Coach

Anzulović: We are favourites at the Final Four

Dražen Anzulović is Cibona's child. His father Vladimir, known as TV commentator, is one of the founders of the modern Cibona, the good spirit of the club, we might say. Already as a youngster the sport's hall was something like a home court for Dražen and for his younger brother Vladimir who is still playing basketball (this season in Kosovo). They spent most of their time on basketball grounds like Dražen's two sons from his marriage with volleyball coach Marija, 12-year-old Andro and 8-year-old Roko, do nowadays. The history is repeating ...

Dražen made his first appearance for Cibona's senior team in 1986 and played for it until 1990 when he signed for another city's team Zagreb. He stayed there until 1996 and moved to Osijek for a year after that. He was the European's Club Champion in 1986 and won the Yugoslavian National Cup in 1988. His ex-coaches Pešić, Novosel, Šakota, Božić all claim nowadays they knew he will also become a very good coach. They all knew he has the potential. Even he explains he was only a talented nonworker as a player and that might be the reason why is he so thorough and demanding as a coach.

Where else would he start his coaching career then in Cibona, first with cadets and juniors between 1998 and 2000. He was the head-coach of the Croatian's cadets in 2002 and the Croatian Champion with Cibona's juniors in 2000. He also graduated the coaching high-school in Zagreb.

I worked with Cibona's junior selections three years and six months and got a lot of experiences. After I retired as a player, I thought I am ready to take over the senior team. I thought I know everything about this bussiness. But I see only now how wrong I was. Without those three years I would not be where I am now.

After gathering the first experineces at the Cibona's bench he, again, moved to Zagreb. First as an assistent coach of Željko Poljak, his ex-teammate and a big friend, who succeeded the legendary Pepsi Božič. Anzulović then took over the senior team for the first time in 2001/02 season and made a hell of a job in Trnsko although he did not win a single trophy. But he was named the best Croatian coach in 2002.

His debut at the start of this season was not easy. Luckly, Zula is known by his good attitude toward the press. He possesses something special, the honestly he is appreaciated by. That is why the press gave him some time at the beginning, so the whole new team was able to adjuste to the new structure. Then he was criticized because of many rotations in the team but he kept his stance.

It was just necessary to work like that because of the exhausting rhythm Cibona is playing in. We were taking part in Euroleague, Goodyear League, the Croatian Cup and we still do in the Championship. When I was building the team, I followed the principe with 10 players plus two. We brought Sesar later when we did not know how long Sesar will be sidelined. The same was with Vranković. He came when Mamić was operated. But those are situations that are impossible to plan.

Many also reproached him that he does not allow players coming into the rhythm as he rotates them all the time.

That is not correct. I never tried to limit any of my players. That is a total nonsense. I did not like this even as a player, why would I follow this as a coach. According to my philosphy the team comes first and it is the team which will consecutively give the special player. It is the the same with the leader of the team. It is not me who has to determine the leader, it is the player who has to prove himself as the one in the team. That is the whole philosophy in sport.

He was very patience with James Scoonie Penn in the first two months and the American point-guard has been repaying him with his shows on he court until he injured ...

Penn was a newcomer at the beginning of the season and since he is a point guard he needed more time to adjust then any other player. Even his teammates had to adjust to his style. He is a great guy, I was aware of his great potential while I needed time to get to know his caracter. We gained a lot by bringing him into the team. Even I would be without many problems if he would be in the team now. Marko Popović who came as a replacement for Scoonie is also a very good player, ready to work and learn, but he also needs time to adjust. Beside that he also did not play a lot while he was in Spain.

Anzulović does not hide his ambitions in Goodyear League.

He are hosting this year's tournament. We ended the regular season at the top of the league's standing and it is very logical that our team is the favourit of the Final Four. I do not deny that but I am also not promising something. I can only say we will do everything to win this prestigious trophy. After reach years in the past Cibona did not win any title last season, therefore we have to end this season with at least one trophy. There are only two opportunities: Goodyear League and the Croatian Championship.

You signed a three-year contract with Cibona. What are your plans in the future?

I am very ambitious and I see myself as the head-coach of the Croatian National Team one day. I think the Croatian basketball has all the potential for the return to the old paths of glory. Regarding the club's career, I just need an ambitious club which is in a position to fullfil my demands. That was one of the reasons why I left Trnsko. It came to a point our ambitions were not the same any more. They were satisfied with what they achieved and did not want to invest into players more while I had another vision. But nonetheless, Zagreb will always remain my club ....