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Drazen Anzulovic, Cibona

The spirit of persistence that has helped Cibona fight the good fight in recent Euroleague seasons was very much evident in how our first head coach Fan Mail guest, Drazen Anzulovic, answered questions sent in from Zagreb and well beyond. Anzulovic, still 39, has got Cibona off to another respectable start in his fourth season on the team's bench. The fans know what a challenge it is for Cibona to keep succeeding, and in his Fan Mail answers, Anzulovic promised to keep the effort going. "In Cibona, I always try to make the best out of the team I have," Anzulovic said. "I would like it if Cibona could go a step forward financially, so we could compete with the best teams in Europe for the top. But the situation in Croatian sports at the moment does not allow it."


Hi Zula! First, congratulations for succeeding to stay so long as a Cibona's coach. Why is Cibona so good when it plays at home? I hope that this isn't your last season in Zagreb and that you will be leading Cibona in the following seasons.

Boris - Croatia

"I would like to know as well, because I try to convince my players that it is not important where you play, but how you play. Sometimes it is not possible to make it happen. I hope that it can be changed during this season. Thank you for your nice wishes."


The Zagreb fans are not supporting Cibona, but they are supporting all other Zagreb teams in different sports. In spite of good results, Drazen Petrovic Hall is almost always empty. Why is that so, and what can be done about it, not by the players, but by the management of the club?

Luka - Croatia

"My wish is that Cibona has tough supporters. In my vision, I would like the Bad Blue Boys, like Dinamo Zagreb has in soccer, to be in the hall, but it is a thing that management has to deal with."

Coach Anzulovic, how did you get into basketball? What path would you suggest for someone looking to make a career in basketball like you have?

Klemen K- - Ljubljana, Slovenia

"I have been in basketball since I was a little boy, a player in all categories. After my playing career, I got the chance to work with Cibona junior team, and through three-and-a-half years built my profile as a coach."

Hey Coach Zula. Nice to see that Euroleague.net is paying attention to one of the best coaches and persons I have ever met. I know you as a hard working player and now of course as a great coach. My question: What is your goal this year? Thanks

Denis Memic - Turkey




"Regards to my friend Denis, I hope we will se each other in Istanbul soon and then we will have a chance to talk about everything. My goal is simply to have this team reach its potential."

Hi, Drazen. Since you have been coach of Cibona, the team has always done remarkably well even though it has one of the smallest budgets in the whole Euroleague. You always overachieve but often the team has to let players go and start all over again. Does this anger you, or is it just the way it has to be with my beloved Cibona Zagreb?

Jan Zalar - London

"It is my satisfaction. In Cibona, I always try to make the best out of the team I have. I would like it if Cibona could go a step forward financially, so we could compete with the best teams in Europe for the top. But the situation in Croatian sports at the moment does not allow it."

Hello, Coach. How is your team coping with covering the gap left from key players of last season who left for other clubs?

Angelos Georgiou - Pireaus, Greece

"Very hard. We have plenty experience with these situations. Every year it becomes harder and harder."

Hello Mr. Anzulovic, First of all I would like to congratulate you for a great start to the new Euroleague season. Do you think great European clubs from small but basketball crazy countries, like Cibona or Zalgiris, have a chance to deny today's big guns? Since Zalgiris won in 1999, only big names and big budgets are winning. Regards,

Kestas Cesnulevicius - Lithuania




"I think that at the moment situation in European club basketball is drastically different, and I agree with you that clubs with middle or lower financial capacity can hardly compete with quality of financially stronger clubs."

Mr. Azulovic, which teams do you think are favorites to win the Euroleague this season? Do you believe that Cibona have an outside chance of reaching that stage?

Claudio - USA

"For me the first favorite is CSKA. Barcelona, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Tau Ceramica and Maccabi are other candidates for the rest of the places in the Final Four. Regarding Cibona, I do not think the Final Four is realistic, but we have a right to hope for the best."

Hi. Can you tell me if any Cibona youth teams will play district championships? Are you planning to buy any new players? Good luck in Euroleague!

Marko - Medjumurje, Croatia

"Thank you for the nice wishes. Cibona youth teams will probably play some regional championships. Regarding new players, we are planning to make our team better inside our financial boundaries."

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