KK Zadar
Encyclopedia
KK Zadar is a Croatia
n professional basketball
team from the city of Zadar
playing in the A-1 Liga.
Zadar is the place where Croatian basketball was born in 1930. Zadar's reputation has been of a basketball hotbed with a team that can capture trophies at any given moment. Zadar is also known for its fanatical die hard supporters, Tornado.
, a time at which Zadar was occupied by the Italians. At that time all basketball games being played in Zadar were played on an outdoor, concrete court. KK Zadar was formally founded after World War II in 1945 as FD Zadar (Fiskulturno Društvo Zadar - Physical Culture Club of Zadar). Shortly after this clubs founding, its basketball section went independent and became what is today's KK Zadar. Giuseppe "Pino" Giergia played his first game for Zadar in 1945; he later became one of the clubs most famous players.
The 1949, KK Zadar entered Yugoslavia's first basketball division, remaining there until the country's break-up in 1990.
played his first game for Zadar, while being only 16 years old.
In 1965 KK Zadar won a national championship. They again became champions in 1967 and 1968. In that championship year Kreso Cosic often knew to score even a 60 points per game. The clubs new arena, Jazine
, was built in 1968 in only 70 days. Also in 1966, Zadar played in the Euroleague final four; they were beaten in the semi finals and ended the tournament in third place. In 1969 Krešo Ćosić left for the United States to play college basketball at Brigham Young University
from 1971 to 1973.
In 1976 Giuseppe Pino Giergia retired and Krešo Ćosić left the club to fulfill his obligations toward the Yugoslav Army (At this time, conscription was mandatory). During that time club was in a very difficult situation and once again were close to relegation. The club was once again saved by Krešo Ćosić who, after his military service, became the coach of Bresto in Italy. While he was the coach of Bresto he played basketball games for KK Zadar and once again saved the club from relegation.
. During that season club has made it to the finals of Korać Cup
. They repeated this success the very next season. In 1986 another milestone for the club was achieved: the club got its first world record holder, Zdenko Babić, who has scored 144 points against Apoel from Cyprus in the Korać Cup.
Arijan Komazec
made his debut for Zadar in 1986, and he, along with Stojko Vranković, would play a crucial role in the years to follow. After 11 years of waiting, Zadar won its sixth national championship in 1986. In the finals of that year, KK Zadar met KK Cibona
, and in a historic and legendary match, KK Zadar beat KK Cibona by 111:110. They won the game after two overtimes and thanks to an excellent performance by Petar Popović who scored 35 points. In 1987 the club won fourth place in the Euroleague. In 1989 Krešo Ćosić and Giuseppe "Pino" Giergia took charge of the club.
in the season of 1992-93.
In years to come the club began to stagnate in the national championship and in the European competitions. In 1996 with a new coach at the helm, Danijel Jusup, Zadar reached the playoffs of the national championship, where they lost to KK Cibona. They repeated this success the following year with Emilio Kovačić
as Zadar's key player, yet Cibona won the title once again.
In 1998 Zadar won the Krešimir Ćosić Cup, Croatia's basketball cup competitions. Marko Popović
, the son of Petar Popović made his debut in 1998 for Zadar at age 16. In the summer of the 1999 Arijan Komazec returned to Zadar from Virtus Bologna
, and the club had also signed Dino Rađa from Panathinaikos. In the season 1999-00 Zadar had won its 2nd Krešimir Ćosić cup and had played, once again, in the semifinals of national championship and Saporta cup. Dino Rađa and Arijan Komazec proved as crucial players for the success in that season.
, founded on the ashes of the Yugoslav league and containing the best teams from the former Yugoslav republics. Zadar beat Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final.
In the summer of 2003 Marko Popović left Zadar as Emilo Kovačić returned. Going into the ULEB Cup
for a third season in 2004-05, Zadar once again missed the playoffs by a single win. In the season of 2004-05 Zadar finally won the Croatian national championship, after a 19 year wait. That season Zadar has also won their fourth Krešimir Ćosić Cup in a truly historical season. In 2006, they repeated their success from previous season in the Krešimir Ćosić Cup winning their fifth cup. Zadar returned to the national league final in each of the last two seasons, but KK Cibona stood on its way to another league title.
