Zelimir "Zeljko" Obradovic (b. 9 March 1960, Čačak) is a Serbian basketball coach and former professional basketball player. He has won a total of nine championships with five different teams in the EuroLeague, making him the head coach with the most championships in the tournament’s history. Obradovic is known in the basketball world by the nicknames "The Boss" and "The Lord of the Rings".

Zeljko Obradovic (AA)

Playing Career

He began his basketball career with Borac Čačak (1978–1984). In 1984 he transferred to Partizan. As a point guard, he was selected for the Yugoslav national team and won a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a gold medal at the 1990 FIBA World Championship.

In 1989 he was sentenced to two years in prison due to his responsibility in a traffic accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian.

Coaching Career

In 1991, while still an active player for Partizan and the Yugoslav national team, he accepted an offer from Partizan’s executive Dragan Kićanović to end his professional playing career and take over as head coach of the team.

In his first season as a coach at age 31 (1991–1992), he won the EuroLeague title with Partizan. Due to the Yugoslav Wars, Partizan played most of its home games in Fuenlabrada, Spain, and some in Istanbul during that season.

European Achievements

Throughout his career, Obradovic brought success and institutional stability to every club he coached. Below are his EuroLeague victories by team:

• Joventut Badalona (1994): During his time in Spain, he won the club’s first and only EuroLeague title.
• Real Madrid (1995): He led the "White Lightning" to the top of European basketball.
• Panathinaikos (1999–2012): He spent a total of 13 seasons with the Greek club, winning five EuroLeague titles (2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011) and numerous domestic trophies, becoming a club legend.
• Fenerbahçe (2013–2020): He closed one era and opened another in Turkish basketball. In 2017 he became the first head coach to bring the EuroLeague title to Türkiye by leading Fenerbahçe to victory. He took his team to the Final Four five times consecutively.

Leadership Philosophy

Obradovic’s success is explained not only by his tactical knowledge but also by the leadership model he established. The seven core principles that earned him the nickname "The Boss" are:

1. Building Trust: He establishes honest and solid trust relationships with his players.
2. Open Communication: He addresses problems directly with those involved, without avoidance.
3. Attention to Detail: He plans every centimeter of the court and every second of play.
4. Continuous Improvement: He never says "I know everything"; he continues learning every day.
5. Adaptability: He quickly adjusts to changing basketball trends and opposing tactics.
6. Emotional Intelligence: He knows when his players need firmness and when they need support.
7. Team Spirit: He prioritizes the success of the system and the team over individual talent.