The head coach of the Croatian national basketball team spoke in a major interview for Index about the World Cup qualifiers, the challenges of assembling the team, and his rich career.
The Croatian national basketball team, led by head coach Tomislav Mijatović (50), has achieved an impressive 5:1 record in Group E of the World Cup qualifiers, securing first place. In a major interview for Index.hr, Mijatović discussed the key to success, the challenges of working with the national team, his career, and his legendary nickname, Tigar.
After two dominant victories over Cyprus and Israel in the last qualifying window, Mijatović emphasized that the key was a serious approach. "For a year now, I've been stressing that we want to take every opponent as seriously as possible, regardless of who shows up or doesn't. If we play that way, we can achieve great things," Mijatović told Index.
Despite the excellent results, the head coach remains grounded. "There's no euphoria with me; I'm not part of the euphoric crowd. We need to maintain stability, humility, and dedication," he said. Croatia aims to return to the World Cup, having last appeared in 2014, when they finished 10th.
Mijatović particularly stressed the importance of communication with players competing around the world. "Right away, my staff and I held meetings with the players, and we're in constant contact. We're a small country, but I'm pleased that we have players at all levels, from the NBA, NCAA, EuroLeague, EuroCup..." he pointed out.
As an example of dedication to the national team, Mijatović singled out Ivica Zubac, Dario Šarić, and Mario Hezonja, whose arrival into an already well-oiled roster creates a positive story. "Jaleen Smith practically lived in Zagreb just to join the national team after the season," the coach revealed.
He also commented on the trend of young players heading to American universities. "I'm not one to complain or cry about things. It's a trend in basketball that allows players to go to America and offers them unprecedented earnings. You have the example of a player who was drafted in the second round last year and lost five and a half million dollars per year," Mijatović said, adding that he sees it as an opportunity from which Croatian basketball can benefit.
Mijatović also recalled his coaching beginnings. At just 25, he became an assistant at Cibona thanks to the vision of Neven Spahija. "He decided to bring a young coach into Cibona, which was a serious EuroLeague club in the early 2000s. At the time, I was younger than half of Cibona's team," he recalled. After that came an invitation to join the national team staff, and his career, as he puts it, took off "like a fairy tale."
The pivotal moment came in 2010 when, instead of taking over Cibona, he chose to join Turkish club Efes as an assistant to Velimir Perasović. "I wanted to work with Velimir Perasović, who had received an offer from Efes that season. He made me a phenomenal offer. He told the club's management that he specifically wanted me as his assistant. That was a coaching and human gesture from a senior colleague that I couldn't refuse," Mijatović explained. At Efes, he became a legend, winning two EuroLeague titles (2021 and 2022) and three Turkish championships.
One of the interview's highlights is the story behind his nickname, Tigar, which he has carried for over 20 years. "I really don't know how it started. I know it goes back to my early coaching days at Cibona. I was a year older than some of the guys, younger than others. I was the coach, and we just clicked. That friendship has lasted over 20 years. The nickname has stuck with me to this day," he said.
Mijatović lives in Istanbul with his wife and son, a city he considers his second home. "Istanbul is a huge city, but it's a city of very warm people. It easily gets under your skin because its neighborhoods have charm, yet it's a megacity. It's a beautiful city that, along with Zagreb and Croatia, is my second home. Istanbul is a part of me," he described the city where his entire family life unfolds.
Although he has worked with numerous great coaches like Dušan Ivković, Jasmin Repeša, and Ergin Ataman, Mijatović doesn't single out just one role model. "I've had the great privilege of working with many great world-class coaches. I can't say that one person has defined me. I'm proud that I can reach many of them at any time of day," he said.
Croatia now faces another qualifying group to return to the big stage of the World Cup.
