Zeljko Obradovics return sparks Panathinaikos 50m budget surge

Zeljko Obradovic’s return to Panathinaikos has triggered an immediate financial and sporting surge at the Greek basketball powerhouse, with the club’s budget now projected to exceed €50 million for the 2026-27 season. The club confirmed on Sunday that the Serbian coach’s second stint at the helm will coincide with a record-breaking budget, a figure that dwarfs last season’s outlay and underscores the scale of ambition under new ownership.

Panathinaikos has already committed nearly €3 million to secure the signature of French midfielder Etienne Kamara, a player the club describes as a cornerstone of its rebuilding project. Kamara, who spoke to PAO TV on Sunday, said he had made “the best choice” in joining the Greens, citing conversations with technical director Stefanos Kotsolis and head coach Jakob Nyström as decisive factors. “I want to help bring Panathinaikos back to the top,” Kamara told the club’s official channel.

The club’s management will formally unveil Obradovic at a press conference scheduled for Monday at 13:00 local time in the new lounge of the T-Center, the club’s headquarters. A video tribute released by the basketball department on Sunday captured the emotional resonance of Obradovic’s return, a moment that has galvanised supporters and investors alike.

Financial filings and statements from club officials indicate that the €50 million-plus budget will fund a roster overhaul, with additional marquee signings expected before the transfer window closes. The move reflects a strategic pivot under the club’s new leadership, which has pledged to restore Panathinaikos to domestic and European dominance after a period of relative decline.

Obradovic, a nine-time EuroLeague champion as a coach, last led the Greens between 2013 and 2016, a tenure that included a EuroLeague title in 2014. His return comes amid heightened expectations from fans, who have long viewed him as the missing piece in their pursuit of a sustained return to the summit of European basketball. The club’s decision to stage Monday’s presentation in the T-Center’s new lounge—rather than the traditional OAKA Arena—signals a modern, corporate approach to its sporting revival.

With the budget now set and key personnel in place, Panathinaikos enters a decisive phase in its rebuilding project. The coming weeks will reveal whether Obradovic’s star power can translate into on-court success and whether the club’s financial gamble will pay off.