In Memoriam: Ranko Žeravica (1929-2015)

Basketball has stayed without one of the greatest coaches ever. Legendary Ranko Žeravica died at the age of 85.

He was a basketball genius. Member of the FIBA Hall of Fame. The only man that brought an Olympic gold to this region. The world will remember Ranko Žeravica as one of the most successfull basketball coaches that this game has ever had. In his honor, every game of the ABA League Round 8 will start with a minute of silence.

In his long and rich career, Žeravica had most succeses with the national team of Yugoslavia. He won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Moscow 1980. and a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Mexico City 1970. Also, he led Yugoslavia toward a gold at the World Championship in Ljubljana 1970, then toward a silver at the World Championship in Uruguay 1967, while he also has bronze from the World Championship in Colombia 1982. During his time as the head coach of Yugoslavia, Žeravica also won two silver medals at the European Championships - Italy 1969 and Germany 1971.

Žeravica started his coaching career in Radnički (Belgrade), while after that he was at the helm of Partizan (four times), Barcelona, Pula, Crvena zvezda (two times), Irge Desio, Napoli, Daroca, Split, Juvecaserta and Zaragoza. His greatest success was winning the Kup Radivoje Korać with Partizan in 1978.

Until the last day Žeravica had remained with the game he loved the most, watching matches live from court seats. Basketball has always been part of him, and he will always be part of basketball.

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Ranko Žeravica (1929-2015)

Košarka je ostala bez jednog od najvećih trenera svih vremena. Legendarni Ranko Žeravica preminuo je sa 85. godina.

Bio je košarkaški genije. Član FIBA kuće slavnih. Jedini čovek koji je na ove prostore doneo olimpijsko zlato u košarci. Svet će pamtiti Ranka Žeravicu kao jednog od najuspešnijih trenera koje je ova igra ikada imala. U njegovu čast, sve utakmice 8. kola ABA lige j.t.d. počeće minutom ćutanja.

Žeravica je najviše uspeha imao sa reprezentacijom Jugoslavije sa kojom je osvojio zlatnu medalju na Olimpijskim igrama u Moskvi 1980 i srebrnu medalju na Olimpijskim igrama u Meksiku 1968. Takođe, vodio je tim Jugoslavije do zlatne medalje na Svetkom prvenstvu u Ljubljani 1970. godine, zatim do srebra na Svetskom prvenstvu u Urugvaju 1967 i bronze na Svetskom prvenstvu u Kolumbiji 1982. Pamtiće se i dve srebrne medalje osvojene na Evropskim prvenstvima u Italiji 1969. i Nemačkoj 1971.

Klupsku trenersku karijeru počeo je u beogradskom Radničkom, a posle toga je vodio Partizan (u četiri navrata), Barselonu, Pulu, Crvenu zvezdu (u dva navrata), Desio, Napoli, Konzervas Daroku, Split, Kazertu i Saragosu. Najveći uspeh mu je osvajanje Kupa Radivoja Koraća sa Partizanom 1978. godine.

Do poslednjeg dana ostao je uz igru koju je najviše voleo, gledajući utakmice iz prvih redova. Košarka je uvek bila deo njega, a on će zauvek ostati deo košarke.