By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos OPAP’s talks with Dejan Radonjic in Athens delivered a deal leading the Montenegrin play-caller to the position of the head coach at the storied Greek team which made the cooperation official.
Radonjic, 52, met with team owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos and technical director Argyris Pedoulakis, after landing in the Greek capital earlier Wednesday. Following the contract extension offered by fellow Turkish Airlines EuroLeague participant Crvena Zvezda mts, he reached a deal with the Greens. The contract will last until the end of the 2023-24 season.
Completing his second stint with Crvena Zvezda, he was the mastermind behind the triple crown of the 2021-22 season. His side topped the AdmiralBet ABA League to punch in a ticket for the next edition of EuroLeague, the Serbia league, and also the Serbian cup, also known as Triglav osiguranje Radivoj Korac Cup. Overall during his two runs as the head coach of the Belgrade giant, he guided the team to five ABA League titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022), five domestic league titles (2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022) and five domestic Cup titles (2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022).
With Radonjic on his way out, players Austin Hollins and Dejan Davidovac have already departed earlier in the offseason and Nikola Kalinic is at the exit door as well. As for Panathinaikos, floor general Paris Lee will be coming in among the summer additions, as reported by Eurohoops in May.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net