For the first time in the history of Brazilian professional basketball, a woman will take command of a male team. The Serbia-Australian Jelena Todorovic It will be the new coach of the Fortalezathe Brazilian Basketball League reported Friday.
Born in Serbia and with Australian citizenship, Todorovicjust 31 years old, has an outstanding career and has been a key file in the development of international figures such as Giannis Giannis Antetokounmpo And the Australians, Patty Mills y Josh Goall with history in the NBA.
“I am here not only as a coach, but as a representative of my family, my people and my country. And I am totally committed to leaving a significant and lasting mark on Brazilian basketball. A footprint that transcends the victories and defeats, and that reaches the heart of the community,” said the young coach, the eve, during her official presentation.
To Todorovicthe role of coach is not something that she sees as a gender issue but as being “the right person” for that work.
“And I worked very hard to become that person,” he emphasized not before highlighting the legacy that Serbia has left in world basketball, which he said he felt “very proud.”
According to the Brazilian League statement, the young coach began playing in the Red star Serbio, where she later worked as a formator in base categories.
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As of 2013, he moved to Australia. There she consolidated her career as an assistant coach in several teams until 2022, when she returned to her country to be the assistant coach of the Serbian national team.
A year later he was part of the coaching staff of the Greek National Team, along with the renowned dimitris Itoudisone of the most outstanding figures of the Euroleagueand in 2024 he joined the coaching staff of the Spanish team.
Last year he was also part of the Euroleague coaches council, where he followed closely the work of clubs such as Real MadridEl Anatolia Efes and the Bayern from Munich, among others.
