Željko Obradović

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Željko Obradović
Fenerbahçe
2021–presentPartizan
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As head coach:

Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Yugoslavia
Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place 1988 Seoul
FIBA World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1990 Argentina
Men's basketball
Head coach for  Yugoslavia
Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta
FIBA World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1998 Greece
EuroBasket
Gold medal – first place 1997 Spain
Bronze medal – third place 1999 France

Želimir "Željko" Obradović (Serbian Cyrillic: Желимир "Жељко" Обрадовић, pronounced [ʒɛ̌limiːr ʒêːʎko obrǎːdoʋitɕ]; (born 9 March 1960) is a Serbian professional basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach for Partizan of the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS), the ABA League and the EuroLeague.

Widely regarded as the greatest coach in European basketball history and outside the

Yugoslavia national team (present-day Serbia), most notably winning the gold medals at EuroBasket 1997 and the 1998 FIBA World Championship
.

Among his individual coaching awards, he has won two

50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors
, making the list as one of the ten head coaches that were chosen.

Early life

Obradović was born on 9 March 1960, in Čačak, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia.[4]

Playing career

Borac Čačak (1978–1984)

Obradović started his club career as a basketball player with Borac Čačak, in their youth system.

During the

Yugoslav First Federal League games during the season, and contributed a total of 3 points.[5] After eventually establishing himself as the team's starting point guard
, he stayed with the club until 1984.

Partizan (1984–1991)

Over the summer 1984, twenty-four-year-old Obradović joined

Yugoslav national team
throughout the 1970s as a legendary guard duo.

In Obradović's third season with the team, Partizan won the

Korać Cup's championship of the 1988–89
season. During his time at Partizan, Obradović established himself as one of the best and most reliable point guards in Yugoslavia's top-level league.

National team career

Obradović was a member of the junior national teams of Yugoslavia. With Yugoslav under-19 national team, he played at the 1979 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

He was also a member of the senior

Yugoslav national team. With Yugoslavia's senior national team, he won a silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal at the 1990 FIBA World Championship
.

Coaching career

Obradović's greatness as a professional

Saporta Cup
championships, and numerous national domestic league championships and national cups.

Partizan (1991–1993)

Obradović's coaching career began quite suddenly in the summer of 1991 while he was still an active thirty-one-year-old

Yugoslav national team. Selected and coached by Dušan Ivković, the 1991 national squad was to be captained by Obradović—the oldest player among the assembled group. However, after finishing the training camp in Poreč and coming back to Belgrade to sleep over before leaving in the morning for a preparation friendly tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Obradović got called in for a meeting with the Partizan management—club president Radojica Nikčević, vice-president Dragan Kićanović, as well as board members Đorđe "Siske" Čolović, Milorad "Miketa" Đurić, and Dragan Todorić
—who convinced him to take over the Partizan head coaching job, which entailed retiring from playing effective immediately thus giving up a chance to captain the national team at the upcoming EuroBasket.

The idea was to have Obradović, a debutante head coach, work under the guidance of experienced elder statesman of Yugoslav basketball, sixty-seven-year-old professor Aleksandar Nikolić, whose coaching advisory services were soon secured by Kićanović and the club management. Also joining the front office in the technical director capacity was another fresh retiree from playing, thirty-one-year-old Milenko Savović, Obradović's longtime teammate at Partizan, who had spent the previous 1990–91 season playing for Vojvodina.

In the 1991–92 season, Partizan had a 20–2 record in the

Bosna 105–70 in the final game. In European competition, Obradović led the young squad to become the champions of 1991–92 FIBA European League, on the spur of breakup of Yugoslavia. Partizan played its international matches in Fuenlabrada
, Spain, due to international sanctions imposed on FR Yugoslavia.

In 1992–93 season, Partizan was runner-up to Crvena zvezda with 3–2 record in the final series. In 1993 Yugoslav Cup, it lost with 104–91 in the final game to OKK Beograd.

