By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Dusko Ivanovic is no longer the head coach of Crvena zvezda, as officially announced by the Belgrade club.
“KK Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet informs the public that Dusko Ivanovic is no longer the head coach of our senior team.
On this occasion, the club once again thanks Dusko Ivanovic for everything we have accomplished together in the previous period, for the enormous work and effort he invested, for the way he represented the club as the coach of the first team, and wishes him good health and success in the upcoming period and in his new professional challenge,” per the official statement of the club.
Ivanovic took over the team in November 2023. With Crvena Zvezda, he won two trophies: the Radivoj Korac Cup and the Serbian championship. The team reached the finals of the ABA League, and despite a 1-6 start when he took over, finished the competition in the EuroLeague with a record of 17-17.
Crvena Zvezda revamped the squad over the summer, adding high-caliber players like Shabazz Napier and Milos Teodosic. They began the season with victories over Igokea and Cedevita Olimpija in the ABA League, as well as against ASVEL in the EuroLeague premiere. However, they then suffered three consecutive losses in the elite competition.
Sfairopulos reportedly first in place to take over
As reported by Meridian Sport, the leading candidate to succeed Ivanovic as the head coach of the Serbian champions is Greek coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos. He is also rumored to be a contender for potentially taking over from Joan Penarroya at Baskonia, should the team from Vitoria opt for a coaching change.
Sfairopoulos has been without a club since leaving Maccabi Tel Aviv in February 2022. The Greek coach led the Israeli side for more than three years, winning three championships, an Israeli Cup, and two Supercups. Prior to that, he worked for four years at Olympiacos, securing two domestic titles in Greece and guiding the Piraeus team to two EuroLeague finals.