Ljubiša Tumbaković is a Serbian professional football manager, currently managing the Serbia national team. He is the most successful coach in the history of Serbian powerhouse Partizan which he led to six national championship titles and three national cup wins during his two spells at the club between 1993 and 2001. On 1 July 2019, he was appointed the new manager of the Serbia national team.
Playing career
Born in Belgrade's urban neighborhood of Dorćol, Tumbaković started out in the youth categories of Radnički Beograd in 1962. Two years later, he joined the youth ranks of Partizan Belgrade. In 1970, with Tumbaković turning 18, he joined the senior squad. Although he didn't appear in any domestic league matches for Partizan, he did appear in 45 friendlies, scoring 6 goals.
Managerial career
Partizan
Tumbaković started his management career with Partizan Belgrade in 1992. Partizan were in the doldrums when Tumbaković took control, however he immediately brought success to Partizan by winning the league with them in his debut season. This was a feat that he would repeat five times during his first time with Partizan as well as winning three Yugoslav Cups. These achievements caught the eye of AEK Athens F.C. who finished third in the league under Tumbaković's management.
Return to Partizan
Tumbaković returned to Partizan at the beginning of the 2000/01 league season after a season away from the club and with the NATOattacks on Yugoslavia firmly behind the league, Tumbaković would continue establishing Partizan as one of the strongest teams in the league. However, despite more domestic success with Partizan where they won the 2001/02 league title European success was far more difficult to achieve. He would stand down from his position after almost a decade in charge of FK Partizan where he was one of the most successful coaches in Yugoslavian football history.
In 2003, he would coach Saudi football teamAl-Nasr for a short period. However, he quickly moved to Chinese football team Shandong Luneng at the beginning of their 2004 league season. Tumbaković who was the second Serbian to manage Shandong after Slobodan Santrač, was to make a quick impression at the club when he won the Chinese FA Cup and took them second in league. Ljubiša would continue to establish Shandong as genuine title contenders throughout the 2005 league season despite them coming third within the league and being unable to retain their FA Cup. It was within the 2006 league season which established Shandong as a significant force within the Chinese Super League when they won the league by 17 points and FA cup. Their dominance was repeated when they again won the league title in 2008.
