Ratko Svilar

Ratko Svilar (Serbian Cyrillic: Ратко Свилар; born 6 May 1950) is a Serbian retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He played for Antwerp for 16 years, he also coached the Belgian club on several occasions.

Born in Crvenka, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Svilar joined Royal Antwerp F.C. in November 1980 from FK Vojvodina – he started his career with lowly hometown club FK Crvenka – and proceeded to endure a 16-year spell with the Belgian side, alternating between the posts and the bench; in the 1991–92 season, he contributed with 12 league appearances to help his team finish in fifth position, winning the Belgian Cup – his only piece of silverware – in the process.

Svilar retired from professional play aged 46, going on to have several coaching spells with his last and most important club.

Svilar represented Yugoslavia for seven years, and was a participant at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He won his first cap on 25 September 1976, starting in a 3–0 away friendly loss to Italy.

Svilar's son Mile is also a goalkeeper, currently playing for Serie A club Roma.

• List of association football families

• Royal Antwerp profile (in Dutch)

• Ratko Svilar at Reprezentacija.rs (in Serbian)

• Ratko Svilar at National-Football-Teams.com

• NASL Jerseys profile