Joventut Badalona (1993–1994)

In 1993, Obradović signed a contract with the Spanish team

Joventut, based in Badalona. With Joventut, he won the 1993–94 FIBA European League. In Liga ACB, Joventut finished in 3rd place with 24–14 record. In 1994 Copa del Rey de Baloncesto, Joventut was eliminated in the quarterfinals. However, he won the 1994 Lliga Catalana de Bàsquet
.

Real Madrid (1994–1997)

After the end of season, Obradović signed a contract with Real Madrid. In his first season with the club, Real Madrid failed to defend the Liga ACB title, finishing in 3rd place with 27–19 record. In 1995 Copa del Rey de Baloncesto, Real Madrid finished in 4th place. However, he won the 1994–95 FIBA European League.

In 1995–96 season, Real Madrid did not manage to take any title. In Liga ACB, Real Madrid finished in 5th place with 28–12 record. In 1996 Copa del Rey de Baloncesto, Real Madrid finished in 3rd place. On the European scene, Obradović made his third consecutive Final Four appearance and second with Real Madrid, but ended losing in 3rd place game. In 1996–97 season, Real Madrid finished as the runner-up in the Liga ACB and was also eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 1997 Copa del Rey de Baloncesto. In European competitions, Real Madrid participated in second-tier FIBA Saporta Cup and eventually won it with 78–64 in the final game over Verona. At the end of the season, Obradović parted ways with the team.

Benetton Treviso (1997–1999)

In the summer of 1997, in-demand Obradović, who had just won EuroBasket 1997 as FR Yugoslavia's head coach, made a high profile club move, signing with the Italian league champions Benetton Treviso thus succeeding Mike D'Antoni who had taken an offer from the NBA to join the Denver Nuggets' coaching staff as an assistant. Acquired on initiative by the club's general manager Maurizio Gherardini, reportedly despite some initial apprehension on the part of the Benetton Group CEO Luciano Benetton,[6][7] the three-time-Euroleague-winning coach Obradović took over the squad led by the center Željko Rebrača (whom the coach already knew well having coached him in Partizan and Yugoslavia national team to great success) and shooting guard Henry Williams.

In 1997–98 season, Treviso was eliminated in the quarterfinal series of the Serie A1 playoffs with 3–2 record by Reggio Emilia. In 1997–98 FIBA EuroLeague, Treviso finished in 3rd place after 96–89 win over Partizan in the Final Four.

In 1998–99 season, Treviso finished as the runner-up in the Serie A1 playoffs, after 3–0 record in the final series against Varese. Also, Treviso won the FIBA Saporta Cup, following 64–60 win in the final game over Valencia.

Panathinaikos (1999–2012)

In the summer of 1999, Obradović became head coach of Panathinaikos. In his first season with the club, he won the 1999–2000 Greek Basket League with 3–0 record in the final series against PAOK Thessaloniki. In 2000 Greek Cup final, it lost with 59–57 by AEK Athens. Also, Panathinaikos won the 1999–2000 FIBA EuroLeague, after 73–67 win in the final game over Maccabi Tel Aviv. It was club's second EuroLeague championship in history.

Obradović stayed with Panathinaikos until 2012, leading the team to become the top club in European club basketball during that time, while simultaneously maintaining the club at the top position in the Greek national championship. In total, Obradović won with Panathinaikos eleven

2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011
).

In 2007, he achieved winning the highly coveted

EuroLeague Coach of the Year award. Also in 2009, in Berlin
, he completed this achievement as head coach for the third time. In 2011, he won his 8th EuroLeague trophy overall, and 5th with Panathinaikos.

Despite winning the Greek Cup in the 2011–12 season, Panathinaikos finished 4th in the 2011–12 season of the EuroLeague, while Olympiacos was crowned the EuroLeague champion. Following this disappointment, Panathinaikos lost to Olympiacos, 3 games to 2, in a best-of-five Greek League Finals series. After that, in June 2012, Obradović announced that he was stepping down as head coach of Panathinaikos, after 13 consecutive seasons.

