Yugoslavian soccer great Vladimir Beara dies

SPLIT, Croatia -- Vladimir Beara, the Yugoslavian star who is considered one of soccer's greatest goalkeepers, has died. He was 85.

His family said in a statement Monday he died in Croatia after a series of strokes the past year.

Beara played 59 games for Yugoslavia, winning the silver medal at the 1952 Olympics. He also played for Hajduk Split, Red Star Belgrade, Alemannia Aachen and Victoria Cologne.

Soviet goalkeeping great Lev Yashin, regarded by many as the best ever at his position, said in 1963 that Beara was better than he was.

Beara was the Red Star goalkeeper against Manchester United in the last game United played before the Munich air crash in 1958. -- AP