Veljko Mršić

Veljko Mršić
Split
Position	Head coach
League	Croatian League; ABA League
Personal information
Born	13 April 1971 (age 53); Split, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia
Nationality	Croatian
Listed height	6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
NBA draft	1993: undrafted
Playing career	1989–2005
Position	Shooting guard / small forward
Coaching career	2006–present
Career history
As player:
1989	Borac Čapljina
1989–1995	Cibona
1996	Nesas
1996–1997	Žalgiris Kaunas
1997–1998	Cibona
1998–1999	Varese
1999–2002	Málaga
2002	Olympiacos
2002–2003	Casademont Girona
2003	Pippo Milano
2003	Granada
2004	Split
2004	Ülkerspor
2004–2005	Kyiv
As coach:
2006	Split
2007	Varese
2012	Cibona
2015–2017	Cedevita
2017–2018	Bilbao Basket
2019–2022	Croatia
2020–2021	Zadar
2022–2024	Río Breogán
2025–present	Split
Career highlights and awards
	As player FIBA Korać Cup champion (2001); 5× Croatian League champion (1992–1995, 1998); Lithuanian League champion (1997); Italian League champion (1999); Croatian Cup winner (1995); FIBA European Selection (1995); 2× Liga ACB All-Star (1999, 2001); As head coach Stanković Cup winner (2019); 4× Croatian League champion (2015–2017, 2021); 3× Croatian Cup winner (2016, 2017, 2021);
Men's basketball
Representing Croatia
FIBA World Cup
EuroBasket

Veljko Mršić (pronounced [ʋěːʎko mr̂ʃitɕ]; born 13 April 1971) is a Croatian professional basketball coach and former player, who is currently the head coach of the Split of the Croatian Premijer liga and the ABA League.

Playing career

Mršić was a member of the FIBA European Selection team in 1995.

National team career

Mršić was a member of the Croatia men's national basketball team, which won bronze medals at the 1994 World Championship, 1993 EuroBasket and at the 1995 EuroBasket. He was also on the squad for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, 1999 EuroBasket and for the 2001 EuroBasket.^[1]

Coaching career

Split (2006)

Mršić started his head coaching career with his hometown club Split. On 15 June 2006, he was named head coach of the club,^[2] but following a series of poor results in the NLB League, he was sacked on 13 December 2006.^[3]

Varese (2007–2008)

Following the dismissal at his hometown, Mršić was appointed head coach for Pallacanestro Varese of the Italian Serie A on 13 June 2007.^[4]

Cedevita (2011–2012, 2013–2017)

In 2011 Mršić was named head coach of the Cedevita junior team, with which he celebrated winning the 2012 Croatian championship title. Later he worked as an assistant coach under Cedevita head coach Jasmin Repeša, who left the club for health reasons in June 2015 when Mršić succeeded him as the new head coach of the senior team.^[5]

In Mršić's inaugural season with Cedevita, the club won the Croatian League title and reached the playoffs of the ABA League.^[6]

In the following season, Cedevita again won the national league title, but lost the ABA League playoffs final game tie to Serbian team Crvena zvezda.^[7] In May 2017 Mršić was fired from Cedevita and replaced by renowned Slovenian coach Jure Zdovc.^[8]

Cibona (2012)

On 11 June 2012, Mršić was named head coach of Cibona.^[9] He signed a three-year deal, but on 26 November 2012, he was sacked.^[10]

Bilbao Basket (2017–2018)

On 27 November 2017, Mršić was named head coach of the Spanish Liga ACB team Bilbao Basket.^[11] On 30 April 2018, he parted ways with the Spanish team, which was then taken by Slovenian coach Jaka Lakovič.^[12]

Zadar (2020–2021)

On 25 June 2020, Mršić was named head coach of Croatian club Zadar.^[13]^[14] In his inaugural season at the club, he celebrated winning the national cup title in February 2021.^[15]

In June 2021 Mršić led Zadar to win the national league title, for the first time since the 2007–08 season.^[16]^[17]^[18] In July 2021, he left Zadar.^[19]

Río Breogán (2022–2024)

On January 20, 2022, he has signed with Río Breogán of the Liga ACB.^[20] In December 2024, after a bad start of the 2024–25 ACB season, winning in only two of the first nine games, Mršić was replaced by Luis Casimiro as the head coach.^[21]

Split (2025–present)

In January 2025, Mršić was back in Split, the club where he started his coaching carrier.^[22]

Coaching record

Legend
G	Games coached	W	Games won	L	Games lost	W–L %	Win-loss %

Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the team played during the season. He also coached in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.

