The Croatian Basketball Federation (HKS) announced on May 19, 2025, that Tomislav Mijatović has been appointed as the new head coach of the Croatian men’s senior national basketball team, as reported on hks-cbf.hr. Mijatović, who has been serving as head coach of Anadolu Efes since February 2024, replaces Josip Sesar, aiming to lead Croatia back to prominence in international competition. This appointment comes as Croatia prepares for upcoming qualifiers, with hopes of ending their Olympic drought since 2008.
Mijatović brings a wealth of experience, having won the EuroLeague with Anadolu Efes in 2021 and 2022 as an assistant coach, and later as head coach, securing three Turkish League titles and three Turkish Cups. His promotion to head coach at Efes in 2024 followed a successful stint under Velimir Perasović, and his familiarity with Croatian basketball—having coached at Cibona Zagreb from 2001 to 2010—makes him a fitting choice. Mijatović’s tactical acumen, honed through years in the EuroLeague, will be crucial as he takes on a Croatian squad that has struggled recently, failing to qualify for the 2020, 2004, and 2012 Olympics, and exiting early in the 2010 World Cup.
This appointment signals a new era for Croatia, a nation with a proud basketball history, boasting Hall of Famers like Dražen Petrović and Toni Kukoč. Mijatović will aim to leverage talents like Ivica Zubac and Dario Šarić to restore Croatia’s standing, potentially targeting a strong showing at the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. His dual role with Efes may pose challenges, but his track record suggests he can handle the pressure. Croatian fans will be eager to see if Mijatović can replicate his club success on the international stage.
