Panathinaikos BC announces the agreement with coach Alexander Djordjevic for the next two years.
"I want to thank those who trusted me in order to take this opportunity. It as an honor and a privilege to work for Panathinaikos," said the new coach of the team and also added:
"Now I am on the bench of a club belonging to the elite and I am feeling honored but also enthusiasm to begin this journey. I had a meeting with Panathinaiko’s people, we had dinner and we discussed. They explained the plan and ideas to create a base of the Academy which presented today (30/6) as far as I know. These ideas fit with mine. New players will now have the great opportunity to learn and all we will be their teachers. Every big club must put the base in order several players from the academies to take part in the first team.
I accepted this plan as it works in my country’s basketball school. We want to create new players so as to progress as athletes and as people also. It is our great opportunity to teach them basketball in the right way and with the knowledge, my experience and my system we will have success.
I am feeling wonderful to be part of this plan. On the other hand, we have a base of Greek players who are experienced and from Euroleague, Greek league and National team. All these players are very good and will just have to add a few new pieces.
Milan Minic and Goran Bjedov will be my colleagues and also Sani Becirovic wil be on the staff. It was important to bring people who think the same way with me”.
Bio
Aleksander Djordjevic was born on 26 August 1967. He played 108 games for the Yugoslavian national basketball team. Djordjevic started his basketball career while attending secondary school in Belgrade. He played for KK Partizan (1984–1992), Philips Milano a.k.a. Recoaro Milano (1992–1994), Filodoro Bologna a.k.a. Teamsystem Bologna (1994–1996), the Portland Trail Blazers (September–December 1996, 8 games, 25 points scored), FC Barcelona (January 1997 – 1999), Real Madrid (1999–2002), Scavolini Pesaro (2003–2005), and Armani Jeans Milano (February–June 2005). He is remembered for his buzzer-beating three-pointer in the 1992 Euroleague final, while he was with Partizan.
On 25 January 2006 Djordjevic was named the head coach of one of his former teams, Armani Jeans Milano. In 2011 was named the head coach of Benetton Treviso. In 2013, Djordjevic was named the coach of the Serbia national basketball team. He took the silver medal at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Some of the honors Djordjevic won as a senior player are: 1 Euroleague (1992), 3 Korać Cup (1989, 1993, 1999), 2 National Championship of Yugoslavia (1987, 1992), 2 National Cup of Yugoslavia (1989, 1992), 3 Spanish League (1997, 1999, 2000), 1 Silver Medal on Summer Olympic Games (1996), 1 Gold Medal on FIBA World Cup (1998), 3 Gold Medal on FIBA EuroBasket (1991, 1995, 1997) and 1 Bronze Medal (1987).
