Obradovic Returns to Panathinaikos: The Architect of a Dynasty Returns to Athens

Panathinaikos has sent shockwaves through European basketball with one of the most impactful moves in recent years, announcing the return of Zeljko Obradovic as head coach. The Serbian coach, the most decorated in EuroLeague history, has signed a three-year contract and will return to the bench of the Athens club fourteen years after his departure.

At 66 years old, Obradovic returns to the club where he built one of the greatest dynasties in European basketball history. Between 1999 and 2012, he led Panathinaikos to five EuroLeague titles, eleven Greek championships, and seven Greek Cups, establishing the green club as a continental powerhouse.

The coach takes over from Ergin Ataman, whose tenure recently ended after three seasons at the helm of the team. Under the Turkish coach's leadership, Panathinaikos regained prominence in Europe, reached two Final Fours, and won the seventh EuroLeague title in the club's history in 2024. However, the elimination before the Final Four and the defeat against Olympiacos in the Greek league finals prompted the change in direction.

Obradovic's return goes far beyond a simple addition to the bench. For the Athens club, it represents recovering an identity based on defensive discipline, tactical demands, and the special connection between the team and its fans that made the OAKA one of the most feared venues on the continent.

With nine EuroLeague titles spread across five different clubs, Obradovic remains the most successful coach in the history of the competition. His last experience was leading Partizan Belgrade, where he coached the team between 2021 and 2025 and once again demonstrated his ability to rebuild competitive projects.
Now he will have the mission of returning Panathinaikos to the top of European basketball. With a high-level roster, resources to access the transfer market, and fans who idolize his figure, the return of the Serbian coach opens a new chapter full of expectations in Athens.