Red Star Belgrade Coach Stankovic Resigns After 2-0 Loss to Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Dusan Stankovic resigned as head coach of Red Star Belgrade immediately following the team's 2-0 defeat to Hapoel Be'er Sheva in a crucial Champions League qualifier. The announcement was made to the players right after the match, with the club's management expected to officially confirm the resignation during a meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Stankovic had previously stated that his goal was to lead Red Star to the Champions League group stage, and he promised to step down if he failed to achieve this objective.

This marks the fourth time Stankovic has been unable to qualify Red Star for the Champions League, with previous eliminations coming against teams considered weaker on paper: Omonia Nicosia, Sheriff Tiraspol, Maccabi Haifa, and now Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Serbian media criticized Stankovic harshly, recalling his failure to learn from past mistakes, including the loss to Maccabi Haifa four years ago. They also highlighted his apparent underestimation of Hapoel Be'er Sheva and noted his controversial decisions during the match, such as a key player suspension and leaving high-cost reinforcements on the bench.

Following Stankovic's departure, Red Star is expected to begin an immediate search for a new coach to lead the team forward. The club and fans alike are facing disappointment after the early exit from the Champions League qualifiers, a competition the club has long aimed to reach under Stankovic's leadership.