In 2008, Zadar became the Croatian champion for the second time, beating KK Split 3-2 in the best of 5 series. The final game of the series, which Zadar won 89 to 65, was the last game ever played at Jazine
, affectionately called "The Temple of Croatian Basketball" by many fans and basketball aficionados.
.
- From ALBA Berlin
Brandon Brown - From Vanoli-Braga Cremona
Chester Mason-From Ventspils
Out: Tomislav Ružić
- To Tofaş S.K.
Vladimir Boisa
- To KK Union Olimpija
Hrvoje Perić - To Benetton Treviso
Vedran Morović - To HKK Široki
Jure Škifić - To Borik Puntamika Rok Stipčević
- To KK Cibona
Trent Plaisted
- To KK Cedevita
On loan:
(member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
) Josip Đerđa
Stojko Vranković
Tomislav Knežević Emilio Kovačić
Stipe Šarlija Arijan Komazec
Branko Skroče Tomislav Knežević Veljko Petranović Petar Popović Marko Popović
Damir Tvrdić Hrvoje Perinčić Dino Rađa Marko Banić
Goran Kalamiza
Dejan Bodiroga
Vladimir Boisa
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team from the city of Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
playing in the A-1 Liga.
Zadar is the place where Croatian basketball was born in 1930. Zadar's reputation has been of a basketball hotbed with a team that can capture trophies at any given moment. Zadar is also known for its fanatical die hard supporters, Tornado.
Early years
The first basketball ball and game rules of basketball were brought to Zadar by Italian soldiers during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a time at which Zadar was occupied by the Italians. At that time all basketball games being played in Zadar were played on an outdoor, concrete court. KK Zadar was formally founded after World War II in 1945 as FD Zadar (Fiskulturno Društvo Zadar - Physical Culture Club of Zadar). Shortly after this clubs founding, its basketball section went independent and became what is today's KK Zadar. Giuseppe "Pino" Giergia played his first game for Zadar in 1945; he later became one of the clubs most famous players.
The 1949, KK Zadar entered Yugoslavia's first basketball division, remaining there until the country's break-up in 1990.
1960-1970
On November 28th 1964, Krešimir ĆosićKrešimir Cosic
Krešimir Ćosić was a Croatian professional basketball player who represented Yugoslavia internationally, a member of FIBA Hall of Fame and Basketball Hall of Fame...
played his first game for Zadar, while being only 16 years old.
In 1965 KK Zadar won a national championship. They again became champions in 1967 and 1968. In that championship year Kreso Cosic often knew to score even a 60 points per game. The clubs new arena, Jazine
Jazine Basketball Hall
Jazine Basketball Hall is an indoor sporting arena located in Zadar, Croatia. The capacity of the arena is 3,000 people and opened in 1968 after a construction period of 70 days. It was home to the KK Zadar basketball team up until 2008.-External links:*...
, was built in 1968 in only 70 days. Also in 1966, Zadar played in the Euroleague final four; they were beaten in the semi finals and ended the tournament in third place. In 1969 Krešo Ćosić left for the United States to play college basketball at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
from 1971 to 1973.
1970-1980
In 1973, Zadar was almost relegated from the Yugoslav first division. In this time of crisis, Kreso Cosic returned to the club and with 36-year-old Giuseppe "Pino" Giergia Zadar once again became Yugoslav Champions, only to repeat this success two years later.In 1976 Giuseppe Pino Giergia retired and Krešo Ćosić left the club to fulfill his obligations toward the Yugoslav Army (At this time, conscription was mandatory). During that time club was in a very difficult situation and once again were close to relegation. The club was once again saved by Krešo Ćosić who, after his military service, became the coach of Bresto in Italy. While he was the coach of Bresto he played basketball games for KK Zadar and once again saved the club from relegation.
1980–1990
In the 1981-82 season another legendary Zadar play made his debut: Stojko VrankovićStojko Vrankovic
Stojan "Stojko" Vranković is a retired Croatian basketball player who also represented Yugoslavia....
. During that season club has made it to the finals of Korać Cup
Korac Cup
The Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
. They repeated this success the very next season. In 1986 another milestone for the club was achieved: the club got its first world record holder, Zdenko Babić, who has scored 144 points against Apoel from Cyprus in the Korać Cup.
