Partizan Mozzartbet Belgrade officially announced Joan Penarroya as the club’s new head coach on Tuesday, December 23, following Zeljko Obradovic’s resignation. The Spanish coach, 56, arrived in Belgrade Monday evening and will take over the team immediately.
Penarroya, who has previously led Barcelona, Baskonia, Valencia, Manresa, Burgos, and Andorra, brings significant experience in European basketball. He won two FIBA Champions League titles (2020, 2021) and a FIBA Intercontinental Cup with Burgos.
The new coach signed a contract covering the remainder of this season and the next, reportedly worth €1 million, signaling Partizan’s commitment to a long-term rebuild. He will be assisted by Uros Dragicevic, formerly of Fuenlabrada and Monaco, as the team looks to strengthen its coaching staff.
Partizan has struggled in the EuroLeague, sitting 17th with a 6-11 record after a 41-point loss to Zalgiris Kaunas. Interim coach Mirko Ocokoljic provided short-term stability, but consecutive heavy defeats underscored the need for a permanent solution.
Penarroya’s debut in Belgrade will come after training on Tuesday following the team’s return from Slovenia. The Spanish coach faces the immediate challenge of integrating a roster featuring Carlik Jones, Duane Washington, and Sterling Brown, who are leading contributors in scoring and playmaking.
Jones averages 11.4 points and 5.2 assists per game, while Washington posts 14.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, complemented by Brown’s 13.8 points on 58.3% shooting. Penarroya’s task is to harness this talent and implement a system that enhances both offensive and defensive cohesion.
The club’s broader restructuring includes the appointment of Zarko Paspalj as sporting director, part of a strategy to stabilize Partizan and return to competitiveness in domestic and European play. Penarroya’s arrival, endorsed by former players such as Vanja Marinkovic and Jabari Parker, represents a decisive step toward that goal.
Partizan will host Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv in their next game on Friday, December 26, marking Penarroya’s first competitive test with the team. The club hopes his leadership can reverse its recent struggles and lay the foundation for long-term success in the EuroLeague.
