Belgrade, January 23 (AP) - Bozidar Maljkovic, a well-traveled coach with four European club titles, will guide world champion Yugoslavia in its drive for the gold medal at next year's Olympics in Athens.
Maljkovic, 50, was the only candidate proposed by a special commission of the Yugoslav Basketball Association and he is expected to be officially confirmed Friday.
His three-year contract will include this year's European Championship in Sweden, next year's Olympics and the 2005 Europeans in Belgrade.
Maljkovic replaces Svetislav Pesic, who led Yugoslavia to its fifth World Championship title last year in Indianapolis. Pesic is also the coach of Barcelona in Spain and said he could not combine the two jobs. Maljkovic, who is also in Spain, is expected to remain coach of Unicaja Malaga.
Maljkovic's previous coaching career included such clubs as Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Limoges and Paris St. Germain. Before going abroad, Maljkovic won three European club championships with Jugoplastika Split, which boasted such players as Toni Kukoc and Dino Radja, who went on to become NBA stars.
Maljkovic inherits a Yugoslav team loaded with NBA players that will be one of the main contenders for the Olympic gold medal next year in Athens. One of its stars is Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings. Yugoslavia has eight European titles and one Olympic gold.
Who is Bozidar "Boza" Maljkovic
Date and Place of Birth: April 20, 1952, Belgrade.
Head Coach:
1971-1979: USCE Belgrade.
1979-1981: OKK RADNICKI Belgrade.
Coach Assistant:
1981-1986: RED STAR Belgrade.
Head Coach:
1986-1990: JUGOPLASTIKA Split.
1990-1991: BARCELONA (Spain).
1991-1992: BARCELONA (Spain)/LIMOGES (France).
1992-1995: LIMOGES.
1995-1997: PANATHINAIKOS (Greece).
1997-1998: PARIS SG (France).
1999-2003: UNICAJA MALAGA (SPAIN).
HIGHLIGHTS
- Champion of Europe with Jugoplastika twice;
- Champion of Europe with Limoges;
- Champion of Europe with Panathinaikos;
- Champion of Yugoslavia with Jugoplastika;
- Champion of Spain with Barcelona;
- Champion of France with Limoges;
- Champion of Greece with Panathinaikos;
- Winner of Korac Cup with Unicaja;
