed weight90 kg (198 lb)
Career information
NBA draft1963: undrafted
Playing career1959–1972
PositionForward
Number8
Career history
1959–1972Crvena zvezda
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Yugoslavia
Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place 1968 Mexico City Team
FIBA World Championship
Silver medal – second place 1963 Brazil Team
Silver medal – second place 1967 Uruguay Team
Eurobasket
Silver medal – second place 1969 Team

Cvetković's historical free-throws

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The Yugoslav national team won their first Olympic medal in Mexico in 1968.[1] The Yugoslavs played well and placed themselves into the semifinals where they played versus the Soviet Union. In a clash between basketball David and Goliath, in front of 22.000 supporters who gave their sympathies to David, i.e. Yugoslav team, the key man of the match was player of KK Crvena zvezda, Vladimir Cvetković.

Seven seconds before the end of the match, at the result 61–60 for Yugoslavia, Cvetković scored two free throws for 63–61. In between the free throws, he kissed his wedding band for good luck. The Soviets had enough time to reduce to 63–62, but not enough time to avoid defeat. The celebration of the host for the victory of the Yugoslav team quickly hauled from the hall to the streets of Ciudad Mexico and lasted till daybreak.

The team of the USA was a too strong rival in the finals and the Yugoslav team was defeated with 50–65 scoring the second place in the basketball tournament.

See also

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References

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