Fenerbahçe (2013–2020)

Fenerbahçe
season

In early July 2013, Obradović signed a two-year contract with the Turkish club

Fenerbahçe,[8] that was reportedly worth €3 million in net income salary, over the contract period.[9] After inheriting a roster with point guard Bo McCalebb and versatile shooting guards / small forwards Bojan Bogdanović and Emir Preldžić, the famous head coach added a pair of marquee forwards, in Linas Kleiza and Nemanja Bjelica. He additionally signed Luka Žorić and Melih Mahmutoğlu, as well as talented youngsters Ömer Yurtseven and Kenan Sipahi
.

In his first season with the club, Obradović won the

2013–14 EuroLeague
season, they reached the Top 16 stage.

In the 2014–15 season, Fenerbahçe finished the regular season of the

2014–15 EuroLeague season, Fenerbahçe reached the 2015 Euroleague Final Four, where they were eliminated in the semifinals, and later lost in the 3rd place game. The appearance in the EuroLeague Final Four was the first in the club's long history. On 25 May 2015, after the end of season, he signed a two-year extension with Fenerbahçe.[10]

In the

2016 Final Four
.

On 18 November 2016, Ozan Balaban, a board member of Fenerbahçe SK, declared at the QNB Finansbank sponsorship ceremony of the club, that Obradović would sign a new three-year deal with the club.[11][12] On 3 December 2016, Obradović officially extended his contract with the club, until the end of the 2019–20 season.[13]

In the 2016–17 season, Fenerbahçe finished with a 28–2 record in the

NBA
.

In the

2017–18 season, Fenerbahçe once again finished the Turkish Super League regular season in first place, with a dominant 27–3 record. In the 2018 Turkish Cup, Fenerbahçe were eliminated early in the quarterfinals, by the eventual cup winners, Anadolu Efes. In the 2017–18 EuroLeague season, Fenerbahçe made it to the 2018 EuroLeague Final Four, their fourth consecutive Final Four appearance. Eventually, they lost to Real Madrid, by a score of 80–85, in the final game.[15] At the end of the season, Fenerbahçe won its third consecutive Turkish Super League title, after winning the league's finals series 4–1 against Tofaş.[16]

In the

2018–19 season, Fenerbahçe lost to Efes in the Turkish Presidential Cup final, and later beat Efes in the 2019 Turkish Cup final. They also lost to Efes in the Turkish Super League playoff's finals series, 4–3. In the 2018–19 EuroLeague season, the club made its fifth straight EuroLeague Final Four appearance, as they qualified to the 2019 EuroLeague Final Four
, where they finished in fourth place.

In the

2019–20 EuroLeague Regular Season standings from the beginning of the season until the season cancellation in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After 28 rounds, they had 13–15 record and were holding 8th place which would lead them to quarterfinals. In 2019–20 Basketbol Süper Ligi
which was also cancelled in May for the same reason, Fenerbahçe was in fourth place with 17–5 record and one game behind the worse-record Galatasaray.

On 23 June 2020, Fenerbahçe announced that Obradović would no longer be the head coach since he wants to take a break from coaching for one year.[17]

Return to Partizan (2021–present)

On 25 June 2021, Obradović signed a three-year contract with Partizan, returning to his former club after 28 years.[18][19][20] In the 2021–22 EuroCup, Partizan was eliminated in eighfinals by Bursaspor at home court, which was considered a failure as one of the season goals was to run deep into the competition.[21] In the 2021–22 ABA League, Partizan improved their regular season record over last season by 9 wins, having 22–4 record. In April 2022, Obradović was named the ABA League Coach of the Season for 2021–22 regular season performances.[22] Partizan ended the 2022–23 season by lifting the ABA League championship trophy, after 3–2 score against Crvena zvezda in the Finals series.[23]

In April 2024, Obradović signed a contract extension with Partizan.[24] The 2023–24 season was deemed to be unsucessful for Partizan as they finished the season without lifting any trophy.[25]

National team coaching career

Previously an assistant coach to

Serbia and Montenegro national team head coach (2004–2005).[26]
He stands as the most successful head coach for the Serbia national team since the break-up of SFR Yugoslavia.

