Željko Obradović Reveals What He Asked Management for Vanja Marinković: "Others Also Had Offers to Return..." /VIDEO/

Pulse Sports Team 17:40 - 21 September 2026

Luka Mihajlović and Bogdan Milenković, hosts of the 6.75 podcast, welcomed Željko Obradović to their show, where the role of captain was a topic, naturally leading to a discussion about Vanja Marinković.

Why Željko Obradović Left Partizan

Željko Obradović, a living legend of Serbian basketball and Europe's most decorated coach, spoke glowingly about Vanja Marinković, revealing he had asked the club's management to offer the Partizan captain a new, improved contract.

Obradović also noted that Marinković returned to the club despite having more lucrative offers than the one he received from the "Steamroller."

Vanja returned to Partizan at a time when he could have secured better offers. Before I left, I discussed with the management the need to offer Vanja a new, better contract, one he deserves, so he could remain a legendary Partizan captain until the end of his career. I would love for that to happen, and I wish him all the best. What they decide is beyond my influence. Željko Obradović

Whether he intended to subtly criticize anyone or not, Obradović pointed out that Vanja wasn't the only player offered a return to Partizan, but he was the only one who actually took it.

He was exceptionally fair when he returned to Partizan, where there was an opportunity for other players to come back as well; they had offers, but they didn't return. That's their right, and we won't accuse anyone.

Željko Obradović