Zenit Basketball Club thanks Alexander Tserkovny for many years of dedicated service

Following the expiration of his contract, Zenit Basketball Club CEO Alexander Tserkovny is leaving his position. Vasily Odintsov has been appointed as the club’s new CEO.

Alexander Tserkovny led Zenit from July 2018. During his eight years at the helm, the club achieved the greatest success in its history. The Blue-White-Sky Blues won their first-ever VTB United League championship, captured the Russian Cup, claimed two VTB United League Superсups, and lifted the Kondrashin and Belov Cup five times.

One of the defining milestones of Tserkovny’s tenure was Zenit’s entry into the EuroLeague. In 2019, thanks to the joint efforts of the club’s Board of Directors, the EuroLeague leadership, and an extensive organizational campaign completed within a remarkably short timeframe, Zenit received a wild card and joined Europe’s premier club competition. Just one season later, in 2020/21, the team reached the EuroLeague Playoffs, finishing one win away from the Final Four.

A major priority throughout Alexander Tserkovny’s leadership was the development of the club’s player pathway. In 2019, the Zenit Basketball Academy was established, creating a comprehensive system for identifying, developing, and preparing young talent. During that time, Zenit’s youth teams won the VTB United Youth League championship (U21) three times and captured the Russian Junior Basketball League (U19) title on three occasions.

Under Alexander Tserkovny’s leadership, Zenit strengthened its position not only as one of Russia’s leading basketball clubs, but also as one of the driving forces behind the development of basketball in St. Petersburg. The club built partnerships with local sports schools and universities, continued to develop its player and coaching pipeline, launched educational initiatives, and made a significant contribution to preserving the city’s basketball heritage by reviving the Kondrashin and Belov Cup.

Zenit Basketball Club sincerely thanks Alexander Tserkovny for his professionalism, dedication, and tremendous contribution to the club’s development, and wishes him every success in the future.