Photo: Aleksamil / CC0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Željko Ražnatović was born in Brežice, Slovenia on April 17, 1952. Željko Ražnatović was credited as a politician, warlord and entrepreneur. Death is recorded on January 15, 2000, at the age of 47.
My Take
Known as Arkan, Ražnatović is one of those figures I cannot bring myself to admire, only to understand. Born in Brežice, he turned a fan club's energy into a paramilitary machine and built a fearsome name through violence during the Yugoslav Wars. His 2000 assassination feels like a grim coda to a life spent trading conscience for power. I find no heroism here, but I do think his story is essential reading for anyone trying to grasp how charisma and brutality intertwined in the Balkans. He is a name to remember as a warning, not a tribute.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Željko Ražnatović
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェリコ・ラジュナトヴィッチ
- Reading
- じぇりこ・らじゅなとゔぃっち
- Born
- April 17, 1952 – January 15, 2000
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Dragon
- Origin
- Brežice, Slovenia
- Occupation
- politician / warlord / entrepreneur / kickboxer / association football coach
2. Links
3. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-18
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Željko Ražnatović born?
Born April 17, 1952.
When did Željko Ražnatović die?
Died January 15, 2000, aged 47.
Where was Željko Ražnatović from?
Željko Ražnatović was from Brežice, Slovenia.
What did Željko Ražnatović do?
Željko Ražnatović worked as politician, warlord, entrepreneur, kickboxer, association football coach.