By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Every good thing must come to an end and that applies even for the presence of Zeljko Obradovic in the bench of Panathinaikos. Serbian coach decided to not renew his contract with the Greens, at it was officially announced in a joint press release.
The press release is the following: “BC Panathinaikos has the unpleasant task to announce the end of its collaboration with Zelimir Obradovic, after 13 years of glorious coexistence.
Giannakopoulos family would like to publicly thank the coach for his impeccable, mature and meaningful collaboration all this years, something that is proved by the championship titles of our team.
We will always have in our mind and heart the beautiful moments that we lived with him as our bench leader and his name will be written with golden letters in the history of Panathinaikos as one of the main pillars of great successes.
When it’s a matter of conditions and a friend has to leave, farewell seem difficult. We feel that he is a member of our family and we have the sense that our roads will cross again in the future. That’s why we don’t say to him goodbye, but see you again friend”.
What changed after the initial talks about the new three year plan for the team? As you may remember the Greens were optimistic about Obradovic remaining on the team. There is not yet a clear answer, but only some innuendos about respect in the Serbian coach’s farewell to the team:
“My dear friends,
When I came in the June of 1999 in Athens for PANATHINAIKOS, I could never imagine that this would be my team, my family, my home for 13 years.
On those 13 years, we had many good times, a lot to celebrate, but also hardships. We lived everything intensely, because we were all together a big, real family.
My principals from my upbringing always remind me that the most important thing is to respect people, if you want also to be respected by them. This is something that I want to stress at this moment.
I have great respect towards Giannakopoulos family, who made possible through all its means for all us to stay together all those years.
I would like to thank and salute with respect everyone who works for BC Panathinaikos, all the coaches of my stuff for our amazing collaboration all those years. Also a big thanks goes to all the fans of PANATHINAIKOS, who were, ALWAYS-ALWAYS and ALWAYS supporting us. Without their help nothing would be possible. And of course a BIG thanks to all the players that I coached all those 13 years.
All together, Giannakopoulos family, the employees of the club, the coaching stuff, the players and the fans, we made PANATHINAIKOS a great club that is respected all over Europe.
At this moment I took a VERY, VERY hard decision for myself, that this collaboration after all those years must end.
I believe that everything that happens in a family, should stay inside the family. As the wise Greek people says “What happens in home, can’t be made public”. Without a doubt at this moment my decision is the best possible for everybody.
PANATHINAIKOS for 13 years was my TEAM and my HOME and that will remain the same for all my life. I feel and I am PANATHINAIKOS.
I would like to thank also all the reporters and the journalists for our loyal collaboration.
Finally, I would like to say a special thanks to my friend and immediate assistant coach Dimitris Itoudis for our exceptional collaboration all those 13 years.
Athens, 12/06/2012
Zeljko Obradovic”