Coaching style

Well known for his temperamental approach, Obradović also has a reputation for being adaptable with his ability to course correct on the fly underscored by a number of coaches.[27]

He often utilized a system heavy on

combo forward Batiste to center—thereby implementing one of the first small ball setups in professional basketball to yield great results.[30]

Revered San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has been a longtime admirer of Obradović's coaching style, frequently praising him[31][32] and admitting to "stealing his plays". In turn, Obradović, ahead of his second season coaching Fenerbahce, talked about spending a significant portion of the summer 2014 off-season, dissecting the San Antonio game, particularly positioning and ball movement, with a view of implementing it into his team.[28][33]

Coaching record

Legend
G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win-loss %

Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the team played during the season. He also coached in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.

EuroLeague

Team Year G W L W–L% Result
Partizan
1991–92 21 15 6 .714 Won EuroLeague Championship
Joventut
1993–94 20 15 5 .750 Won EuroLeague Championship
Real Madrid
1994–95 18 13 5 .722 Won EuroLeague Championship
1995–96 19 11 8 .579 Lost in 3rd place game
Benetton 1997–98 23 17 6 .739 Won in 3rd place game
Panathinaikos
1999–00 23 19 4 .826 Won EuroLeague Championship
2000–01 24 18 6 .750 Lost in the final game
2001–02 22 19 3 .864 Won EuroLeague Championship
2002–03 20 14 6 .700 Eliminated in Top 16 stage
2003–04 20 9 11 .450 Eliminated in Top 16 stage
2004–05 25 15 10 .600 Won in 3rd place game
2005–06 23 16 7 .696 Lost in Quarterfinal Playoffs
2006–07 24 20 4 .833 Won EuroLeague Championship
2007–08 20 15 5 .750 Eliminated in Top 16 stage
2008–09 22 17 5 .773 Won EuroLeague Championship
2009–10 16 10 6 .625 Eliminated in Top 16 stage
2010–11 22 16 6 .727 Won EuroLeague Championship
2011–12 23 14 9 .609 Lost in 3rd place game
Fenerbahçe
 2013–14 24 14 10 .583 Eliminated in Top 16 stage
2014–15 29 22 7 .759 Lost in 3rd place game
2015–16 29 23 6 .793 Lost in the final game
2016–17 35 23 12 .657 Won EuroLeague Championship
2017–18 36 25 11 .694 Lost in the final game
2018–19
 32 25 7 .781 Lost in 3rd place game
2019–20
 28 13 15 .464 Season cancelled
Partizan 2022–23 39 22 17 .564 Lost in Quarterfinal Playoffs
2023–24 34 16 18 .471 Eliminated in regular season
Career 671 456 215 .680

Domestic leagues

Team Year G W L W–L% Result
Panathinaikos 2001–02 28 21 7 .750 Lost in Semifinals round
Panathinaikos 2002–03 35 28 7 .800 Won 2003 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2003–04 34 29 5 .853 Won 2004 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2004–05 37 30 7 .811 Won 2005 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2005–06 34 32 2 .941 Won 2006 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2006–07 36 32 4 .889 Won 2007 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2007–08 36 31 5 .861 Won 2008 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2008–09 35 30 5 .857 Won 2009 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2009–10 35 33 2 .943 Won 2010 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2010–11 35 32 3 .914 Won 2011 Greek Basket League Finals
Panathinaikos 2011–12 35 29 6 .829 Lost 2012 Greek Basket League Finals
Fenerbahçe Beko
 2013–14 42 33 9 .786 Won 2014 Turkish League Finals
Fenerbahçe Beko
 2014–15 37 26 11 .703 Lost in Semifinals round
Fenerbahçe Beko
 2015–16 42 33 9 .786 Won 2016 Turkish League Finals
Fenerbahçe Beko
 2016–17 39 37 2 .949 Won 2017 Turkish League Finals
Fenerbahçe Beko
 2017–18 40 36 4 .900 Won 2018 Turkish League Finals
Fenerbahçe Beko
 2018–19 41 33 8 .805 Lost 2019 Turkish League Finals
Fenerbahçe Beko
 2019–20 22 17 5 .773 Season cancelled
Career 643 542 101 .843

