The passing of Rale Rasic is a sad moment for both his family and the football(soccer) community in Australia. If you don't know who Rasic is, picture this scenario.

Australian soccer in the early 1970's. Semi-professional (footballers always had 'other jobs'), divided heavily by ethnic loyalties, the also-ran amongst the football codes (League, Union and AFL), hampered by media prejudice and chronic underexposure. The Socceroos had never qualified for a World Cup.

Along comes a new coach, Rale Rasic, and guides this team of almost amateurs to the 1974 World Cup in Germany, a world cup comprising only 16 teams. We finished with a solitary point from a draw with Chile, having lost to the two Germany's in the early games. No disgrace, only honour and thousands of new fans from around the world.

He was many other things too, but this one supreme achievement places him amongst the greats of Australian sport.

Take a bow, Mr Rasic. And Rest in Peace.