Zeljko Obradovic, the greatest European coach ever, is no longer a coach Partizan. Ostoja Mijailović is still the president of Partizan. Fans could set fire to the hall on Thursday. That's the situation, in a nutshell.
The longer story is more difficult to tell, because it touches on "insider" information, rumors, spins and political games that no one outside has a real insight into.
But this much can be said - Ostoja Mijailović finished his career in Partizan. The only question is whether he will leave immediately and prevent further damage to the already badly shaken club or, for whatever reasons and convictions, he will hold on to the chair for a while longer.
Mijailović's life, otherwise comfortable due to business and wealth, was not exactly dolce vita in Partizan. Because of his background, and the fact that he was at the head (at that time in business and political devastated) club could only come with an amen "from above", Partizan fans were never ready to acknowledge Mijailović.
Not even for the fact that the finances have become "stable", because they have become a bit of a famous political will, and more of a will of the fans to pay expensive tickets and other things. Not even for the fact that he managed to hire the great Željko Obradović.
Success would cover everything.
And Obradović, a man from legend, could return to Partizan only because it made sense - with the mentioned stable finance and the prospect of doing something on the biggest stage. In other words, Mijailović preceded Obradović.
It caused a tectonic disturbance. Never in history has there been so much "fire" on basketball. Again with the famous political will, Partizan and Zvezda started an arms race. The first with more money from fans, the second with more help from the state. Basketball became the biggest topic in town.
In all of this, I say, the fans were generally not ready to acknowledge Mijailović's merits. Now he is being blamed for the fact that Željko Obradović left or was forced to leave the club.
The previous days were painful, the next will be the same, for every fan. The obvious indifference in the team, the bloodless game, since the beginning of the season, does not resemble Partizan or the way Obradović's teams play.
There are many rumors about this - that the players who should have not been brought in, that one person complains that the other has a higher salary, that some even fake injuries, that they are at odds with others.
Further, that the president of the club also has a role in this, who allegedly arranged the arrival of some players himself, and did not find money for some others who then magically appeared in the jersey Zvezde.
He even says that Mijailović, knowing that Obradović is de facto irreplaceable for understandable reasons, did something to force him to raise his hands himself.
They talk a lot, and everyone believes what they want. And only one certainty - that Partizan played well, for example standing at 9-4 in the Euroleague instead of 4-9, success would cover all problems. That's what life teaches us.
Heads wanted
The last act of the drama, the famous meeting between Obradović and the board of directors, showed how poisoned the relations have become and how much role the media and social networks play in everything.
Both camps from the administration released information to "their" so-called to journalists - completely opposite, of course - and these, like flow boilers, published them and thus ignited the people.
And the people, already cursed - because cheering for Partizan is a curse - now became extremely frustrated. His hopes of realizing a long-ago dream, again on the roof of Europe with Željko Obradović, were taken away.
It is followed by unprecedented scenes - thousands of people at the airport. Thousands of people in training. Touching and terrifying at the same time.
Heads wanted. They make lists of "ineligible" players, and realistically, there is no idea about the behind-the-scenes happenings. He threatens to stop the next game, which can have unforeseeable consequences.
The people, until they cool down, know how to follow the logic of the incinerator - when it's not our way, let's demolish and burn everything.
Mijailović must go.
The fans are absolutely right about one thing - Ostoja Mijailović cannot remain the president of Partizan. You don't need to be particularly excited for that request, it is objective.
Because, whatever was really going on behind the scenes, Mijailović failed to create an environment in which the greatest coach ever would either stay or leave once solely because of the pitch or his saturation, so that it is clear that he is leaving on friendly terms and that he supports the next coach.
If Mijailović clings to the armchair, from now on all the focus will be on him. And they will hear it in the hall and elsewhere. He doesn't need that, and Partizan especially doesn't need that.
And that big damn club will be around forever.
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