This is Dušan Vujošević! Never-before-seen photo of the legendary coach published on the day of his passing /PHOTO/
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Among the many who paid tribute to the decorated coach was Professor Dr. Vladimir Koprivica, a long-time colleague and friend. He shared an emotional message on social media, accompanied by a photograph from their youth.
Dušan Vujošević (1959–2026). This photo is from 1978, taken from his student ID when he enrolled in the Higher Coaching School, where I was an assistant, secretary, and lecturer. That's when we first met. He was among the first to graduate. Life, and our beloved Partizan, later brought us together on the basketball court. We went through a lot together at Partizan, then with the Montenegrin national team, and continued our friendship and collaboration afterward. Dušan was a great coach who managed to combine the seemingly impossible: he developed young players, gave them opportunities, and achieved results. He didn't just educate players; he also mentored members of his coaching staff, creating both excellent players and coaches. In that regard, he was unique and unparalleled. Vladimir Koprivica
Koprivica emphasized Vujošević's demanding and passionate nature, always striving to extract the maximum from himself and others, both on and off the court.
And on a personal note – we loved and respected each other, collaborated brilliantly, but it was never easy. Everything underwent serious scrutiny, detailed analysis. He demanded unwavering dedication from all of us, especially from himself, to the point of self-destruction. I remember fierce timeouts, halftime locker room sessions, the hell during a game that most often turned into heaven, into victory. I also remember the complete exhaustion at the end of a game when we didn't even have the strength to celebrate... But Dušan only got angry when someone insulted his goddess, Basketball, as he saw her. It was as if they were insulting his mother, his daughter, his homeland. Then he was ready to kill and die for that love, to defend her honor. I also remember the end of a season with three titles, a long speech prepared for the players and coaching staff, which boiled down to just one sentence from him: "I wouldn't want any of you to think I don't love you." And then, a sudden departure from the meeting, in tears. We love you too, our great DUŠAN. It's time for you to do what you never allowed yourself – to rest. May you rest in peace, and a HUGE THANK YOU. Your Professor.
Throughout his career, Vujošević left a profound mark, particularly at KK Partizan, where he became the most decorated coach in the club's history. Under his leadership, the black-and-whites won numerous trophies and reached the EuroLeague Final Four in Paris. His work was also characterized by the development of many young players, to whom he gave opportunities and prepared for the biggest stage.
BONUS VIDEO: Duško Vujošević on Bogdanović, Crvena Zvezda, and Yugoslavia
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