By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Zvezdan Mitrovic is back for the national team of Montenegro, with Andrej Zakelj taking over head-coaching duties in the upcoming FIBA windows.
The Basketball Federation of Montenegro officially updated the coaching status of the senior national team on Monday.
After guiding Montenegro to one win over five games and ranking 20th on the final standings of EuroBasket 2025, 46-year-old Bosko Radovic left his position.
Mitrovic, 55, is currently employed at the club level as the head coach of Cedevita Olimpija in the 2025-26 editions of the BKT EuroCup and AdmiralBet ABA League. Returning to the national team of his home country, he signed a contract until 2029. However, due to technical reasons, he will not be able to assume his role until next summer, as noted by KSCG.
Zakelj, 46, currently in charge of Buducnost VOLI in the EuroCup and ABA League, will be the selector for the next two international windows. In Group B of the European qualifiers of the FIBA World Cup 2027, Montenegro begins in Podgorica opposite Portugal on November 27, with Romania on the road following on November 30, and two clashes opposite Greece on February 27 and March 2. With the Qualifiers bid resuming in July, Mitrovic will be the head coach.
During his first spell, following serving as an assistant under Luka Pavicevic in the EuroBasket 2013, the Montenegrin boss led the national team to the FIBA World Cup 2019 via the Qualifiers. He went on in the final stage with his efforts resulting in a 25th spot on the final standings. He was later replaced by Radovic.