Svetislav Pešić announces retirement at the end of the season after legendary coaching career
A titan in the internationa coaching ranks will retire at the end of the season Photo Credit: FIBA Basketball
A major chapter in European basketball history is coming to a close. In an extensive exclusive interview with German publication Die Zeit this Tuesday, March 31st, Svetislav Pešić, current Bayern Munich head coach and legendary figure of national teams (Serbia, Yugoslavia and Germany), officially announced he will retire at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
At 76 years old, the man affectionately nicknamed « Kari » feels it’s time to step away from the stress of high-level coaching to focus on his family and roots, marking the end of a career spanning over four decades. « As I approach the end of my life, I can no longer be a coach. I know people won’t believe me when I say I’m retiring. But after this season, it’s really enough, » expressed the dual Serbian-German national in the German weekly.
An unmatched legacy across Europe
Pešić isn’t just leaving the court, he’s leaving behind an almost unparalleled legacy. He remains one of the few men to have won the EuroLeague both as a player (with Bosna Sarajevo in 1979) and as a coach (with FC Barcelona in 2003, during the Catalan club’s first historic title). His tactical genius has shone both in club and national team settings.
After a playing career of about fifteen years, he is the only coach to have led two different nations to the top of Europe: Germany in 1993, creating a historic surprise at home, then Yugoslavia in 2001. He has also won medals at the world level, with gold at the 2002 World Cup with Yugoslavia, silver in 2023 with Serbia and of course Olympic bronze in Paris 2024 with Nikola Jokic‘s squad.
The Serbian tactician has always been drawn to ambitious projects and rebuilding giants. From his four consecutive Bundesliga titles with ALBA Berlin to his memorable stint at Bayern Munich, he has been one of the architects of German basketball’s revival. However, this final 2025-2026 season, after five years away from EuroLeague courts, Bayern remains stuck in 15th position. Pešić had been urgently recalled in late December to succeed Gordon Herbert. The Bavarian club’s play-in hopes have long been buried, even though they are conversely leaders in the Bundesliga.
Svetislav Pesic va prendre sa retraite à la fin de la saison ❗
Un palmarès incroyable 🙏#EuroLeague pic.twitter.com/6krER7SSA0
— The Upset Media (@TheUpset_media) March 31, 2026
A new chapter beyond coaching
In his Die Zeit interview, Pešić explains he now wants to enjoy his house in Barcelona and spend more time in his hometown of Pirot. However, the « professor » doesn’t plan to disappear completely from the radar. He expressed his desire to continue sharing his knowledge through conferences and training sessions for young coaches. « Once a coach, always a coach, » he confided. While he emphasizes that his body can no longer keep up with the frantic pace of EuroLeague games, his mind will remain eternally focused on the courts.
Comments (0)