By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
The end of the regular season of the Euroleague marks the end of an era on the benches. Svetislav Pešić, the current coach of Bayern, is stepping down after 44 years on the sidelines.
The legendary Serbian, who began in the early 80s with Bosna Sarajevo, won the 2002/03 Euroleague with Barça, the club’s first. Fate had it that his last match was at the Palau against one of the teams that established him in the elite.
After the defeat against Pascual’s team, Pešić spoke to the media at a press conference, putting an end to a legendary and historic career.
“The first thing I want to say to Barça is thank you for the tribute they organized. People who know me know how important Barça is to me. I will never forget my time here in Barcelona. I wish them luck in the play-in and the playoffs,” Pešić began.
“As for the match, I have seen many Barça games this season, and I think it is one of the best they have played. I think they are in good rhythm and well prepared for the play-in,” analyzed the legendary coach.
“I wouldn’t single out a particularly sad moment, because I’m not someone who lives in the past. If you ask me about what made me happiest and most proud, one of the highlights of my career was winning the Final Four with Barça at Sant Jordi.”
“I am Yugoslavian, and although Yugoslavia no longer exists, for me, it always exists, and I can’t forget when we won the World Championship in Indianapolis. These are two moments I will never forget as a coach. Also, tonight, I can’t forget the moment Barça gave me with the tribute. The people who know me here know what Barça means to me,” he told the media.
“Throughout my career here at Barça, the fans have always respected me. This has been a motivation for me as a coach. Some people don’t understand it, but I always say what I think, and in the times we live in, people only want to hear positive things. I am a very positive person, but I prefer to say things as they are. Some journalists in my time haven’t always understood me,” he commented.
He took the opportunity to talk about the play-in tie between Barça and Zvezda.
“Barça is always the favorite, but favorites don’t always win. Red Star is a very tough, very dangerous team. They have American and Serbian players… a team characterized by a good balance between perimeter and interior. They have quality. Barça has to play to the limit to eliminate them,” commented Pešić.
“From 2003 until now, everything has changed a lot here. A big difference, for example, as a Barça member and in my opinion, is that Madrid has two professional teams, one in football and one in basketball. Here in my time at the Palau, we also had two. Now, when I returned in my second stint, a lot has changed, and basketball as a sport, in my opinion, holds the same importance as other sections,” he explained about Barça’s basketball section.
“This is good for Barça members, but not so good for Barça basketball members. That’s my opinion,” he said with a laugh.
“If I can say something, it is that for this decade, Barça finally has a Barça coach. Now a new decade, a new era begins, not just because Xavi is the coach, but because it is important. As I know Xavi, Barça has helped him a lot to become one of the best coaches in Europe. Now he has international experience. Now Xavi has to help Barça,” he concluded.