By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Partizan Belgrade has started talks with coach Zeljko Obradovic about extending his contract, club president Ostoja Mijailovic revealed. Obradovic‘s existing deal with the Serbian powerhouse is set to expire this summer.
“It is completely stupid to comment on the importance of Zeljko Obradovic. The man is the most decorated basketball coach. We are discussing the extension of cooperation with the club and our desire is to continue this cooperation,” Mijailovic said to TV Prva. “I see no reason for it to be otherwise. It is important that he has a clear picture of what we have at our disposal next season when it comes to money and budget.”
Recently, Mijailovic has frequently supported Obradovic amid a slump that Partizan is going through. The team has suffered three straight losses in EuroLeague and is 2-6 over the last eight games, falling to the 11th place in the standings and below the Play-In zone.
In the ABA League, Partizan counts two back-to-back losses.
“I confirm that Zeljko Obradović, the players and all employees of the club have my support,” Mijailovic tweeted after the most recent EuroLeague loss that took place against Bayern Munich at home. “There are no rumors, the only truth is that we are in a crisis of results. But it is important that everyone knows how stable the club is and that it functions smoothly. We are all a black and white family both when we win and when we lose.”
Obradovic, the most successful coach in European basketball history, signed a three-year contract in 2021 to return to his beloved Partizan following. Last year and during its return to EuroLeague after 2014, the team made the playoffs and was eliminated 2-3 by Real Madrid.
A few months afterward, Partizan won the ABA League championship for the first time after 2013.