Spanish basketball podcast Tirando a Fallar has sat down for an in-depth conversation with Josep María Izquierdo, Željko Obradović’s assistant coach at Panathinaikos. The Spanish coach discussed not only the building of Athens’ green giant, but also the turbulent and intense spell he and the legendary Serbian coach spent at Partizan Belgrade. In a revealing interview, Izquierdo reflects on Panathinaikos’ promising start to the season, offers an inside look at the locker room, explains his unwavering loyalty to the coach from Čačak, and examines the rebuilding of a club expected to contend for every major title in Europe.
Panathinaikos have made a flawless start to the EuroLeague regular season, winning all four of their opening games, while also remaining unbeaten in the Greek League with a 2–0 record. Although they failed to lift the Greek Super Cup at the start of the campaign, Izquierdo puts that early setback into context by pointing to the considerable difficulties the team faced during preseason. At one point, as many as eight players were sidelined with injuries simultaneously, while the FIBA international windows further disrupted preparations.
Their EuroLeague start has also been shaped by an unusual scheduling quirk: all four of their opening games were played in front of their home fans at the OAKA Arena. Although the assistant coach was initially wary of such an unbalanced schedule, knowing how demanding the long road trips in the second half of the regular season would be, he acknowledges that playing those games at home has been a blessing. It has allowed the team to build chemistry and pick up crucial wins while injured players work their way back to fitness. “Right now, the important thing is to get wins. Could we pay for it in the second half of the season? It’s possible. Or maybe not—we’ll see,” he said.
The interview also explored the personal and professional relationship between Izquierdo and Obradović. After working together at Joventut Badalona, Fenerbahçe and Partizan, the pair reunited this summer following the Serbian coach’s appointment at Panathinaikos. The Catalan assistant explained his current philosophy in refreshingly straightforward terms: he would rather remain alongside Obradović, in what he describes as a “constant learning experience,” competing to win 70–80% of their games and enjoying a “permanent coaching clinic at every practice,” than take charge of projects as a head coach in unstable organisations or work with executives who think they can lecture him about basketball. “I’ve been on teams that win 14 games in an entire season, and day-to-day life becomes really tough in those situations,” he admitted. The two share a special bond, with Izquierdo claiming he can understand what Obradović wants in any given game situation with nothing more than a glance.
Their partnership has been hugely successful, bringing EuroLeague titles in Badalona and Istanbul. Yet it has also endured painful moments, particularly their traumatic departure from Partizan Belgrade a few months ago. Izquierdo recalled how Obradović decided to step aside at the Serbian club “out of sheer honesty and love for the organisation.” Feeling that the roster was no longer responding to his instructions, the legendary coach took full responsibility rather than leave the club facing an additional financial burden. “I told him we should get rid of the players who weren’t following us, but he said he didn’t want to put any further financial strain on Partizan,” Izquierdo revealed.
The interview comes just ahead of Panathinaikos’ trip to Belgrade to face Partizan this week, a game that is certain to be an emotional occasion. “I suppose Željko will receive the kind of welcome befitting his legendary status, but once the game starts, the fans will get behind their team, as they always do in such an extraordinary way,” he said.
The strain of that spell left Obradović seriously questioning whether he would ever coach again. However, the call from Panathinaikos reignited his passion for the game. Izquierdo highlighted the renewed energy and smile with which the Serbian coach began preseason in Athens. “A happy and motivated Željko is the best coach in the world,” he declared admiringly. “And at the very first practice, I saw a special smile on his face and thought, ‘Željko is back,’” he explained.
Panathinaikos’ project this season ranks among the most ambitious in the history of European basketball. Sylvain Francisco, Guerschon Yabusele, Isaac Bonga and Brancou Badio have bolstered an already talented roster. Asked whether this could be one of the greatest teams in EuroLeague history, Izquierdo avoided sweeping statements and instead offered a lesson in team-building. “A collection of great players doesn’t make a team. Our job is to build a real team,” he stressed.
For the Spanish coach, the key to success in a locker room full of stars lies in the players’ mindset. “The truly ‘good players’ are the ones who know how to put their egos aside and put ‘we’ at the centre of everything,” he warned. He praised the group’s response during the opening weeks of practice, highlighting its exemplary attitude and total commitment to the demanding daily standards set by Obradović. Beyond what happens on the court and in the locker room, Izquierdo also praised the first-class organisational structure surrounding the club under Dimitris Giannakopoulos, with whom he has had little direct contact so far. He described “a professional operation in which every department works with absolute precision.”
Meanwhile, Greek basketball is undergoing a clear transformation. After a period dominated by the duopoly of Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, historic clubs such as PAOK Thessaloniki —which have made significant investments and high-profile moves, including the acquisition of Cedi Osman— or Aris have also stepped up their spending. Izquierdo considers both Thessaloniki sides and AEK Athens “serious contenders capable of competing for every title” on the domestic front, a development that will raise the bar week after week.
