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          Tributes paid after death of Boskov

          • Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondentApr 28, 2014, 04:22 AM ET

          Tributes are being paid to Vujadin Boskov, the man who led Sampdoria to the Serie A title in 1991, after he died at the age of 82 on Sunday.

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          Boskov, who started his playing career with the Blucerchiati, went on to coach Den Haag and Real Madrid before returning to Genoa, writing arguably the most important chapter in the club's history.

          After guiding them to the final of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1989, where they were beaten by Barcelona, he led them to their one and only European title in the same competition a year later.

          Defeat in the 1990 European Cup final, where they once again lost out to the Blaugrana, came a year after the Serbian earned Sampdoria their first scudetto, 10 years after he had taken Real to the Spanish league title.

          "Another important member of the footballing family passed away today," said Roma forward Francesco Totti, who debuted under Boskov, on his own website. "Vujadin Boskov was a great, competent man and a winner, gifted with an authentic sense of humour and intelligence.

          "I can still remember the day I made my debut with him on the bench. How could I forget it? Thanks Mister for having given me this opportunity, which was as unique as you were.

          "I am sure you will continue to look down and watch football with your irony and your smile, with the eye of an immense maestro which you were."

          The news of Boskov's death arrived as Sampdoria were coming from behind to defeat Chievo on Sunday afternoon. "He was like a father to me," said current Samp coach and compatriot Sinisa Mihajlovic at the postmatch news conference. "He was a maestro; an example both as a footballer and as a person, one of those people you hope will never leave you, and when they do, they leave behind an emptiness which cannot be filled.

          "I certainly will not forget him. We've shared many experiences together which I will always carry with me. Vujadin will remain a unique, inimitable person, a legend of Serbian football and a legend for ever Sampdoriano."

          The Genovese club tweeted a picture of Boskov holding a badge commemorating their scudetto, saying: "This is how we want to remember you. Ciao great 'Vuja'. Unique and inimitable Vujadin Boskov."