Dian Stankovic Resigns as Red Star Belgrade Coach After Defeat to Israeli Team

Dian Stankovic has officially resigned as head coach of Red Star Belgrade following the team's 2-0 away loss to Hapoel Be'er Sheva, an Israeli club, in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers on August 11, 2026. This defeat eliminated Red Star from the competition and sparked significant turmoil in the Serbian capital. Minutes after the match, Stankovic gathered his players in the locker room and announced his departure, fulfilling a prior promise to resign if the team failed to qualify for the Champions League.

This marks Stankovic's second tenure as Red Star's coach, with his previous stint ending similarly in 2022 after elimination by Maccabi Haifa in the same competition. Serbian media reported that the club's management scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss potential replacements as they seek to rebuild the team after the disappointing result. Criticism of Stankovic's leadership was harsh, with reports describing the team as helpless and highlighting an incident where the coach was sent off for spitting towards a referee.

The loss and subsequent resignation come as a shock in Serbia, contrasting with celebrations in Be'er Sheva, where the victory secured the Israeli club's advancement to the Champions League playoff round. The official announcement of Stankovic's resignation confirms the end of his coaching chapter at Red Star amid calls for urgent changes within the club.