Maljkovic handed coaching reins at Fenerbahce Safiport

ISTANBUL (Turkey) - Fenerbahce Safiport have reacted to their disappointment at missing out on a first EuroLeague Women title by replacing head coach Victor Lapena with FIBA Women''s EuroBasket 2021 champion Marina Maljkovic.

No stranger to Istanbul, Maljkovic propelled city rivals Galatasaray to the top of the EuroCup Women podium in 2018 and will now start working on the other side of the Bosphorus to help Fenerbahce turn the page.

Huge favorites to win EuroLeague Women with home court advantage and 9,500 fans backing them, Fenerbahce Safiport came up short in the Final on April 10, as Sopron Basket prevailed 60-55.

While the main expectation for Maljkovic will be to go one step further and take next season's prestigious silverware, she has the immediate priority of making sure Fenerbahce Safiport hang onto their Turkish Championship crown.

"FIBA competitions are where I feel at home and EuroLeague Women is the place I want to be at this moment. The timing is right for me and Turkey is already a country that I know very well," Maljkovic told told euroleaguewomen.basketball.

“Turkey, with the development of players and at the same time big investment in women’s sport, is a country that deserves big respect from all of us working in women’s basketball.

“It also deserves the best and titles. I have already brought one title in 2018 to Turkey and this time I will try to bring the biggest one," she added.

The play-caller brings vast international experience to the table from her amazing track record and historic achievements with Serbia, having also coached at club level in France, China and most recently with Denso Iris in Japan's WJBL..

FIBA