Ataman leaves Panathinaikos after a very tough season
The Turkish coach leaves Athens after a challenging 2025-26 campaign in which the Greek team only won the national Cup and missed out on the Euroleague Final Four.
The Panathinaikos has decided to part ways with Ergin Ataman after three seasons marked by varied results. Although the Turkish coach's contract included guarantees for the next season, the Athenian club has chosen not to continue with his project. Zeljko Obradovic emerges as the top candidate to take over the bench and return to the Greek capital.
The decision comes in the context of disappointing results in the 2025-26 season. Panathinaikos only managed to add one trophy to its collection: the Greek Cup. This single national title was insufficient to alleviate the pressure accumulated after a season full of setbacks. The team's absence from the EuroLeague Final Four held in Athens in 2026 and the subsequent loss in the Greek Stoiximan GBL Playoffs in 2025 marked a turning point in the relationship between the club and its coach.
Ataman arrived at Panathinaikos in 2023 with the goal of restoring European prestige to the Athenian team. In his first year at the helm, he managed to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in 2024, a milestone that became the third of his career after winning two consecutive championships with Anadolu Efes in 2021 and 2022. On the national level, his efforts resulted in a GBL title and two Cup trophies during his time in Athens.
In total, the Turkish coach accumulated four titles in three years with Panathinaikos, a record that Giannakopoulos, the club president, described as extraordinary. However, the trajectory was not linear. The last seasons were marked by difficulties that Giannakopoulos himself attributed to external factors, stating, "if we had not had this war against us, we would have more titles."
In a joint appearance with Giannakopoulos, Ataman expressed his pride in the work done in Athens. "I am proud to work for Panathinaikos. I am proud to have won these four incredible titles in these three years, including the EuroLeague," said the Turkish coach. He also highlighted the support received from fans and the club's family during his tenure.
Ataman also acknowledged his satisfaction with the contribution he tried to make to relations between Turkey and Greece through basketball. However, he was also clear about the change of cycle: "Now is the time for a new era for all of us." His words reflected a respectful but definitive farewell, closing a chapter that, despite its successes, could not maintain the required competitive level in the end.
Giannakopoulos, on his part, was effusive in his praise for Ataman. "It was a dream to work with Ergin. He was, is, and always will be my favorite person in European basketball," the president stated. Giannakopoulos recalled how he managed to convince the Turkish coach to join the project when Panathinaikos was in 17th place in the standings. "He took us from 17th place to the top of Europe in a year," he emphasized.
The president also referred to the adverse context in which their joint work unfolded. Both, according to Giannakopoulos, are "fighters" who faced systemic obstacles. Despite these challenges, the tally of four titles in three years represents a significant achievement in the context of contemporary European basketball.
Obradovic as the top candidate
With Ataman's departure confirmed, attention shifts to his successor. Zeljko Obradovic tops the list of candidates to take over the Athenian bench. His return to Athens would mark a comeback to the Greek capital for the Serbian coach, who already has previous experience in the region.
The search for a new coach marks the beginning of a new phase for Panathinaikos. The club aims to regain consistency in the EuroLeague and maintain its competitiveness in domestic competitions. The 2025-26 season made it clear that the project requires significant adjustments to return to the levels of excellence reached in 2024.
Panathinaikos' decision not to renew Ataman, despite his four titles, reflects the extreme demand of elite professional basketball. In this context, even considerable achievements can be insufficient if an upward and consistent trajectory is not maintained. The Athenian club now faces the challenge of finding new technical leadership capable of rebuilding confidence and returning the team to the EuroLeague Final Four.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Ataman se va del Panathinaikos tras una temporada durísima