EuroLeague

Team	Year	G	W	L	W–L%	Result
Cedevita	2015–16	10	4	6	.400	Eliminated in Top 16 stage
Career		10	4	6	.400

National team coaching

Croatia (2019–2022)

On 2 May 2019, the Croatian Basketball Federation announced Mršić was appointed head coach of the Croatian national basketball team.^[23]

Mršić debuted at Croatia bench at the 2019 NBA Summer League, while in July he celebrated winning the Stanković Cup title in China.^[24]^[25]

On 5 February 2020, Mršić published the roster for the 2022 EuroBasket qualifiers, bringing back two experienced players, Krunoslav Simon and Roko Ukić, on the national squad.^[26] On 21 and 24 February, Croatia opened qualifiers with two consecutive wins, against Sweden (72–56)^[27] and the Netherlands (69–59).^[28] On 29 November 2020, Croatia secured its place in the finals with a 87–72 victory over Sweden.^[29] On 20 January 2022, Mršić left his post as the national head coach.^[30]

Awards and accomplishments

Club titles that Mršić won as a senior level player:

Croatian League Champion:
- 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998
Lithuanian League Champion:
- 1997
Italian League Champion:
- 1999
FIBA Korać Cup Champion:
- 2000–01
Croatian Cup Winner:
- 1995

Club titles that Mršić won as a head coach:

Croatian League Champion: (with Cedevita: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17; with Zadar: 2020–21)
Croatian Cup Winner: (with Cedevita: 2015–16, 2016–17; with Zadar: 2020–21)

References

^ Veljko MRSIC.
^ "Veljko Mršić novi trener Splićana". Index.hr (in Croatian). 15 June 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
^ "Veljko Mršić više nije trener Splita". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 13 December 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
^ "Veljko Mršić preuzima klupu talijanskog Varesea". 24sata (in Croatian). 13 June 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^ Bradovski, Mihaela (29 June 2015). "Veljko Mršić potvrđen za novog trenera Cedevite sljedeće sezone". sportnet.rtl.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^ "Cedevita treći put zaredom prvak Hrvatske" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^ "Cedevita obranila naslov Prvaka Hrvatske!" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^ Hina (8 June 2017). "Veljko Mršić više nije trener Cedevite". N1 HR (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^ "Cibona je bila brža: Veljko Mršić novi trener 'vukova'". tportal.hr (in Croatian). Tportal. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^ "Trener Cibone više nije Veljko Mršić" (in Croatian). KK Cibona. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
^ "Veljko Mrsic named Bilbao Basket head coach". Sportando. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
^ "Bilbao Basket parts ways with Veljko Mrsic, promotes Jaka Lakovic as head coach". Sportando. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
^ "Službeno: Izbornik Veljko Mršić novi je trener Zadra" (in Croatian). KK Zadar. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
^ "Veljko Mršić is new Zadar head coach". aba-liga.com. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
^ A.M./Hina (13 February 2021). "Zadar svladao Split i osvojio Kup Krešimira Ćosića" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
^ Index Sport (5 June 2021). "Zadar je prvak Hrvatske u košarci nakon 13 godina. Split pao pred publikom u Višnjiku". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 June 2021.
^ "Zadar je nakon 13 godina ponovno prvak Hrvatske!" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
^ KK Zadar (5 June 2021). "Zadar je prvak Hrvatske!". kkzadar.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 June 2021.
^ "Veljko Mršić ostaje hrvatski izbornik, poznato i do kada, ali napušta klupu Zadra". sportske.jutarnji.hr. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
^ "Veljko Mrsic dirixirá ao Río Breogán". cbbreogan.com (in Galician). 20 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
^ "Veljko Mršić napustio Rio Breogan: Neka se više ne ponavljaju zvižduci". hrt.hr (in Croatian). 5 December 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
^ "Veljko Mršić is the new Split bench boss". aba-liga.com. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
^ "Veljko Mršić novi izbornik hrvatske košarkaške reprezentacije" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^ "Izbornik Mršić: "Dat ćemo sve od sebe i pokušati osvojiti Kup Borislava Stankovića"" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. 21 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
^ "Hrvatska osvojila Stankovićev Kup!". crosarka.com (in Croatian). 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
^ "Mršić objavio popis: Simon i Ukić predvode Hrvatsku u borbi za Euro" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
^ "FOTO REPREZENTACIJA: Hrvatska riješila Švedsku već u prvoj četvrtini". Croatian Basketball Federation (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 February 2020.
^ "FOTO REPREZENTACIJA: Pobjeda nad Nizozemskom za savršen start kvalifikacija" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
^ Puljić, Tvrtko (29 November 2020). "Hrvatska ide na Eurobasket! Nakon Turske pala i Švedska, Mršićev adut zabio pet trica!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 14 February 2021.
^ "Veljko Mršić više nije izbornik hrvatske košarkaške reprezentacije". index.hr. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

