“I advise you not to get too close”

Years passed, but the legend remained and continues to arouse interest. Zeljko Ražnatović, known as Arkan, was a controversial figure over 25 years ago.

Commander of a paramilitary force in the Yugoslav wars called the Serbian Volunteer Guard, “Arkan's Tigers”, the Serb was on Interpol's most wanted list between the 1970s and 1980s for robberies and murders committed in several European countries.

The UN later accused him of crimes against humanity for his actions during the wars in the area. Ražnatović was, until his death, the most powerful crime boss in the Balkans! He was assassinated on January 15, 2000, before his trial could take place.

Arkan was married to the artist Ceca Raznatovic (52 years old), considered “the most beautiful woman in Serbia”. The famous singer lives even now in the imposing villa at Respantii, right in front of the Red Star stadium!

November 2025, 25 years after Arkan's death: “I would advise you not to get too close!”

Arkan was in the 70s and 80s also the Yugoslav security man, not just a criminal in the Western world. Among other things, he was also the leader of the Red Star gallery, having multiple implications. Including missions by Slobodan Milosevic's regime to control various political disputes. At the same time, Arkan was also seen in the events of May 13, 1990 – the famous match Dinamo Zagreb – Crvena Zvezda and the fight that followed the game, seen as a prelude to the war that bloodied the area.

It is quiet now in Belgrade, but the wounds of the war remain as the country tries to mend the gap with the West. Arkan's sumptuous house still stands guard, as it were, in the exclusive area of ​​Dedinje, guarded by the bodyguards of Arkan's ex-wife.

“I would recommend you not to get too close to film! Or to take close-up pictures. That way, you can cross the street, but avoid being seen filming the villa,” our colleagues from Sportal.rs told us. And Red Star officials responded with a bemused smile when I questioned them about Arkan's home. The “legend” lives on, even a quarter of a century after Arkan's death!

Villa de la spănție next to Arkan's great football love, Steaua Roșie

Many rooms, including a few bedrooms, are said to have no windows as they are underground, prioritizing privacy and security! The property has very little yard space.

The residence is extremely secure. There were times, media reports said, when the house's security guards appeared menacing to various bystanders who were too curious.

Arkan – a character that many Serbs liked/like, but who was convicted of crimes against humanity

Also, there is information that there are 16 permanent employees who are responsible for the maintenance of the house.

The Belgrade house was used in a court ruling as bail for €1.5 million in Ceca's conviction in 2011 for embezzling funds from the transfer of players from the FK Obilić football club, which Arkan had owned and which Ceca had taken over after his death. Court records at the time valued the house at €500,000. It probably cost a lot more to build. It is said to have been a gift from the Security Service to the dreaded “Tiger”.

They had towers in Arkan's villa, and men with machine guns were standing like in American movies! He didn't move anything without being seen
Cristi Borcea, memories from the visit made to Arkan

The Romanians who crossed paths with Arkan. The memories of Cristi Borcea

Among the Romanians, among others, the dynamist Cornel Dinu had a friendly relationship with Arkan. Mister would even have received a pistol as a gift from the Serb!

At one point, the legend of the “dogs” went to a dinner, invited by Arkan, and took Cristi Borcea with him.

“I was with him (Mister) at the table, at Arkan's house. He was in charge of everything, but he had blind faith in Ceca, his wife, with whom he had three children. He was a strong personality,” Borcea said over the years.

The beautiful Ceca, the famous Serbian turbo-folk singer

Ceca continued her artistic career even after Arkan's death, and in 2013 she performed in Belgrade in front of more than 150,000 spectators, a performance that places her on the 9th place in the list of concerts with the greatest attendance of all time!

Arkan called Cornel Dinu “my brother”

Kuzman Babeu, a former Serbian footballer with origins in Romania, spoke about the relationship that Cornel Dinu had with the feared Serbian fighter. Even Mister never hid that he met Arkan. Moreover, Arkan called Dinu “my brother”.

“Dinamo was playing an Intertoto match with Zemun, a team from Belgrade, in 1996. Arkan's brother-in-law went to the stadium to find out which hotel was reserved for Dinamo. When he heard that they took the Romanians to the outskirts of the city, he got very angry.

. And the hotel was changed, at Arkan's expense, with one near the Stela Roșii stadium and Arkan's house,” Babeu said in an interview for ProSport.