By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
FC Bayern Munich appointed Dragan Tarlac as the new sporting director on Tuesday.
Tarlac, 51, was connected to the Munich outfit earlier in the offseason, following the departure of Daniele Baiesi.
Per the press release: “Even the sports management level of the German champions is now complete: Dragan Tarlac, 51, a former Yugoslav national player and Managing Director of the Serbian team for the past three years, has taken up his new position as Sports Director of FC Bayern Basketball. The Serbian succeeds Daniele Baiesi, who returned to his Italian homeland in early July after ten years in Germany and a second double win with the Bayern basketball team. Baiesi and FCBB Managing Director Marko Pesic had already conducted discussions with the long-time EuroLeague professional together in the spring.
“I officially welcome Dragan to Munich,” says Pesic. “We are very pleased that he chose Bayern to continue his career. We quickly realized in our discussions that we approach topics in a very similar way. A trustful relationship developed quickly, and communication with all parties involved was very good this summer. Dragan is also an absolute expert who is very well connected due to the various roles he has held in European basketball. Now he is starting with us in the busy routine of a EuroLeague team and will help us manage it better with his expertise. With Gordie Herbert and him, our sports leadership team is complete again, as is the coaching staff—and I believe we have assembled a very good team not only on the court but also off the court.”
“I Didn’t Have to Think Twice”
Dragan Tarlac has already settled into the BMW Park in recent days, and he says:
“It’s an honor and great opportunity to work for this great organization and huge brand. When Marko (Pesic) explained me the vision and the goals of the club, combined with the arrival of our new Coach and moving to SAP Garden– this was a perfect match and a no-brainer for me to pick this challenge. It is an opportunity which I was looking for to work at one of the best organizations in Euroleague and make the next step in my career. I’m thankful for every advice and experience Daniele shared with me, feeling the needs and responsibility of such an organization is we’re setting new goals in front of us. I am looking forward to step now into all details and feeling very confident in our new team and the coach.“
Tarlac has been serving as the Team Director for the Serbian national team since 2021, which recently won Olympic bronze against the German team at the Paris 2024 Games. Tarlac himself competed in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, representing Serbia and Montenegro. After starting his career at Red Star Belgrade (1990 – 1992), the center played for Olympiakos Piraeus in Greece for eight years, where he won five national titles, two cups, and the EuroLeague (formerly ULEB) in 1997.
He then had a stint in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls (43 games in 2000/2001), spent two seasons with Real Madrid, and concluded his playing career with a final year in Moscow with CSKA. Highlights of his time with the national teams included winning bronze at the 1999 European Championship and the gold medal at the 2001 European Championship (with the then Yugoslavia under Svetislav Pesic).
After his playing career, Tarlac worked for the Serbian Basketball Federation, served as an NBA ambassador, and was a member of the Youth Commission of the global governing body FIBA, before returning to the federation three years ago as the sports director of the national team.
Dragan Tarlac is married and has a son.”