PODGORICA (Montenegro) - Legendary playmaker Jelena Skerovic will be at the helm of the Montenegro national team for FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019.

With her predecessor Roberto Iniguez having left his post recently, the federation have turned to one of the most respected players of the recent era of the European female game.

Skerovic was at the heart of her country's debut Women's EuroBasket appearance back in 2011 at the event and their continued presence ever since. Her prestigious career in EuroLeague and EuroCup Women, working under many of the leading coaches on the continent should prove valuable for what is about to come as she swaps her playing shoes for the play board.

"It is a great honor to be the first woman at the helm of a senior national team in Montenegro," stated Skerovic.

"I am proud of this, since it is a great opportunity and I would like to thank the leaders of the federation.

"The only thing I can promise is a lot of work. My goal is to create a national team culture  in order to achieve a continuity of good results, as it used to be so, when we constantly advanced to the Women's EuroBasket.

"We do not have a great base and we have to use it well and work with what we have. I have always entered the games with the desire to give my maximum and I expect the players to do their best, so that there is nothing to regret when the game ends."

She added: "As a player, I played on a position that is practically being the right hand to a coach, so there is no unknown to me when it comes to basketball.

"What is a big plus is the fact that I played with most basketball players who are in the selection and I know what their qualities are. I believe in myself and with the expertise of the staff, we can do it in the right way," concluded Skerovic.

Montenegro will play in Group B against Czech Republic, France and Sweden.

FIBA