By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Not the easiest of schedules, nor the best of W-L records for Crvena Zvezda mts. The Serbian club is willing to change the head coach, looking to improve team fortunes.
Dusko Ivanovic will replace Vladimir Jovanovic as the new play-caller of Crvena Zvezda, according to Sport Klub. The Montenegrin has agreed on a contract until the end of the 2023-24 season and will be in charge of practice Sunday, per the report.
Ivanovic, 65, can return to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague following three separate stints at Tau Ceramica/Caja Laboral/Laboral Kutxa/TD Systems Baskonia, currently Cazoo Baskonia. Additional experience in the top-tier club continental competition of Europe stems from Panathinaikos and FC Barcelona. He has also worked in Turkey, France, and Switzerland over his lengthy coaching career, following a great playing career. Multiple titles as a coach stretch from three Spanish league championships to winning the Korac Cup with Limoges CSP and more. As a player, he became a EuroLeague champion in 1989 and 1990 as a member of Jugoplastika, now called Split.
Jovanovic, 38, was hired as the new head coach replacing outgoing Dejan Radonjic in early July. The former Cibona boss with multiple earlier connections to Crvena Zvezda secured only one win in the first seven rounds of the 2022-23 EuroLeague Regular Season with Thursday’s loss to Fenerbahce Beko marking the most recent letdown. Being upset by Zadar Monday drew up a 4-1 record in the AdmiralBet ABA League.
Up next for the Belgrade outfit is the EuroLeague Round 8 home fixture opposite LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne Thursday.