On Christmas day, Galatasaray announced the return of Vladimir Micov as sporting director. The assignment for the former Olimpia Milano player, who won a EuroCup with the Turks in 2016, will begin on January 12th.
✍️ Welcome home Vladimir Micov!
🔗 https://t.co/RvY2wQbWgV pic.twitter.com/pUQvoQSq37
— Galatasaray MCT Technic (@GSBasketbol) December 25, 2025
Vladimir Micov then spoke about it on the Serbian website meridian: «About a month ago they called me and told me they were thinking about me. I was impressed. I am an important player in the history of Galatasaray, I won the Eurocup, the only European trophy in history. There have been contacts, there has been talk of the position of general director or sporting director, even if for me it’s the same thing.”
«I was called to put everything in the right place, to answer the call of NBA Europe, and Galatasaray is going in that direction. To put all the pieces together so that we are ready to wait until October 2027. To fill in where they want to put their hands. It will take some time.”
On his post-retirement life: «I ended my career three and a half years ago and finally returned to Belgrade, I had finished filming… I started the season as sporting director at Metalac, where I also entered into a collaboration with Partizan. I will remain in that position until mid-January, when I go to Istanbul. But when I put everything in writing, I talked to my family and I realized that the offer was unique and I couldn’t refuse it. The size of the club and the project are impressive. I know the situation, I spent three years with one of the best Turkish coaches, Ergin Ataman, and he made history…”.
On his role: «As a former player, I see many things differently and would like to have an immediate impact, but I don’t have the magic wand to suddenly start breaking records. I’m a man behind the bench. When I went to Istanbul, in the comparison I started from what I experienced in Milan and CSKA… I know how to attract fans for less important matches, it always depends on the players, the results and the budget. This is my job, if you are satisfied with mid-table, or even the semi-finals, you won’t be.”
On NBA Europe everything is still being defined: «There is a lot of information, many questions and few answers. For everything I asked, I got no straight answers. It was recently said that NBA Europe will definitely arrive in October 2027. Offers are being made, some come from the Euroleague, others from the Champions League, still others from the national championships… A mix of everything. Nobody knows the amount that will be paid, there is talk of 500 million euros. In any case, it will attract all the additional sponsors and investors, which is what the Galatasaray executives are counting on. There is also a new building. I played at Abdi Ipekci, and the construction of a new arena is planned, but it is unrealistic to expect it to be completed by 2027. It will attract a lot of investments.”
