Lokomotiv-Kuban was headed by the reigning European champion, head coach of one of the best national teams in the world

Alexander Sekulic, a well-known specialist who made it to the semi-finals of the 2020 Olympics with the Slovenian national team, has become the new head coach of PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban.

Alexander Sekulic was born on February 24, 1978 in Ljubljana (Yugoslavia). The Slovenian specialist began his coaching career in 1996 in the youth system of Slovan. Later he worked as an assistant and head coach in various Slovenian clubs. As the head coach of Krka, he won the championship and won the Slovenian Super Cup in the 2012/13 season. Since 2017, Sekulich has worked in the Czech Nymburk, first as an assistant head coach, and then as a head coach. In the 2021/22 season, Nymburk won the Czech champions title under his leadership.

Sekulic was also a member of the coaching staff of the Slovenian national team at the triumphant European Championship 2017 for the team. Then the Slovenes in the semi-finals defeated the Spanish national team with a difference of 20 points. Need to mention that the opponents had such superstars on the squad as the Pau and Marc Gasol, as well as Ricky Rubio, Juan Carlos Navarro and Sergio Rodríguez. And in the final, Slovenia turned out to be stronger than the Serbian national team. Yhe opponents had such superstars as two time MVPs of the Euroleague Final Four Vasilije Micić, Bogdan Bogdanović, Stefan Jović.

In 2020, Sekulic became a head coach of the Slovenian national team. And he had a great opportunity to win medals at the 2020 Olympics with this team, having one of the best basketball players in basketball, Luka Doncic.

As part of the group stage, the Slovenians beat such great teams as Spain and Argentina. And in the semi-finals against France, they were very close to victory, but lost with a difference of only 1 point.

One of Sekulich’s assistants at PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban will be Jurica Žuža, with whom they worked together at Nymburk and won gold medals at the Czech national championship.

Alexander Sekulic is relatively young by coaching standards, but at the same time he is already a very experienced specialist. I have been following his career and successes since 2011, when in the final Loko met with the Slovenian Krka. I am sure that be will be of great benefit to Loko, and under his leadership our young players will continue to progress. The strategy of our club will remain unchanged - we will continue to rely on our own students. And, of course, Sekulic extensive international experience should help the players reach a new level, and our entire team to show a worthy result in the VTB United League.

Andrey Vedischev, President PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban

I am very pleased to become a part of the Loko family. The club has achieved amazing results in the past with excellent coaches and a prominent position in the international arena. My task and desire is to continue the work that was done in the past by excellent mentors. And try to show that Loko fans can count on new successes, the bar for which my predecessors set very high. We have a lot of work to do with very talented Russian players who are an important part of Lokomotiv Kuban.

Alexander Sekulic, Head coach PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban

Loko has one of the strongest youth training schools in Europe. I know how strong and high-quality the training of young talents is in Krasnodar, I know from the players and coaches who have already worked at the club, as well as from those who played against them. I'm glad to be part of such a team, I'm glad to be able to pass on my experience to young players. Loko is one of the top clubs of the VTB United League, which is one of the strongest in Europe. I will be happy to share my experience and help the team win - after all, this is our main goal!

Jurica Žuža, assistant coach PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban