Serbia boss Djordjevic put in charge of Panathinaikos

ATHENS (EuroBasket 2015) - Aleksandar "Sasha" Djordjevic is now wearing two hats in the coaching profession.

Djordjevic, who will lead Serbia for the second straight summer when they compete at EuroBasket 2015 (5-20 September), has just been appointed as coach of Greek giants Panathinaikos.

One of his country's greatest players, Djordjevic had his finest moment as a coach when he led Serbia into the Final of last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The Serbians finished runners-up to the United States.

Djordjevic has used that impressive run as a launchpad to claim one of the biggest jobs in Europe, the head coaching position of Panathinaikos.

Calling it "an an honor and a privilege to work with Panathinaikos," Djordjevic is excited about the upcoming season.

Now I am on the bench of a club belonging to the elite and feel honored but also enthusiasm to begin this journey. - Djordjevic

Dusko Ivanovic, the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team coach, held the reins to Panathinaikos last season but parted ways with the club in May after a defeat to Olympiacos.

He was replaced on an interim basis by Sotiris Manolopoulos.

Former Slovenia point guard Sani Becirovic, who played for Panathinaikos from 2006-08, will work as an assistant coach to Djordjevic.

Before turning his full attention to the Greens' Greek and Turkish Airlines Euroleague campaigns, the 47-year-old will try to pull the right strings and help Serbia make it to the EuroBasket Final in Lille, France, an achievement that would clinch a spot in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Serbia will claim a spot in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament if they end up third, fourth, fifth or sixth.

The Serbians will compete in Group B against Spain, Germany, Italy, Iceland and Turkey.

FIBA