Career
Normally a defensive midfielder, Čajkovski was renowned for his tremendous physical condition and marking ability and is considered to be one of the finest Yugoslav football players. Despite his normally defensive role he was also a fine passer and possessed top-class technical ability. On club level Čajkovski played initially for HAŠK and Partizan Belgrade.
In this period he played between 1942 and 1943 twice for the Independent State of Croatia, and between 1946 and 1955 he played 55 times for the Yugoslav national team scoring seven goals.
The final of the 1952 tournament in Helsinki was lost against the then ascending Hungarian side of the Magic Magyars. He also participated in the Fédération internationale de football association World Cups of 1950 and 1954.
In 1950, Yugoslavia only lost to hosts Brazil in the group phase, during which Čajkovski scored two goals versus Mexico. In 1954, Yugoslavia drew in the group phase against Brazil, but where eliminated in the subsequent quarter final match against eventual tournament winners Germany.
In 1953, Čajkovski was one of four Croatian players on the Fédération internationale de football association Select XI who played against England.
After this he finished his career as player with 1. Football Club Köln and Hapoel Haifa. Čajkovski acquired his coaching licence under Hennes Weisweiler at the German Sports Academy in Cologne.
His first appointment were in Israel, Turkey and the Netherlands.
His first great success was the German Championship 1962 with 1. Football Club Kölane In this period he formed around the goalkeeper Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer and, the later legendary, striker Gerd Müller, then all in their very early twenties, one of the top teams in Europe and the whole world.
Later "Czik" Čajkovski coached Hannover 96, 1. After NK Dinamo Zagreb and 1.
Football Club Nürnberg, he had another stint 1.
He then went to Switzerland to coach Football Club Zürich (1978–1980) and Football Club Grenchen (1980), having his final assignment with Grazer Alaska in 1981. After that, he coached AEK Athens (1982) and Apollon Kalamarias (1983-1984).