Cevad Prekazi, one of the unforgettable names of Galatasaray and Yugoslav football, has passed away at the age of 69. The yellow-red club expressed its deep sorrow in a message published for its former player.
In its statement, Galatasaray Club said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Cevad Prekazi, who wrote his name in golden letters in Galatasaray's history and left a mark in our memories with his football and character."
Born on August 18, 1957, in Mitrovica, Kosovo, Prekazi began his professional career at Partizan. After wearing the Partizan jersey for many years, Prekazi transferred to Hajduk Split. There, he was teammates with Zoran Simović, with whom he would later play together at Galatasaray.
After his experience in America, Prekazi came to Turkey and joined Galatasaray in 1985 under the management of Jupp Derwall. Making his debut for the yellow-reds against Samsunspor, Prekazi quickly became one of the team's key players.
Prekazi played an important role in the championship Galatasaray won in the 1986-1987 season. One of the goals scored in the match against Eskişehirspor, which became a symbol of the championship that arrived after 14 years, belonged to him. Prekazi, who also experienced a championship in the 1987-1988 season, remained in memories especially with his powerful left foot, free kicks, and assists.
One of the most special moments in Cevad Prekazi's Galatasaray history was the goal he scored against Monaco in 1989. During the period when the yellow-red team reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in the 1988-1989 season, Prekazi was cited among the team's standout players.
Wearing the Galatasaray jersey between 1985 and 1991, Prekazi later played for Altay and Bakırköyspor in Turkey. Returning to Belgrade in the final period of his football career, the former player continued to play in lower leagues for a while.
The cause of Prekazi's death has not been disclosed. It was known that the former player had suffered a stroke in October 2023 and was hospitalized in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.
News Source: 12punto
