Serbian national football team coach Radomir Antic is seen during friendly football match between Serbia and Greece in Belgrade on Aug 11, 2010. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)

MADRID / JINAN - Former Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona coach Radomir Antic died aged 71 following a long illness on Monday, Atletico Madrid confirmed on their official website.

The Serb, who also coached Oviedo, Zaragoza and Celta Vigo in Spain and had a spell with Chinese clubs, Shandong Luneng and Hebei Zhongji is best known for leading Atletico Madrid to a League and Cup double in Spain in the 1995-96 season and also for being sacked by Real Madrid in the 1991-92, when his club were leaders with a seven-point advantage over FC Barcelona (when it was only 2 points for a win).

We have lost a piece of the heart of the club. With the loss of Radomir, today is a heart-breaking day for the Atletico family

Miguel Angel Gil, General Manager, Atletico Madrid

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"We have lost a piece of the heart of the club," Atletico Madrid's General Manager Miguel Angel Gil said on the Atletico website.

"With the loss of Radomir, today is a heart-breaking day for the Atletico family."

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid also paid homage to Antic. Barcelona wrote on Weibo: "The Barca family mourns the loss of Antic. Rest in Peace."

The coach also led the Serbian national team between 2008 and 2010 before finishing his career in China.

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In 2013, Antic led Shandong Luneng to runners-up in the Chinese Super League, and left after the season. He came back in 2015 to manage Hebei but left after half a year.

Luneng paid homage to Antic in a statement on Weibo: "We will feel extremely grateful for your hard work in Luneng forever."