FC Bayern Munich has turned to a familiar figure as it looks to stabilize its season, announcing the return of Svetislav Pesic as head coach through the end of the campaign. The club confirmed the move on Monday, December 22, following the early departure of Gordon Herbert.
Pesic, 76, replaces Herbert on short notice after Bayern and the Canadian coach mutually agreed to part ways over the weekend. The decision came amid a prolonged downturn in the EuroLeague, where the German champions are enduring their worst losing streak in club history.
Bayern has dropped eight straight EuroLeague games and sits 19th in the standings at 5–12 through 17 rounds. The team holds a minus-117 point differential and has struggled significantly on the road, posting a 1–9 away record while allowing 1,440 points.
Despite those European difficulties, the Munich side remains near the top of the Bundesliga table and is still active across domestic competitions. That contrast sharpened internal discussions about the direction of the season and the need for a reset on the bench.
Pesic’s appointment brings experience and institutional knowledge. He previously coached Bayern from 2012 to 2016, guiding the club to its first Bundesliga title in 2014 and laying the groundwork for its modern EuroLeague presence.
Club sporting director Dragan Tarlac cited that familiarity as a key factor in the decision. He said Pesic’s understanding of Munich, Bayern, and both domestic and European competitions should allow for a quick transition at a critical point of the schedule.
The Serbian coach most recently served as national team head coach until the past summer. In 2024, he led Serbia to the Olympic bronze medal, defeating Germany in the third-place game.
Pesic’s résumé spans decades at the highest level of European basketball. His achievements include a World Championship title in 2002, European Championship victories with Germany in 1993 and Yugoslavia in 2001, and a EuroLeague title with FC Barcelona in 2003 as part of a domestic and continental treble.
Several current Bayern figures have prior ties to Pesic. Playmaker Stefan Jovic and captain Vladimir Lucic both played under him at international level, while Tarlac previously worked within the Serbian federation during Pesic’s tenure.
Herbert departs after one and a half seasons, during which Bayern won the 2025 Bundesliga title and reached the EuroLeague Play-Ins. Tarlac stressed that injuries, roster turnover, schedule congestion, and Herbert’s illness-related absence also contributed to the recent slump.
Pesic was introduced to the squad on Monday afternoon and appeared alongside club president Herbert Hainer and Tarlac at a press conference. His first test arrives immediately, with Bayern hosting Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv in a EuroLeague home game on Tuesday night at the SAP Garden.
