"Once our new reinforcements arrive, we'll be ready to 'fight' everyone!" Obradović announces new season with PAO: We must function as a family

Pulse Sports Team 15:43 - 16 July 2026

Less than a month after being officially unveiled as Panathinaikos' new-old coach, Željko Obradović gave his first interview for the club's website.

In his initial interview, Obradović stated that a key factor in his return to Panathinaikos was his relationship with the club's owner, Dimitris Giannakopoulos.

"Our relationship has always been like family. Dimitris Giannakopoulos is committed to giving his all for Panathinaikos. Our conversation was incredibly open; we both recognized this as a genuine opportunity, and I want to thank him once again for bringing me back. I'm also thrilled that Mike Batiste and Dimitris Diamantidis have joined the coaching staff, and that we'll be working together again. A huge thank you to Dimitris Giannakopoulos for making it possible to bring them back." - Željko Obradović

After reportedly "losing" the locker room at Partizan last year, and subsequently leaving the black-and-whites, Obradović spoke to PAO's club website about the importance of unity and team atmosphere within the squad.

"I constantly repeat the same message: we must function as a family. I believe we have a great chance to create precisely the chemistry and atmosphere we desire." - Željko Obradović

He then discussed the playing roster...

"We already have an exceptionally strong roster, and with new reinforcements, we'll be ready to 'fight' against anyone. I've previously coached Kostas Sloukas, Mathias Lessort, and Isaac Bonga, which is a huge advantage as we know each other well. Now, the key is to build chemistry and mutual respect. We have immense individual quality in the team, but we must play as a unit. That's the essence of everything. The philosophy is simple: the team always comes before any individual, including myself." - Željko Obradović

Finally, Obradović emphasized that his top priority is for the team to show fight and desire, and for the fans to be satisfied.

"The present and what lies ahead are far more important than the past. I want to see a team that 'dies' on the court. I want our fans to leave every game happy because of the way we fought. For me, that's more important than anything else." - Željko Obradović

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