Playing achievements

Obradović on a 2022 stamp of Serbia
Obradović with Aleksandar Đorđević in August 2015

Coaching achievements

Multiple titles

Titles by club

Joventut Badalona
in September 2016
Fenerbahçe
in March 2018
  • Panathinaikos (1999–2012)
    • 5×
      2011
      )
    • 11×
      2010–11
      )
    • 7× Greek Cup winner: (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012)

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ The Greatest EuroLeague Coaches In Modern History
  2. ^ Zeljko Obradovic: why the greatest European coach never worked in NBA?
  3. ^ Zeljko Obradovic is the best coach in Europe by far, says legendary Dusan Ivkovic
  4. ^ D. N. (9 March 2020). "DAN KADA JE NA SVET DOŠAO NAJTROFEJNIJI TRENER EVROLIGE Željko Obradović napunio 60 godina, a u vitrinama NESTVARNA RIZNICA PEHARA (doktor kosarke)". Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  5. Euroleague
    .net. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  6. ^ Matkevicius, Benas (25 November 2022). "#36 Maurizio Gherardini - Career Longevity, Challenges & Communication". The Benas Podcast. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  7. ^ ""Željko je bio čudan i agresivan – sakrili smo se da nas ne vidi"". B92.net. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Fenerbahce officially name Zeljko Obradovic head coach". Sportando. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Obradović zvanično u Fenerbahčeu". b92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Zvanično: Obradović produžio ugovor". b92.net (in Serbian). 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  11. ^ Aziz Yıldırım and Zeljko Obradović agree for extend 3 years contract.
  12. ^ Obradovic will sign 3 year extended contract.
  13. ^ "Obradovic and Gherardini extended their contracts". Eurohoops.net. 3 December 2016.
  14. ^ Preradović, V. (21 May 2017). "Fenerbahče osvojio Evroligu: Srpski trio sa peharom". novosti.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Real Madrid is 2018 EuroLeague champion". euroleague.net. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Fenerbahçe Doğuş wins 3rd consecutive Turkish basketball title". dailysabah.com. Daily Sabah. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Açıklama". fenerbahce.org (in Turkish). 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Dame i gospodo, Željko Obradović!". kkpartizan.rs (in Serbian). 28 June 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  19. ^ "San je postao java: Željko Obradović trener Partizana!". www.mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 25 June 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Željko Obradović has returned to Partizan NIS". www.aba-liga.com. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  21. ^ N., S. (20 April 2022). "Šok – Partizan eliminisan". b92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  22. ^ Janošev, Nemanja. "Sezona još nije gotova, a nagrade se dele - Željko Obradović trener godine u AdmiralBet ABA ligi". sportske.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  23. ^ "PARTIZAN MOZZART BET ARE 2022/23 ADMIRALBET ABA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS". aba-liga.com. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  24. ^ "ŽOC potpisao novi ugovor – poznato koliko još ostaje u Partizanu". b92.net (in Serbian). 27 April 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Očekuje nas burno leto u Partizanu – ko ostaje, a ko odlazi?" (in Serbian). 6 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  26. ^ FIBA.com SCG – Obradovic returns to helm of Serbia & Montenegro.
  27. ^ Mijušković, Oliver (18 June 2022). "„Željko Obradović bi uspeo u NBA, prilagodljiv je"". Nova.rs. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  28. ^ a b Avdić, Edin (24 March 2015). "Njih 30 miliona i Željko". mondo.rs. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
  29. ^ Mitnick, AJ (8 May 2014). "Mitnick: Obradovic too brash to coach in the NBA? Ridiculous". Sheridan Hoops. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
  30. ^ "Zeljko Obradovic: why the greatest European coach never worked in NBA?". BasketNews.com. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  31. ^ Whittell, Ian (12 November 2007). "10 reasons to watch the Euroleague". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
  32. ^ from San Antonio Express-News (15 October 2007). "Panathinaikos' Schemes Intrigue Popovich". RealGM. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
  33. ^ Laurie, Kenny (13 October 2014). "Obradovic shows his players San Antonio Spurs blueprint". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 2015-03-25.

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