Stanojevic named Partizan coach as Ilic departs
Sasa Ilic left Humska after about four months, and Aleksandar Stanojevic opens his first press conference with discipline and defense.
The unveiling of Partizan’s new coach in Humska did not begin with football. Sporting director Radosav Petrovic spoke first and offered condolences to the family of the late Darko Bozovic, and only then turned to the bench: Sasa Ilic is no longer the coach, and Aleksandar Stanojevic takes his place, arriving at the club for the fourth time.
How did Ilic say goodbye to Partizan?
On Monday, October 26, the club announced that it had agreed with Ilic to terminate his contract by mutual consent. He took charge in June, so the spell lasted about four months. We reported earlier that Ilic had offered his resignation for the third time, and according to Novosti he finally submitted it after the 2-0 loss to Cukaricki at the JNA stadium.
In its farewell, the club called Ilic a child of Partizan, a legendary captain and the record holder for appearances in the black and white shirt:
“There are names that are far more than a part of club history. Sasa Ilic is one of them. A child of Partizan, a legendary captain, the record holder for appearances in the black and white shirt and one of the most decorated players in the club’s history, Sasa Ilic has left an indelible mark that goes far beyond current results on the pitch,” the club said in its statement.
The statement ends with the words: “Thank you for everything, Sale. Partizan will always be your home.” Petrovic was briefer at the conference: “Sasa Ilic is not the Partizan coach, the contract has been terminated by mutual consent.” Ilic’s home, he said, is “his house, more than anyone’s,” and he revealed that it was Ilic himself who said Stanojevic is the right man for the job.
What did Stanojevic do at Partizan before?
Stanojevic (52) has already been head coach of Partizan three times. According to Novosti, his best period came from 2010 to 2012: the club reached the Champions League group stage for the second time in its history, won two league titles and one Serbian Cup. In September 2020 he returned for the first time after working abroad, and in the 2021/22 season Partizan were autumn champions with a five-point lead over Red Star, but even 98 points was not enough for the title.
He came back in the summer of 2024, after a spell in Turkey. Novosti report that a poor transfer window and unsecured funds led to elimination from all European qualifiers, and that he left at the time over the unfulfilled promises of the then board. His most recent job was at Turkey’s Karagumruk, which he took over on January 1 this year. The club was relegated from the Turkish Super League.
What did Stanojevic promise at the conference?
He began by admitting that returning to Humska was a surprise to him:
“It is strange and surprising to be sitting here. It is unreal that I am here after so many times. I got a call, and it was a strange feeling inside me. The director asked me to come in for a talk. Not to be dramatic, Partizan is calling.”
He said he accepted the offer that same morning and does not need a period of adjustment: “I know the situation, I know the environment. There is no adjusting, I am ready for us to do our best.” Asked whether coming back is madness, he answered: “Everyone told me that, emotions are always heightened here.”
Most of his time went to discipline:
“One match changes the course of anyone’s life, and it could have gone that way with Sale too. I would not be here if that had been good. I did not ask about problems in the dressing room. Everyone has their own story, for me discipline is the foundation of everything.”
Asked whether he had spoken with Ilic, he said briefly: “It is very hard for Sasa, I would not ask him anything.”
For now the tactical plan fits into two sentences. “The first thing is defense, there are problems in the high press, but that comes down to confidence too. First we start with defense, then some details from attack,” Stanojevic said. He sees quality in the squad, and he offered the fans a calculation of his own:
“I can offer myself, I am a better coach every year, I have new experiences. I offer discipline in the way we play, every player will be 20-30 percent better. I hope I will be judged by results. I would like to have support as a Partizan man, and afterward if I earn it…”
He meets the players in two days, and he insisted that training start immediately: “Two days are enough to see, which is why I insisted that we have training right away. It can change, we will make changes. I watched the matches as a fan, from an armchair.”
What awaits him in the Superliga?
Partizan are tenth in the table with 11 points and only three wins. At the conference Petrovic recalled where the points have been lost: “we lost four matches at our stadium,” and he urged supporters to give the team maximum backing. He also thanked Stanojevic, saying: “Thank you to Stanojevic for recognizing the moment to help us stabilize in terms of results.”
The length of Stanojevic’s contract has not been made public, and Novosti write that the details were due to be finalized during the day. According to the same source, seven matches remain before the winter break. Four defeats at home and the defense Stanojevic wants to start with will be the first place where it shows whether the promises from the conference have reached the pitch.