Arijan Komazec
Arijan Komazec
Arijan Komazec is a retired Croatian basketball player.He was a member of the Yugoslavian National Team and then the Croatian National Team after gained independence. He was a part of the Croatian team that won the Silver Medal in Barcelona during the 1992 Olympics...
made his debut for Zadar in 1986, and he, along with Stojko Vranković, would play a crucial role in the years to follow. After 11 years of waiting, Zadar won its sixth national championship in 1986. In the finals of that year, KK Zadar met KK Cibona
KK Cibona
Košarkaški klub Cibona is a professional basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. It competes in the Croatian League and the Adriatic League.-History:The club was founded in 1946 under the name Sloboda...
, and in a historic and legendary match, KK Zadar beat KK Cibona by 111:110. They won the game after two overtimes and thanks to an excellent performance by Petar Popović who scored 35 points. In 1987 the club won fourth place in the Euroleague. In 1989 Krešo Ćosić and Giuseppe "Pino" Giergia took charge of the club.
1990-2000
Krešo Ćosić left the club in August 1990 because of a disagreement with the club leadership. Ćosić would never return to the club, and was soon diagnosed with cancer. He passed away shortly after, in 1995. In the first, newly founded, Croatian national championship, in the 1991-92 season, the club has played in the finals. That year club has also played in the Euroleague. They were the finalist of the national cupKrešimir Cosic Cup
The Krešimir Ćosić Cup is the national basketball cup of Croatia. The cup has been played for since 1992.-Cup winners:-Performance by club:...
in the season of 1992-93.
In years to come the club began to stagnate in the national championship and in the European competitions. In 1996 with a new coach at the helm, Danijel Jusup, Zadar reached the playoffs of the national championship, where they lost to KK Cibona. They repeated this success the following year with Emilio Kovačić
Emilio Kovacic
Emilio Kovačić is a former Croatian professional basketball player. A 2.08 m center with great rebounding skills and decent defensive abilities, he played many years in the Euroleague for KK Zadar, Union Olimpija and KK Cibona.Kovačić was a regular member of the Croatian national team and won the...
as Zadar's key player, yet Cibona won the title once again.
In 1998 Zadar won the Krešimir Ćosić Cup, Croatia's basketball cup competitions. Marko Popović
Marko Popovic (born 1982)
Marko Popović is a Croatian professional basketball player of Serbian descent. He is a 1.85 m and 86 kg point guard...
, the son of Petar Popović made his debut in 1998 for Zadar at age 16. In the summer of the 1999 Arijan Komazec returned to Zadar from Virtus Bologna
Virtus Bologna
-Notable players: Marco Bonamico 9 seasons: '75-'76, '77-'78, '80-'86, '88-'89 Carlo Caglieris 6 seasons: '75-'81 Pietro Generali 6 seasons: '75-'76, '78-'83 Gianni Bertolotti 5 seasons: '75-'80 Terry Driscoll 3 seasons: '75-'78 Eric Luc Leclerc 1 season: '75-'76 Luigi Serafini 2 seasons: '75-'77...
, and the club had also signed Dino Rađa from Panathinaikos. In the season 1999-00 Zadar had won its 2nd Krešimir Ćosić cup and had played, once again, in the semifinals of national championship and Saporta cup. Dino Rađa and Arijan Komazec proved as crucial players for the success in that season.
2000-present
In the seasons of 2000-01, 2001-02 Zadar played in the playoffs of national championship twice and once in Krešimir Ćosić Cup, yet they didn't win any of the possible 3 titles. In the season of 2002-03 Danijel Jusup returned to the club as Head Coach. During that season, with Marko Popović as a lead player, Zadar won its third Krešimir Ćosić Cup, as well as the newly established regional league Goodyear Adriatic LeagueNLB League
Liga ABA, also known as Adriatic League, until September 2011 known as the NLB Liga ABA for sponsorship reasons, is a top-level regional basketball league, featuring teams from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Israel, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.The league exists alongside scaled-down national...
, founded on the ashes of the Yugoslav league and containing the best teams from the former Yugoslav republics. Zadar beat Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final.
In the summer of 2003 Marko Popović left Zadar as Emilo Kovačić returned. Going into the ULEB Cup
ULEB Cup
Eurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
for a third season in 2004-05, Zadar once again missed the playoffs by a single win. In the season of 2004-05 Zadar finally won the Croatian national championship, after a 19 year wait. That season Zadar has also won their fourth Krešimir Ćosić Cup in a truly historical season. In 2006, they repeated their success from previous season in the Krešimir Ćosić Cup winning their fifth cup. Zadar returned to the national league final in each of the last two seasons, but KK Cibona stood on its way to another league title.
