T

he coach of Persebaya soccer club, Miroslav Janu, passed away at the Jemursari Islamic Hospital on Thursday, reportedly due to a heart attack.

He was pronounced dead at 12:21 p.m.

According to team manager Bambang Pramukantoro, the 53-year-old Czech had complained about shortness of breath at around 10:00 a.m before being admitted to the hospital, where he died shortly after his arrival.

Colleagues and players remembered him for his strictness and discipline.

“This is a great loss for us,” team captain Uston Nawawi said.

Janu arrived in Indonesia in 2003 and coached Persigo Gorontalo before he moved to PSM Makassar between 2003 and 2005.

He moved back to his home country to become an assistant coach for Slavia Praha, but in 2007 agreed a contract with Arema Malang before moving to neighbor Persebaya this season.

Janu steered both PSM Makassar and Arema Malang to second place in the Indonesian Super League in 2004 and 2011 respectively.