Union Olimpija Ljubljana name Memi Becirovic head coach
Becirovic signs a deal for the season
The management of BC Union Olimpija Ljubljana decided to change the head coach after the loss in semifinal of Slovenian Cup. Coach Memi Bečirović will be in charge of the first team until end of the season.
Jani Möderndorfer, president of Union Olimpija: "It was not an easy decision, because we had good results in EuroCup and ABA League. We also managed to promote and put on highest level few young players, which are the future of the club. We needed to react after the loss in Slovenian Cup, because the team needs new energy and different approach. We decided that coach Bečirović is suitable for the job. We want to end the season successfully in ABA League and Slovenian Championship. We agreed with coach Bečirović until end of the season. I want to say thank you to coach Pipan for the effort, professionalism and everything he did for the club in last two seasons."
Memi Bečirović, head coach of Union Olimpija: "I am following Union Olimpija whole season and I can say that team is young and very likable. I believe we can still achieve the goals in front of us. I am satisfied that the club management saw in me a coach, who is able to continue the work and finish the season with good result. It is nice to see that also few young prospects are already knocking on the door of senior team. I know it will not be easy, because the team looks mentally down and we also have problems with injuries. Firstly, I will talk to my coaching staff and players, and then we will start preparing for the following game in Skopje."
Memi Bečirović started his coaching career in his home town of Slovenska Bistrica, where he coached for seven years. In this period, his team got promoted twice from second to first Slovenian division. In 1993, he moved to Maribor, where he took over cadet team of Maribor Branik, and surprisingly right away qualified to final four. In 1995, he started his coaching job at Bawaria Voltex, where he was in charge of all youth teams. He led cadet team to first place and junior team to second place in championship. In 1997, he became head coach of Satex in Slovenian first division. Before the 1999/2000 season, he moved to Union Olimpija, where he continued working as youth coach. In first season, he won junior championship. Before the start of 2002/2003 season, he became head coach of Rogla. Bečirović managed to lead a team, which was considered as relegation based, to eight place in Slovenian League. He coached in Elektra during 2003/2004 season, and lead the team to quarterfinals of Slovenian League playoff. In next season, he moved to Italy, where he took over Rimini. He finished the Italian second division on 6th place. In 2005/2006, he returned to Slovenia, where he took over Helios. In his first season, the team reached semis of Slovenian League. In next one, his team managed to win the Slovenian Championship and Slovenian Cup. He was chosen as best Slovenian head coach of the year. In 2007/2008, he moved to Union Olimpija but stayed there only until half of season. He moved to Ukrainian Azovmash later on. He managed to win Ukrainian Cup and Championship, and also became head coach of the year. In 2009/2010, he coached Oostende in Belgium, until March 2010, when he decided to accept the offer to coach Slovenian National Team. He coached Mahram Teheran in 2012/2013. From end of February 2015, he again took over Union Olimpija Ljubljana.
Bečirović also has rich experience in coaching youth and senior national teams. He was assistant coach in Slovenian U20 team in 1997 and also assistant coach in senior team in 2001. He was head coach of U20 Slovenian NT, which took second place at EC 2002 in Germany. In 2010, he took over senior NT of Slovenia as head coach. He coached them to 8th place at World Championship in Turkey. From 2012 on, he coached Iran NT, and won two Asian Cups and Asian Championship. He also was second at Asian Games in 2014. He coached Iran also at World Championship 2014 in Spain.
Jani Möderndorfer, president of Union Olimpija: "It was not an easy decision, because we had good results in EuroCup and ABA League. We also managed to promote and put on highest level few young players, which are the future of the club. We needed to react after the loss in Slovenian Cup, because the team needs new energy and different approach. We decided that coach Bečirović is suitable for the job. We want to end the season successfully in ABA League and Slovenian Championship. We agreed with coach Bečirović until end of the season. I want to say thank you to coach Pipan for the effort, professionalism and everything he did for the club in last two seasons."
Memi Bečirović, head coach of Union Olimpija: "I am following Union Olimpija whole season and I can say that team is young and very likable. I believe we can still achieve the goals in front of us. I am satisfied that the club management saw in me a coach, who is able to continue the work and finish the season with good result. It is nice to see that also few young prospects are already knocking on the door of senior team. I know it will not be easy, because the team looks mentally down and we also have problems with injuries. Firstly, I will talk to my coaching staff and players, and then we will start preparing for the following game in Skopje."
Memi Bečirović started his coaching career in his home town of Slovenska Bistrica, where he coached for seven years. In this period, his team got promoted twice from second to first Slovenian division. In 1993, he moved to Maribor, where he took over cadet team of Maribor Branik, and surprisingly right away qualified to final four. In 1995, he started his coaching job at Bawaria Voltex, where he was in charge of all youth teams. He led cadet team to first place and junior team to second place in championship. In 1997, he became head coach of Satex in Slovenian first division. Before the 1999/2000 season, he moved to Union Olimpija, where he continued working as youth coach. In first season, he won junior championship. Before the start of 2002/2003 season, he became head coach of Rogla. Bečirović managed to lead a team, which was considered as relegation based, to eight place in Slovenian League. He coached in Elektra during 2003/2004 season, and lead the team to quarterfinals of Slovenian League playoff. In next season, he moved to Italy, where he took over Rimini. He finished the Italian second division on 6th place. In 2005/2006, he returned to Slovenia, where he took over Helios. In his first season, the team reached semis of Slovenian League. In next one, his team managed to win the Slovenian Championship and Slovenian Cup. He was chosen as best Slovenian head coach of the year. In 2007/2008, he moved to Union Olimpija but stayed there only until half of season. He moved to Ukrainian Azovmash later on. He managed to win Ukrainian Cup and Championship, and also became head coach of the year. In 2009/2010, he coached Oostende in Belgium, until March 2010, when he decided to accept the offer to coach Slovenian National Team. He coached Mahram Teheran in 2012/2013. From end of February 2015, he again took over Union Olimpija Ljubljana.
Bečirović also has rich experience in coaching youth and senior national teams. He was assistant coach in Slovenian U20 team in 1997 and also assistant coach in senior team in 2001. He was head coach of U20 Slovenian NT, which took second place at EC 2002 in Germany. In 2010, he took over senior NT of Slovenia as head coach. He coached them to 8th place at World Championship in Turkey. From 2012 on, he coached Iran NT, and won two Asian Cups and Asian Championship. He also was second at Asian Games in 2014. He coached Iran also at World Championship 2014 in Spain.
E. Carchia
@Sportando
You must be registered to post a comment