Obradovic officially leaves Partizan! Fans attack training ground

Serbian Euroleague team Partizan officially announced the resignation of head coach Zeljko Obradovic.

HIS RESIGNATION WAS NOT ACCEPTED

A few days ago, Obradovic submitted his resignation, but his request was not accepted and the Partizan management stated that they would meet with the experienced head coach. Finally, the parties held a 2-hour meeting and failed to reach any conclusion, thus ending the Obradovic era in Partizan.

According to the club's statement, president Ostoja Mijailovic and the board of directors made efforts to convince Obradovic, but the experienced head coach did not withdraw his resignation, citing health problems.

FANS GO CRAZY

After Željko Obradović's departure was confirmed, Partizan fans broke through security and police barriers and smashed windows outside the training ground at Beogradska Arena. The players stopped practicing.

Fans had already gathered outside the arena in support of Obradović and the news came while they were already outside the arena.

According to news sources, as soon as the news of Obradović's departure broke, Partizan fans started to riot.

According to Mozzart Sport, the fans managed to break through the security and police barriers as they tried to enter the arena.

According to Sportklub, fans smashed a window at the training ground where the players were scheduled to train in the afternoon.

Training was canceled and police called in reinforcements. Meanwhile, the fans demanded that captain Vanja Marinković and an official from the club management come out and talk to them.

PESIC: 'PEOPLE HAVE OVERRATED OBRADOVIC'

Veteran coach Svetislav Pešić was a guest on the Kida Show podcast and commented on Željko Obradović's departure from Partizan.

Pešić said that the resignation of Europe's most trophy-winning coach was a surprise for him, as he thought that people in the club supported Obradović.

"In spite of everything, I still think it was a surprise for us colleagues, maybe if it had happened at the end of the season it wouldn't have happened. It's a surprise for me because I know Željko. Why? Because from what I saw, he had absolute support from people inside the club. The people who run the club chose him, he chose them and there was a good atmosphere. He had great support from the public and the fans, which is something that surprised us."

Pešić did not hide that he would like to see Obradović at the helm of a team again.

"People have made Željko much bigger than he is. He is a great coach, he has tremendous experience and knowledge. I hope he didn't end his career. This is also a message to other coaches: If you are not achieving what you want to do and you have set some goals in the process, then you come out and say 'Guys, I take responsibility. I'm here to help, but now it has to go in a different direction. That's the shortest way I can summarize it."

The veteran coach added that Obradović is taking too much on his shoulders.

"On the other hand, as I said before, life changes, priorities change, people change, players' priorities change, coaches' power diminishes despite quality and success."

"In the case of Partizan, Željko has taken on too much responsibility. This is not good. We need to share the responsibility with the players. As a coach you don't run away, but you also give the players responsibility for training, behavior and team bonding. The coach is the one who unites the players and makes the team, but the players also have responsibility for the team chemistry. If you don't share that with the players, then when the difficult times come, this is what happens: The players say, 'If you say you are the biggest, then the solution is your job'"