Changes in the coaching staff of Zenit's reserve teams
Oliver Popovic – new Zenit-2 head coach
The 54-year-old Serbian specialist, Oliver Popovic, will lead the farm team of the blue-whites, which competes in the Russian Superleague. Popovic had an outstanding playing career that spanned 19 years. He played for renowned clubs such as Partizan and Crvena Zvezda, winning the Yugoslavian Championship three times, the Yugoslavian Cup, the European Champions Cup, and the Korać Cup.
In 2000, Popovic moved to Russia, where he played for Lokomotiv and UNICS. With the Kazan team, he became a silver medalist in the national championship and a winner of the North European Basketball League (NEBL).
After ending his playing career, Oliver began coaching. Over 17 years, he worked with clubs in Serbia, Romania, and Ukraine. His most notable achievement was winning the Serbian Cup with Novi-Pazar in the 2018/19 season. With this club, Oliver was twice named "Coach of the Year" in the First Serbian League (2019, 2020).
The specialist also has experience working with the Serbian student National Team, winning bronze at the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, and running the youth National Team of Serbia.
For the past two years, Popovic coached the third team of UNICS Kazan of the Childrens Youth Basketball League. Now, Oliver Popovic is with Zenit. His contract is for one season.
Roman Knyazev – new head coach of Zenit-M (Youth team U21)
The upcoming season will be the eighth for St. Petersburg native Roman Knyazev within the blue-whites structure. For the past three years, Roman Knyazev has led Zenit-UOR #1 (Youth team U19), reaching the Children’s Youth Basketball League finals three times and winning it twice (2022, 2024). He was named the best coach of the 2023/24 season.
In June 2024, Knyazev was appointed senior coach of the Russian U16 National Team, confirming his status as one of the country's most promising coaches.
Starting this season, Roman will lead Zenit-M (Youth team U21), the reigning champion of the VTB United Youth League, replacing Artem Komogortsev.
Dmitry Nikolaev – new head coach of Zenit-UOR #1 (Youth team U19)
From 2019 to 2023, Nikolaev was part of Zenit-UOR #1, initially working with Serbian specialist Filip Miladinovic, and later with Roman Knyazev, achieving championship and silver medals in Children’s Youth Basketball League. Last season, the 41-year-old specialist debuted as a head coach, leading Zenit-2008 team in the CYBL.
In the upcoming championship, Dmitry Nikolaev will head Zenit-UOR #1.
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The assistant coaches and the full rosters of the reserve teams will be announced later.
