The Slovenian Basketball Federation have today decided to part ways with head coach Bozidar Maljkovic following a fifth place finish at Eurobasket 2013.
This means that Slovenia will have a new coach at next summer’s FIBA World Cup.
Maljkovic joined the Slovenian national team in 2011 where he led them to a seventh placed finish at Eurobasket in Lithuania before finishing three places higher in their own backyard this past summer.
After three years time, [it] has come time to part ways with Slovenian Basketball Federation,” Majjkovic said.
“It doesn’t mean I’m saying goodbye to Slovenian basketball and or that I will lose interest in its results. I have informed the delegation of Slovenian basketball federation, led by Iztok Rems, Matej Avanzo and Raso Nesterovic, of my decision in a friendly atmosphere when they visited me in Belgrade.”
The veteran ex-Euroleague coach leaves the national team with good memories, and believes that Slovenia are one of the favourites to finish on the podium next year in Spain.
“I can say that this was an excellent period of time for me,” Maljkovic commented. “The cooperation with the players and the staff was excellent. I think we have managed to create a young and ambitious team. At the World Cup, where we qualified, they have to aim for the medal as one of the favourites.”
Quotes were taken from an interview on RTV SLO.
