[REVISION HISTORY]

Panathinaikos rebuild: Obradović returns to lead new era

Updated 11 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-09 18:32 UTC → 2026-09-11 12:12 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Panathinaikos is undergoing a massive structural overhaul, centered on the return of legendary head coach Željko Obradović on a three-year deal through 2029. To support him, the club has revamped its technical staff, including the return of Mike Batiste as an assistant coach and Dimitris Diamantidis in an administrative capacity. As preseason preparations continue, the club has added new talent, including French power forward Gerson Yambele and recent signing Branco Diop. Diop described the training environment as highly professional and noted that discussions with Obradović are helping him understand his specific role and the team’s intended style of play. To foster team unity, owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos hosted a meal for the players, coaching staff, and employees at an estate in Attica. During the gathering, Obradović expressed gratitude for the opportunity to return, noting his joy in reuniting with players he has worked with for 13 years. In a gesture of appreciation, team captain Kostas Sloukas presented Giannakopoulos with a framed photograph capturing an emblematic moment in the club's history. As the team moves toward competitive play, Panathinaikos is set to face AEK in the 2nd International Tournament Rhodes 2026. This matchup marks a significant moment for the club, featuring Obradović’s return ~~continues~~ to ~~draw significant attention from~~ the ~~basketball community. Guard Aleksa Avramović, reflecting on his time under Obradović at Partizan Belgrade, compared~~ sidelines. However, the ~~coach’s demanding style to that of Sir Alex Ferguson, noting his focus on using video analysis~~ team faces challenges with several key absences due to ~~help players reach their potential. Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dimitris Itoudis previously characterized the appointment~~ injuries, including Nigel Hayes-Davis, Kostas Sloukas, and Mathias Lessort. The tournament will serve as ~~an “excellent move” that benefits both the club~~ a testing ground for new signings such as Sylvain Francisco, Branko Banio, and ~~European basketball.~~ Isaac Bonga, alongside 16-year-old prospect Iasonas Varvaritis.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.