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[SPORTS] · Greece · 52 sources

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Zeljko Obradovic returns to coach Panathinaikos after 14‑year hiatus

Serbian coach Zeljko Obradović has signed a three‑year deal to return to Panathinaikos, the Greek basketball club he led to five EuroLeague titles and eleven Greek championships between 1999 and 2012. The contract, reportedly worth up to €4 million per year, gives him full control over roster building. Panathinaikos president Dimitris Giannakopoulos announced the move on social media with the slogan “The history continues” and presented Obradović at a ceremony on 22 June at the Telekom Center (T‑Center), where thousands of fans greeted him with chants, smoke bombs and an embrace. Giannakopoulos said the return was “always on his mind” and framed it as the club’s effort to regain European supremacy. Serbian media noted that Obradović will be assisted by former players such as Mike Batiste and Vasilis Xanthopoulos, with a technical staff overhaul. The club expects a budget increase to around €50 million to support roster upgrades for the upcoming season.

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