Jaka Lakovic is drawn to Spain. That’s why Ratiopharm Ulm has to look for a new trainer after three successful years.
Coach Jaka Lakovic is leaving the Bundesliga basketball club Ratiopharm Ulm after three years. According to a club announcement on Friday, the Slovenian pulled the exit option from his contract, which ran until 2023, to switch to top Spanish club CB Gran Canaria. His successor has not yet been decided.
“It gives me a great opportunity to coach a team in the best European league, a team that is in the ACB play-offs every season and can go far in the Eurocup,” said Lakovic (43), who also cited family reasons: “I worked in Spain for a long time, my wife is Catalan, even our children speak the language.”
Lakovic with a successful record at Ratiopharm Ulm
Sports director Thorsten Leibenath thanked them for the time we had together. “We were twice in the semi-finals of the play-offs, once in the semi-finals of the cup and sensationally reached the quarter-finals of the EuroCup last season,” he said. “Jaka works in a perfectionist manner, with a clear focus on details, but without losing sight of the big picture.”
This is how the ratiopharm fan club reacted to Lakovic’s decision
The chairman of the ratiopharm fan club, Marcus Heckenberger, was disappointed after Lakovic’s decision. “The contract was only recently renewed. I think all parties were hoping for a longer cooperation,” Heckenberger told SWR. However, such a decision in basketball is not surprising.
The chairman of the fan club draws a positive balance for Lakovic’s tenure. “There were some really good developments and changes,” says Heckenberger. He is curious to see who will follow Lakovic.
