Svetislav Pesic had announced that he would leave his post at the head of the Serbian selection at the end of the 2024 Olympic Games. But the 75-year-old technician had finally moderated things at the end of the competition…
Given its age, the Serbian federation must still think about what comes next, and the name of Zeljko Obradovic always resurfaces, given the CV of the current coach of Partizan Belgrade.
A nine-time Euroleague winner (1992, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2017) as a coach, he was also at the helm of Yugoslavia when the country won silver at the 1996 Olympics and then gold at EuroBasket 1997 and the 1998 World Cup. Having left the helm of the national team in 2000, he was recalled in 2004, but Euro 2005 went much less well, even though it was at home, with an elimination in the quarter-finals against France.
After the disappointment of Novi Sad, Zeljko Obradovic had regretted tensions between stars of the team.
“I think it is impossible for me to return to lead the Serbian national team” the 64-year-old told Partizan TV. “We closed this book in 2005. Of course, I am close to some members of the Serbian federation, especially the president, Sasha Danilovic.”
And the latter would clearly like Zeljko Obradovic to take over the management of the selection.
“Danilovic is one of my former students, and whenever a new page opens for the national team, he always asks me. But I always answer him: 'Sasha, you know my answer.' On the other hand, I am always ready to help the national team with my ideas.” he concludes.
