Zenit coaching staff for the 2026/27 Season
Arturo Alvarez will serve as Ivanović's first assistant coach. The Spanish specialist began his professional career in 1995 with Italian club Lastra a Signa, where he worked as an assistant coach and Sports Director. He later spent many years on the coaching staffs of Spanish clubs before embarking on his career as a head coach. Álvarez has led Portuguese clubs Barreirense and Sport Lisboa Benfica, Brazilian teams Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras and Unitri, Spanish sides BVM 2012 Mieres, Araberri, CB Prat Joventud, Chocalates Trapa Palencia, and Melilla Baloncesto, Romanian club Valcea, and Tunisian side Monastir, which he guided to the national championship in 2026. In addition, he has served as head coach of both the men's and women's Paraguay national teams at different points in his career.
Another assistant coach will be Blagota Sekulić. As a player, the Montenegrin competed in Europe's top domestic leagues and gained extensive international experience. After retiring from playing, he joined the coaching staff of the Montenegro national team and worked as an assistant coach at Spanish club Murcia from 2023 to 2025.
Maxim Uchaykin will continue his work with Zenit's coaching staff. The Russian specialist joined the club's system in 2020 as head coach of Blue-White-Sky Blues’s youth team. Under his leadership, Zenit U21 won the VTB United Youth League championship for the first time in club history, while Uchaykin was named the league's Coach of the Year. He has been part of the main team's coaching staff since the summer of 2022 and will remain in his role for the 2026/27 season.
Josip Miliša will join the staff as strength and conditioning coach. The Croatian specialist is well known to Russian basketball fans for his work with Enisey Krasnoyarsk and Samara.
Following the expiration of his contract, former strength and conditioning coach Jure Drakslar will leave the club. Since joining Zenit in 2023, the Slovenian specialist helped the Blue-White-Sky Blues win the Russian Cup, the VTB United League Supercup, and three Kondrashin and Belov Cups. He also contributed to the team's silver and bronze medal finishes in the VTB United League and the Russian Championship. Zenit Basketball Club would like to thank Jure for his professionalism, dedication, and valuable contribution to the team's success.