In 2008, Zadar became the Croatian champion for the second time, beating KK Split 3-2 in the best of 5 series. The final game of the series, which Zadar won 89 to 65, was the last game ever played at Jazine
Jazine Basketball Hall
Jazine Basketball Hall is an indoor sporting arena located in Zadar, Croatia. The capacity of the arena is 3,000 people and opened in 1968 after a construction period of 70 days. It was home to the KK Zadar basketball team up until 2008.-External links:*...
, affectionately called "The Temple of Croatian Basketball" by many fans and basketball aficionados.
Champions' teams
- 1964./65.: Vladimir Ćubrić, Đuro Stipčević, Miljenko Valčić, Marko Ostarčević, Bruno Marcelić, Jure Košta, Josip Đerđa, Petar Anić, Petar Jelić, Mile Marcelić, Krešimir ĆosićKrešimir CosicKrešimir Ćosić was a Croatian professional basketball player who represented Yugoslavia internationally, a member of FIBA Hall of Fame and Basketball Hall of Fame...
, Željko Troskot, Milan Komazec. Coach: Enzo Sovitti. - 1966./67.: Josip Đerđa, Krešimir Ćosić, Coach: Đorđo Zdrilić.
- 1968./69.: Valčić, Stipčević, Laura, Komazec, Troskot, Košta, Giergia, Ćosić, G. Brajković, Bruno Marcelić, Mile Marcelić. Coach: Đorđo Zdrilić.
- Cup 1970.: Vlado Vanjak, Đuro Stipčević, Goran Brajković, Bruno Marcelić, Milan Komazec, Pino Giergia, Vlado Gruškovnjak, Krešimir Ćosić, Nedjeljko-Mišo Ostarčević, Nikola Olujić, Petar Jelić. Coach: Trpimir Lokin.
- 1973./74.: Branko Bakija, Jure Fabijanić, Bruno Marcelić, Čedomir Perinčić, Branko Skroče, Pino Giergia, Krešimir Ćosić, Zdravko Jerak i Tomislav Matulović. Coach: Lucijan Valčić
- 1974./75.: Čedomir Perinčić, Jure Fabijanić, Boris Babić, Branko Bakija, Bruno Marcelić, Branko Šuljak, Pino Giergia, Krešimir Ćosić, Zdravko Jerak, Darko Fabulić, Nedjeljko Ostarčević, Tomislav Matulović, Branko Skroče, Josip-Pino Grdović, Bruno Petani, Žarko Bjedov. Coach: Lucijan Valčić, Trpimir Lokin, Leonard Bajlo.
- 1985./86.: Darko Pahlić, Petar Popović, Milan Mlađan, Ante Matulović, Zdenko Babić, Dražen Blažević, Stojko Vranković, Veljko Petranović, Ivica Obad, Boris Hrabrov, Drago Čiklić i Arijan Komazec. Coach: Vlado Đurović
Basketball Hall
The club plays from a multi-purpose venue located in Zadar's quarter Višnjik. The hall can seat 10,000 spectators and carries the name of Krešimir ĆosićKrešimir Cosic
Krešimir Ćosić was a Croatian professional basketball player who represented Yugoslavia internationally, a member of FIBA Hall of Fame and Basketball Hall of Fame...
.
Squad transfers 2010-11
In: Jakov Vladović - From BC Lokomotiv-Kuban Jurica GolemacJurica Golemac
Jurica Golemac , is a Slovenian-Croatian professional basketball player. He is 2.12m tall and weighs 102 kg . He can play at both the forward and center positions...
- From ALBA Berlin
ALBA Berlin
-Depth Chart:* Denotes injured player.-Championships:*German Championships: 8 *German Cups: 6 *Korać Cups: 1 -Notable players:- Season by season :-External links:...
Brandon Brown - From Vanoli-Braga Cremona
Gruppo Triboldi Basket
Gruppo Triboldi Basket, also known for sponsorship reasons as Vanoli Soresina or Vanoli Cremona, is an Italian League professional basketball team whose legal domicile is in Soresina but plays its home games in Cremona...
Chester Mason-From Ventspils
Ventspils
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...
