Sasha Obradovic Explains Decision to Coach Hapoel Jerusalem, Aiming for EuroLeague

Sasha Obradovic, the newly appointed head coach of Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team, shared his reasons for joining the club during the recent EuroLeague coaches' conference in Athens. Obradovic described the project as ambitious and expressed excitement about working with the club's driven management. He emphasized that the goal is not merely to compete in the EuroCup but to reach the EuroLeague, stating, "I always want to be in the EuroLeague, and this challenge is a great opportunity for me to build something."

Obradovic noted that he is not starting from scratch, as Hapoel Jerusalem already has an established team, but his aim is to elevate the club to the next level, similar to his previous work with Monaco and Alba Berlin. The 57-year-old coach was previously at Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade), where he took over early in the current season after the dismissal of coach Janis Sferopoulos. Although Obradovic initially led the team to strong performances, the club eventually declined, finishing tenth and being eliminated in the play-in round, which led to his departure.

Hapoel Jerusalem is preparing for Obradovic's arrival as they look to strengthen their position in Israeli basketball and make a significant impact in European competitions under his leadership.