By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Zeljko Obradovic intends to step down as head coach of Partizan Mozzart Bet, Eurohoops sources confirm.
The news was initially reported by Serbian outlet Mozzart Sport on Wednesday.
Upon the resignation, the Belgrade outfit is facing a decision whether to accept it and move on from the 65-year-old tactician.
A nine-time EuroLeague champion, including the 1992 triumph with Partizan to start his record-breaking run, returned to the Serbian club in 2021 on a three-year contract and in 2024 extended his contract until the end of the 2025-26 season.
However, his resignation marks an early departure, after winning the 2022-23 and 2024-25 installments of the AdmiralBet ABA League and Serbia’s AdmiralBet KLS in 2025 in his latest stint as head coach.
Obradovic himself addressed the issue with the following open letter to Partizan fans.
“Dear Partizan fans,
Four and a half years ago, I returned to my beloved club and set off together with you to live the most beautiful dream. I had the desire and goal that after 10 years, our Partizan would again become part of the Euroleague, and we all succeeded in that together. The games of our beloved club have become something more than basketball, thanks to you, who are the most deserving of this. Unfortunately, the moment came when I had to take responsibility for all the bad things that happened this season and tender my irrevocable resignation.
I want to thank all the people who have helped our club all these years, the president of the club and all the members of the Board of Directors, all the people from the working community of the club, as well as all the sponsors.
I am very grateful to all the players who have been with us in these four and a half years, members of my professional staff (I have pointed out many times, the best I have had), and of course, a big thank you to all Partizan fans!
Thank you for the unreserved support, respect, and love you have given me all these years at every opportunity!
Always one of you, eternally grateful!
Zeljko Obradovic”.
In the 2025-26 journey, Partizan was reduced to 4-9 in the EuroLeague Regular Season after a disappointing loss to a former team of Obradovic, Panathinaikos Aktor, in Telekom Center Athens on Tuesday. Heading to the international break, the distance from the Play-In Showdown zone is three games, with 25 fixtures remaining on the 38-game schedule. After returning to Europe’s premier club continental competition and reaching the Playoffs of the 2022-23 installment, Partizan has been narrowly short of a postseason berth over the last two years.
At the regional level, a 5-1 W-L tally ranks third in Group A of the Regular Season, trailing Dubai and U-BT Cluj-Napoca on the win-loss point system.
With the FIBA window dedicated to the launch of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, creating a brief break on the schedule, Partizan resumes action with Round 14 of the EuroLeague Regular Season on December 4, hosting FC Bayern Munich in Belgrade Arena.