Sani Bečirovič

Sani Bečirovič (Serbo-Croatian: Sani Bečirović, born 19 May 1981) is a Slovenian professional basketball coach, executive and former player, who is currently a sporting director for Cedevita Olimpija of the Slovenian League, ABA League and the EuroCup.

Sani Bečirovič
Bečirovič with Panathinaikos in 2007
Cedevita Olimpija
PositionSporting director
LeagueSlovenian League
ABA League
EuroCup
Personal information
Born (1981-05-19) 19 May 1981
Maribor, SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia
NationalitySlovenian / Italian
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2003 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46th overall
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Playing career1995–2015
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
Number7, 10
Coaching career2015–present
Career history
As player:
1995–1996Bistrica
1996–1997Maribor Ovni
1997–1999Pivovarna Laško
1999–2001Union Olimpija
2001–2002Virtus Bologna
2003–2004Krka
2004–2005Varese
2005–2006Fortitudo Bologna
2006–2008Panathinaikos
2008–2009Virtus Roma
2009Union Olimpija
2010Olimpia Milano
2010–2011Türk Telekom
2011CSKA Moscow
2011–2012Benetton Treviso
2012–2013Petrochimi Bandar Imam
2013Dinamo Sassari
2013Foolad Mahan Isfahan
2013–2014Krka
2014–2015Fulgor Libertas Forlì
2015Pallacanestro Piacentina
As coach:
2015–2016Panathinaikos (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As player
Medals
Representing  Slovenia
FIBA Europe U-20 Championship
2000 MacedoniaUnder-20 Team

He was selected in the second round (46th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, but never played in the NBA. His father is Memi Bečirović, the former head coach of the senior men's Slovenia national team.

Professional playing career

Bečirovič played with the Slovenian youth squad teams of KK Bistrica, and he made his debut with their senior team during the 1995–96 season. He then moved to the Slovenian club Maribor Ovni for the 1996–97 season. He then moved to the Slovenian Premiere A League team Pivovarna Laško, where he played from 1997–99, and next to the Slovenian team Olimpija Ljubljana, where he played from 1999–01. With Olimpija Ljubljana, he won the 2001 Slovenian League Championship, and the 2000 and 2001 Slovenian Cups. He also played in Slovenia with Krka Novo Mesto, in the 2003–04 season.

He played in the Italian LBA league with Virtus Bologna, during the 2001–02 season, where he won the 2002 Italian Cup. He also played with the Italian clubs Casti Group Varese, in the 2004–05 season, and Climamio Bologna, in the 2005–06 season, where he won the 2005 Italian Super Cup.

Bečirović then moved to the Greek club Panathinaikos, where he won the Euroleague 2006–07 championship, two Greek Cups (2007, 2008), and two Greek League championships (2007, 2008).[1] He signed with the Italian club AJ Milano on 15 January 2010.[2] In October 2010, he signed a two-year contract with the Turkish Super League club Türk Telekom. In March 2011, he left Türk Telekom, by mutual agreement, and then signed with the Russian club CSKA Moscow, until the end of the 2010–11 season.[3] In August 2011, he moved to the Italian club Benetton Treviso, for one season.[4]

In October 2012, he signed with the Iranian Super League club Petrochimi Bandar Imam.[5] On 14 April 2013, Bečirović signed with the Italian club Dinamo Sassari, until the end of the season.[6] In August 2013, he returned to Iran, and signed a one-year deal with Foolad Mahan Isfahan.[7]

In December 2013, Bečirović returned to the Slovenian club Krka Novo Mesto, for the 2013–14 season.[8] In August 2014, he signed with Fulgor Libertas Forlì of the Italian Second Division.[9] On 4 January 2015, he left Forli, and signed with Pallacanestro Piacentina of the Italian 3rd Division.[10] On 16 March 2015, he parted ways with Piacentina.[11]

National team career

Bečirovič was a member of the senior men's Slovenian national basketball team that competed at EuroBasket 1999, EuroBasket 2001, EuroBasket 2005 and the 2006 FIBA World Championship. He also played at the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament and at the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Post playing career

Coaching career

Right after retiring from being a professional basketball player, Bečirovič returned to the Greek club Panathinaikos, where he worked as an assistant coach of Aleksandar Đorđević.[12]

Executive career

On 13 June 2019, Bečirovič was appointed as the sports director of the newly formed Slovenian club Cedevita Olimpija.[13]

Personal life

Bečirovič is married to Italian Simona, and he also holds an Italian passport.[14] The couple have one daughter (Samija, born 2005), and one son (Kiam, born 2008). In 2013 he established the Sani Bečirovič Basketball Academy, of which he is currently the sports director.

His nickname is Sani Boy.[15]

References
  1. Becirovic page on the Euroleague official site.
  2. "Milano brings Becirovic back to Italy". Sportando. 15 January 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  3. CSKA signs Sani Becirovic.
  4. Benetton Treviso lands Sani Becirovic.
  5. "Sani Becirovic inks in Iran with Petrochimi". Sportando.net. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  6. "Dinamo Sassari officially signs Sani Becirovic". Sportando.com. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  7. "Sani Becirovic signs in Iran with Foolad Mahan Sport Club". Sportando.net. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  8. Becirovic returns home.; FIBA Europe, 10 December 2013.
  9. Forli inks Sani Becirovic, ex Krka.
  10. Bakery Piacenza officially lands Sani Becirovic.
  11. Becirovic leaves Piacentina.
  12. Bečirović will be Đorđević's assistant in Panathinaikos.
  13. "KK Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana: announce Davor Užbinec and Sani Bečirović". kkcedevita.hr. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  14. SANI BECIROVIC basketball profile Nationality: Slovenian-Italian.
  15. Sani Becirovic (Sani Boy).
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