The decision of the most decorated European basketball coach Željko Obradović to take over Athens Panathinaikos, seven months after a stormy split with Partizan, shared the opinions of the fans of the Belgrade club. While some are critical of Obradović's decision to accept a new engagement, others support him.
Critics emphasize Obradović's statement from February 2024, when he said at a press conference that he does not see himself anywhere but Partizan. "Either I'll be here or I won't be working."
This sentence, which once served as an oath of eternal loyalty, today for some fans has become evidence of a broken promise and the point from which the demythologizing of his cult begins.
On the other hand, there is also the opinion of the fans who point out that "we had it, we didn't know it", "that you can achieve what you are not allowed to do here (primary author in Partizan)". Along with the comments of support for Obradović, there were also criticisms of the Partizan administration.
In 1991, Obradović switched from playing shoes to coaching shoes, as a coach he brought the only title of European champion to Partizan already at the end of that season. It is the biggest success in the basketball history of Partizan and since then the fans have not had a rational attitude towards Obradović.
Upon his arrival at the club in 2021, the fans were overwhelmed with euphoria and enthusiasm. Obradović was more than a coach at Partizan, the most deserving of Partizan's return to the Euroleague.
The fans showed their love for him best when he resigned and when they welcomed him at the airport where there were thousands of people. They wanted him to stay at the club, but he stood by the decision he made. They also organized a protest against the club's management, from whom they demanded resignations, and since the departure of Željko Obradović, club president Ostoja Mijailović has not appeared at a single game. In him, Partizan fans found the biggest culprit for the coach's departure.
Photo: Tanjug / Rade Prelić / Vladimir ŠporčićŽeljko Obradović and Ostoja Mijailović
Euphoria has moved to Athens.
Opposite Belgrade is Athens, where euphoria prevailed. The most decorated European coach Željko Obradović is the new-old coach of Panathinaikos from Sunday.
Obradović returns to the club where he worked for 13 years, from 1999 to 2012, and with which he won five Euroleague trophies, 11 Greek championships and seven Greek Cups.
Those were the most fruitful years in his career, but also the golden days for Panathinaikos. The Greek club won one European Championship trophy before Obradović (1996), as well as one after him (2024).
Panathinaikos fans are in ecstasy. They flooded the comments on social networks, where they do not hide their satisfaction that Obradovic is back on the bench of their club. The fans of Belgrade's Partizan had the same feeling when Željko Obradović decided to take over Partizan.
Is he taking Bogdanović to Partizan?
On Sunday, after Obradović signed a contract with Panathinaikos, in the Greek media Sport24, information appeared that the Los Angeles Clippers will fire the Serbian representative Bogdan Bogdanović and that Obradović has already invited him to wear the green jersey.
Bogdanović's contract expires this season, and a new one will not be offered. Bogdanović played only 23 matches for the Clippers last season.
The Serbian basketball player would stay in the NBA league to play the tenth season, which would allow him the maximum NBA pension. The NBA's free agent signing period will begin on June 30. There have been indications from earlier that the Denver Nuggets are interested in Bogdanović, who would try to unite him and his teammate from the national team, Nikola Jokić.
If Bogdanović decides to return to Europe, he has an offer from Obradović to come to Panathinaikos.
That information once again divided Partizan fans, who were hoping for Bogdanović's return to Partizan. Part of the fans criticized Obradovic and Bogdanovic, while part supported their idea. Those who supported them also criticized the existing administration.
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