Out: Tomislav Ružić
Tomislav Ružić
Tomislav Ružić is a Croatian professional basketball player. He currently plays for Tofaş S.K..-Personal life:Ružić is married to the former Croatian international volleyball player, Barbara Jelić-Ružić...
- To Tofaş S.K.
Tofas S.K.
Tofaş Spor Kulübü known simply as Tofaş is a professional basketball team based in the city of Bursa in Turkey that plays in the Turkish Basketball League. Their home arena is the Bursa Atatürk Sport Hall with a capacity of 3,500 seats.The club sponsored by Tofaş Company...
Vladimir Boisa
Vladimir Boisa
Vladimir Boisa or Vladimer Boisa is a Georgian professional basketball player. He plays for KK Union Olimpija in the UPC Telemach League, Euroleague and Adriatic League.- National team :...
- To KK Union Olimpija
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
Hrvoje Perić - To Benetton Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso, more often known by its sponsorship name of Benetton Basket, or Benetton Treviso, is an Italian Serie A League professional basketball club from Treviso, the headquarters city of its longtime owner Benetton Group...
Vedran Morović - To HKK Široki
HKK Široki
HKK Široki is a Bosnia-Herzegovinan basketball team from the town of Široki Brijeg, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club currently plays in the Adriatic League and the Bosnian basketball championship....
Jure Škifić - To Borik Puntamika Rok Stipčević
Rok Stipcevic
Rok Stipčević is a Croatian professional basketball player who currently plays for Pallacanestro Varese in Italy. His height is 1.84 m and he plays as a point guard....
- To KK Cibona
KK Cibona
Košarkaški klub Cibona is a professional basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. It competes in the Croatian League and the Adriatic League.-History:The club was founded in 1946 under the name Sloboda...
Trent Plaisted
Trent Plaisted
Trent Michael Plaisted is an American basketball player, formerly of Brigham Young University. He averaged 15.6 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game in the 2007–2008 season, his junior year at BYU...
- To KK Cedevita
On loan:
Notable players
Krešimir ĆosićKrešimir Cosic
Krešimir Ćosić was a Croatian professional basketball player who represented Yugoslavia internationally, a member of FIBA Hall of Fame and Basketball Hall of Fame...
(member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
) Josip Đerđa
Josip Đerđa
Josip Gjergja is a retired Croatian basketball player...
Stojko Vranković
Stojko Vrankovic
Stojan "Stojko" Vranković is a retired Croatian basketball player who also represented Yugoslavia....
Tomislav Knežević Emilio Kovačić
Emilio Kovacic
Emilio Kovačić is a former Croatian professional basketball player. A 2.08 m center with great rebounding skills and decent defensive abilities, he played many years in the Euroleague for KK Zadar, Union Olimpija and KK Cibona.Kovačić was a regular member of the Croatian national team and won the...
Stipe Šarlija Arijan Komazec
Arijan Komazec
Arijan Komazec is a retired Croatian basketball player.He was a member of the Yugoslavian National Team and then the Croatian National Team after gained independence. He was a part of the Croatian team that won the Silver Medal in Barcelona during the 1992 Olympics...
Branko Skroče Tomislav Knežević Veljko Petranović Petar Popović Marko Popović
Marko Popovic (born 1982)
Marko Popović is a Croatian professional basketball player of Serbian descent. He is a 1.85 m and 86 kg point guard...
Damir Tvrdić Hrvoje Perinčić Dino Rađa Marko Banić
Marko Banic
Marko Banić, Marko Banić, Marko Banić, (born August 31, 1984, in Zadar, Republic of Croatia, is a Croatian professional basketball player. He is 6'8¾" (2.05 m) in height, and plays the power forward position. Currently, he is a member of Bilbao Berri....
Goran Kalamiza
Goran Kalamiza
Goran Kalamiza is a Croatian basketball player. He is 190 cm tall, 88 kg and plays point guard.-Career:*1995-96 KK Cibona*1996-98 KK Split*1998-99 Fenerbahçe*1999-00 KK Zadar...
Dejan Bodiroga
Dejan Bodiroga
Dejan Bodiroga is a retired Serbian professional basketball player.He is offten considered as one of the best players who did not play in the NBA....
Vladimir Boisa
Vladimir Boisa
Vladimir Boisa or Vladimer Boisa is a Georgian professional basketball player. He plays for KK Union Olimpija in the UPC Telemach League, Euroleague and Adriatic League.- National team :...