Zeljko Obradovic set for Panathinaikos return on lucrative three-year deal

Serbian basketball coach Zeljko Obradovic is reportedly on his way back to Panathinaikos, according to a report in Serbia’s Telesport. The 66-year-old is said to have agreed to become the Greek club’s next coach on a three-year contract worth a total of 10.5 million euros, or 3.5 million euros per season.

Obradovic left Partizan Belgrade in December after four years there, and this move would bring him back to the team where he enjoyed his greatest coaching success. He first joined Panathinaikos in the summer of 1999 and stayed for 13 years, leading the club to 11 Greek league titles, seven Greek Cups and five EuroLeague, then known as the European Champions Cup, crowns.

After leaving Athens, Obradovic spent seven years at Fenerbahce in Turkey, where he won four Turkish championships and another EuroLeague title. Overall, he has nine European championship titles, including trophies won with Partizan, Joventut Badalona and Real Madrid. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in European basketball.