Dusko Ivanovic exonerated: explanation comes from Virtus Bologna
The exoneration of Dusko Ivanovic after Virtus Bologna’s defeat in Milan caught the entire Italian basketball world off guard. Meanwhile, the Black VUs return to the court in the Euroleague against Paris, and general manager Paolo Ronci has decided to go back on the club’s decision. Especially since the guidance of the experienced Montenegrin coach peaked in winning the 2025 Scudetto. The executive of the Felsinei then also dwelt on the decision to promote Nenad Jakovljevic.
“We are afraid to thank coach Ivanovic – Ronci explained to ‘Sky Sport’ -. We chose him in December last season because of his ability to have an immediate impact on the team. Then he led Virtus Bologna to win a scudetto. Even at the beginning of this season we managed to get big wins, for example, those with Real Madrid and Panathinaikos. But over the course of the season, negative locker room dynamics occurred. These became apparent to the point of forcing us to make a decision, which we then made.”
“Separating from Ivanovic is an important change,” Ronci insisted. “We preferred to promote Nenad Jakovljevic, because he already knows the team and the Virtus Bologna environment well. He has already been working with us for several years, and he has developed very good experiences with both Banchi and Ivanovic himself. Then he also works with Pesic in the national team. Therefore, aware that we were facing a change, we tried to move in the direction of continuity. Hence the decision to trust Nenad and our internal resources.”
Ronci finally focused on the commitments that await Virtus in the immediate future. “We have to look ahead, because we are expecting a very important end of the season,” the Virtus Bologna DG stressed.
In the Euroleague we want to play all the games with the right spirit, but above all we have to defend the Scudetto in the league.”
“Now is the time for our players to face the end of the season with a great sense of responsibility,” Ronci concluded. Virtus Bologna went into the Euroleague challenge against Paris with a roster of 13 wins and as many as 20 losses in Europe. In the championship, it remains the leader, but it is coming off a heavy defeat in the derby with Reggio Emilia (84-70).
