Monaco GM Oleksiy Yefimov broke down the reasons that triggered Sasa Obradovic's dismissal and described the profile of his ideal successor.
Just a few days after Sasa Obradovic's dismissal from AS Monaco, which made the Serbian coach the firstEuroLeague tactician to lose his job this season, the club's GM Oleksiy Yefimov explained the reasons that led to the two sides parting ways.
"Consistency and stability have been central to our team’s identity under Sasa’s leadership. While we’ve often struggled at the start of seasons, we’ve always found our rhythm and delivered stable performances. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case this time," Yefimov told Nice Matin.
"Despite maintaining a positive winning percentage in the Euroleague, the team has struggled to deliver consistent, high-quality basketball," the Ukrainian executive continued.
"We’ve fallen into concerning habits and have yet to find the rhythm that defines a true title contender. This inconsistency made the decision inevitable. With our sights set on the highest goals, we believed a coaching change was the only way to shake things up, refocus the team, and rebuild the habits needed to compete with the EuroLeague's elite."
The decision to part ways with Obradovic came after Monaco's home loss to Le Mans on Sunday, which left the team with a 5-3 record in the French League. In the EuroLeague, Monaco hold a 6-4 record, tied for seventh place.
"It was incredibly tough, especially when you consider the longstanding relationship we’ve built," Yefimov maintains.
"Sasa has been more than a coach; he’s been a guiding force behind some of our most memorable victories and our most challenging setbacks. He deserves true recognition for his work, particularly for leading the team to three consecutive EuroLeague playoff appearances and a historic Final Four in 2023. This achievement solidified Monaco’s place as a EuroLeague powerhouse. That legacy will forever be a part of Sasa’s and the club’s history," Yefimov praised the team's ex-coach.
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LDLC ASVEL VilleurbanneObradovic, 55, took over as Monaco's head coach in December 2021. He was on an expiring deal, which ran until the end of this season. Under his leadership, the team won French championships in 2023 and 2024.
"In sports, it’s often the coach who feels the most heat when things don’t go as planned," Yefimov reflected.
"But let’s be honest - we all share responsibility. Whether it’s management, firstly myself, the players, we’ve all made decisions and actions that led us to where we are now. Sasa isn’t the only one to blame; we’re all in this together and we all carry a part of this responsibility," Monaco's GM admitted.
Following Obradovic's dismissal, former assistant coach Manu Markoishvili was named interim coach until someone else takes over. He will be the one to guide the team on Thursday against ASVEL.
"Our immediate focus is on showing the right attitude and a fighting mentality on the court. We want to see players giving their all, leaving everything on the floor," Yefimov asked.
"In the long term, we aim to bring in not just a coach but a strategist with the mindset and vision to lead this team to the very top. We're still in the early stages of discussions with potential candidates, so it's too soon to make bold statements or reveal any specific names at this point," he clarified.
Despite a difficult start to the season and recent changes, Yefimov says expectations in Monaco are still high.
"Before the season, the president made it clear - we must dominate in France and maintain our consistency as a Final Four contender. Achieving both remains our plan, even in the face of current challenges," he argued, and stressed that he expects more from the players.
"Absolutely. And I’m not just talking about individual performance," he said.
"It’s about showing a willingness to sacrifice for the team, supporting teammates, demonstrating better body language, and showing real determination and fighting spirit. Those qualities are non-negotiable if we want to succeed."
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