AS Monaco Basketball sacks Sasa Obradovic

Sasa Obradovic became a household name in the French city of Monaco after helping AS Monaco Basketball to back-to-back LNB Elite Pro A titles in 2023 and 2024.

However, the 1996 Olympic Games silver medalist with Yugoslavia was handed an unceremonious exit due to the poor run of form of his team in the French top basketball league.

On Monday, Monaco announced the mutual termination of Obradovic’s contract after their 86-74 loss to Le Mans on Sunday.

The announcement marked the end of the 55-year-old’s second stint at the club. His initial spell was between 2019 and 2020.

Obradovic became a fan favourite on the coast after leading Monaco to their first continental title in 2021. They defeated Russian club BC UNICS in the EuroCup and became the first French team to lift the title in history.

The victory propelled Monaco to make their first-ever appearance in the EuroLeague in 2021-22 but they did not make it past the playoffs with defeat to Olympiacos.

In 2023, Obradovic made history with Monaco by winning the domestic double.  AS Monaco Basketball hoisted the French Cup and the LNB Elite Pro A trophies.

With his experience in France, Obradovic replicated the feat a year later for Monaco’s second league trophy after dominating Paris Basketball 3-1 in the playoffs final.

It did not take long for the heroic coach to fall out of favor in Monaco. His team had a poor start to the 2024-25 season. Obradovic and the club management decided to part ways six months after their league title.

Monaco Basket are sixth in the LNB Pro A after nine games. They occupy seventh position in the EuroLeague after 10 matches.

Monaco decided to part ways with Obradovic on Monday after the team suffered back-to-back home defeats. The first came against Crvena Zvezda in the EuroLeague, then against Le Mans in the French first division.

“AS Monaco Basket and Sasa Obradovic have decided to end their collaboration by mutual agreement, read Monaco’s statement.

“Sasa Obradovic has brought rigor and worked tirelessly since the start of this adventure in December 2021, after a first stint from 2019 to 2020. With him in charge, we won two French championship titles, a French Cup, a EuroLeague Final Four, and two playoff appearances on the European stage.

“The name of Sasa Obradovic is forever inscribed in the history of the Roca Team. The management and staff sincerely thank him for the work he accomplished.

“Manuchar Markoishvili will act as interim head coach. Thanks for everything, Coach Sasa!”

Undoubtedly in high demand, Obradovic is expected to secure a new job soon. He could also take a break from the sports he has been playing since 1987.

For Monaco, they did not waste time to turn their home form around. They picked up a 103-92 win against ASVEL Lyon Villeurbanne on their home court in the EuroLeague on Thursday.

Manuchar Markoishvili will continue his interim role when Monaco travel to Athens to face Panathinaikos in another EuroLeague game on November 29.