External links

Euroleague.net Player Profile
Euroleague.net Coach Profile
FIBA Player Profile
FIBA Europe Player Profile
Spanish League Player Profile (in Spanish)
Italian League Player Profile (in Italian)

[1] Veljko MRSIC.

[2] "Veljko Mršić novi trener Splićana". Index.hr (in Croatian). 15 June 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2020.

[3] "Veljko Mršić više nije trener Splita". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 13 December 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2020.

[4] "Veljko Mršić preuzima klupu talijanskog Varesea". 24sata (in Croatian). 13 June 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

[5] Bradovski, Mihaela (29 June 2015). "Veljko Mršić potvrđen za novog trenera Cedevite sljedeće sezone". sportnet.rtl.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 June 2020.

[6] "Cedevita treći put zaredom prvak Hrvatske" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

[7] "Cedevita obranila naslov Prvaka Hrvatske!" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

[8] Hina (8 June 2017). "Veljko Mršić više nije trener Cedevite". N1 HR (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 June 2020.

[9] "Cibona je bila brža: Veljko Mršić novi trener 'vukova'". tportal.hr (in Croatian). Tportal. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

[10] "Trener Cibone više nije Veljko Mršić" (in Croatian). KK Cibona. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

[11] "Veljko Mrsic named Bilbao Basket head coach". Sportando. 27 November 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.

[12] "Bilbao Basket parts ways with Veljko Mrsic, promotes Jaka Lakovic as head coach". Sportando. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.

[13] "Službeno: Izbornik Veljko Mršić novi je trener Zadra" (in Croatian). KK Zadar. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

[14] "Veljko Mršić is new Zadar head coach". aba-liga.com. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

[15] A.M./Hina (13 February 2021). "Zadar svladao Split i osvojio Kup Krešimira Ćosića" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. Retrieved 14 February 2021.

[16] Index Sport (5 June 2021). "Zadar je prvak Hrvatske u košarci nakon 13 godina. Split pao pred publikom u Višnjiku". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 June 2021.

[17] "Zadar je nakon 13 godina ponovno prvak Hrvatske!" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.

[18] KK Zadar (5 June 2021). "Zadar je prvak Hrvatske!". kkzadar.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 June 2021.

[19] "Veljko Mršić ostaje hrvatski izbornik, poznato i do kada, ali napušta klupu Zadra". sportske.jutarnji.hr. Retrieved 14 July 2021.

[20] "Veljko Mrsic dirixirá ao Río Breogán". cbbreogan.com (in Galician). 20 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.

[21] "Veljko Mršić napustio Rio Breogan: Neka se više ne ponavljaju zvižduci". hrt.hr (in Croatian). 5 December 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2025.

[22] "Veljko Mršić is the new Split bench boss". aba-liga.com. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.

[23] "Veljko Mršić novi izbornik hrvatske košarkaške reprezentacije" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. Retrieved 2 May 2019.

[24] "Izbornik Mršić: "Dat ćemo sve od sebe i pokušati osvojiti Kup Borislava Stankovića"" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. 21 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.

[25] "Hrvatska osvojila Stankovićev Kup!". crosarka.com (in Croatian). 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.

[26] "Mršić objavio popis: Simon i Ukić predvode Hrvatsku u borbi za Euro" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020.

[27] "FOTO REPREZENTACIJA: Hrvatska riješila Švedsku već u prvoj četvrtini". Croatian Basketball Federation (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 February 2020.

[28] "FOTO REPREZENTACIJA: Pobjeda nad Nizozemskom za savršen start kvalifikacija" (in Croatian). Croatian Basketball Federation. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

[29] Puljić, Tvrtko (29 November 2020). "Hrvatska ide na Eurobasket! Nakon Turske pala i Švedska, Mršićev adut zabio pet trica!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 14 February 2021.

[30] "Veljko Mršić više nije izbornik hrvatske košarkaške reprezentacije". index.hr. Retrieved 20 January 2022.

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