Zeljko Obradovic’s coaching staff in Panathinaikos will reportedly include Jose Maria Izquierdo, Aleksandar Matovic, Mike Batiste, Vassilis Xanthopoulos, and Vlada Androic. There’s also a possibility of Dimitris Diamantidis taking over an administrative role at the club.
After 14 years, Zeljko Obradovic is back in Athens.
The legendary Serbian coach has agreed to return to Panathinaikos Aktor Athens on a three-year deal, returning to coaching after leaving Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade during the 2025-26 campaign.
Zeljko Obradovic’s coaching staff in Panathinaikos
In a special broadcast on Sport24, Vassiliki Karamouza revealed who will be on coach Obradovic’s staff.
Obradovic’s long-time assistant, Jose Maria Izquierdo, will follow the 9-time EuroLeague winner once again, whilst Aleksandar Matovic will leave Partizan to join Obradovic’s staff.
Former EuroLeague champions under Obradovic, Mike Batiste and Vassilis Xanthopoulos, are also expected to join, with Batiste having a role in individual player development.
In a conversation with BasketNews, Batiste was asked whether he could see himself becoming the head coach of Panathinaikos.
Batiste admitted he would be interested if the opportunity came.
“We will see. I mean, if it was my choice, I’d have been like, yeah, but there’s a process that you have to go through every single hiring situation, and I don’t know what the process is,” Batiste said.
“Hopefully, while I’m here in Athens, if it’s going that way, hopefully I can get some news: ‘Hey, we want to go this way or not.’ But we will see what the future holds.”
A possibility of Dimitris Diamantidis taking over an administrative role is also mentioned.
Meanwhile, Mozzart Sport also reported that Vlada Androic, another assistant coach who spent a lot of his career under Obradovic, will be present in the Greek capital.
Zeljko Obradovic’s salary at Panathinaikos
According to George Zakkas of SDNA, Panathinaikos and Obradovic have agreed to a three-year contract worth €12 million.
On top of that, Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos is reportedly set to increase the club’s annual budget by a further €10 million, creating one of the biggest financial powerhouses European basketball has ever seen.
Credit Dragana Stjepanovic/ABA League
Obradovic’s legendary first tenure with Panathinaikos
Obradovic is more than just a former Panathinaikos coach. He is the architect of the club’s golden era, the man who helped turn OAKA into one of Europe’s most feared arenas and Panathinaikos into a continental superpower.
Between 1999 and 2012, he led the Greens to five EuroLeague titles, 11 Greek League titles and seven Greek Cups, building a legacy that still shapes the club’s expectations today.
His teams were built on discipline, intelligence, defensive toughness and a deep connection with the crowd.
Panathinaikos has spent recent years trying to restore the aura of its greatest period. The club returned to the European elite under Ataman, but the latest EuroLeague and domestic setbacks have highlighted the need for a new direction.
At 66, Obradovic remains the most decorated coach in European basketball history. His résumé includes nine EuroLeague titles with five different clubs, an achievement unmatched in the sport.
He last coached Partizan Belgrade from 2021 to 2025, winning two ABA League titles and coming close to reaching the 2023 EuroLeague Final Four.
Obradovic stepped down in November 2025 despite strong backing from the club’s supporters.
Why Zeljko Obradovic Is The Best European Coach Ever
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