Barça’s New Coaching Team: Meet the Crew
Introducing the New Faces
The Barça basketball team has just revamped its coaching staff under the leadership of Aleksander Sekulic! They’ve added three fresh assistant coaches to the mix: meet Jurica Zuza, Jernej Valentincic, and Marc Estany. Oh, and don’t worry! Rafa Martínez and Xavier Beltran are still on-board from way back in 2023. Talk about a reunion!
Jurica Zuza: The Trusty Sidekick
At 48 years young, Jurica Zuza steps in as Sekulic’s right-hand man. These two have been inseparable since 2021, starting their adventure together at ERA Nymburk in the Czech Republic. If that wasn’t enough, he followed Sekulic to Russia for his stints with Lokomotiv Kuban (2022/24) and Zenit (2025/26). This Croatian giant (standing tall at 2.06 meters) has danced his way through leagues in Croatia, Greece, Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, and Qatar before hanging up his sneakers in Lietkabelis Lithuania. He kicked off his coaching journey as an assistant in the 2016/17 season and even led BC Neptunas as head coach in 2020. Talk about versatility!
Jernej Valentincic: The Trusty Ol’ Pal
Next up is Jernej Valentincic, 47, another of Sekulic’s trusted comrades. This duo has teamed up in Russia as well, popping into Lokomotiv Kuban (23/24) and Zenit (25/26) for some serious hoop fun. Jernej’s coaching roots began with Stoja in Croatia (2008/11), where he honed his skills. He went on to gain experience at Slovan, switching between assistant and head coach roles between 2011 and 2014. As if coaching club teams wasn’t enough, he also helped steer the Slovenian national team from 2017 to 2022. Talk about an all-star lineup!
Marc Estany: The Local Hero
Last but not least is Marc Estany, 35, who comes to the Palau Blaugrana after spending what feels like eons at Bàsquet Manresa! He’s worn many hats there but has been an assistant coach since 2017, working with legends like Aleix Duran, Pedro Martínez, Joan Peñarroya, and Diego Ocampo. Talk about covering all your bases!
The Road Ahead
This exciting new coaching team promises fresh energy and high hopes for the upcoming season. With World Cup aspirations and a full slate of Liga Endesa, NBA, and EuroLeague content on the horizon, it looks like Barça is gearing up for a thrilling ride!
