Veljko Mršić

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Veljko Mršić

| image =Veljko Mršić 2021.jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| position = Head coach

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 220

| league = Croatian League
ABA League

| team = Split

| nationality = Croatian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|4|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Split, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia

| draft_year = 1993

| career_start = 1989

| career_end = 2005

| career_position = Shooting guard / small forward

| career_number =

| coach_start = 2006

| coach_end =

| years1 = 1989

| team1 = Borac Čapljina

| years2 = 1989–1995

| team2 = Cibona

| years3 = 1996

| team3 = Nesas

| years4 = 1996–1997

| team4 = Žalgiris Kaunas

| years5 = 1997–1998

| team5 = Cibona

| years6 = 1998–1999

| team6 = Varese

| years7 = 1999–2002

| team7 = Málaga

| years8 = 2002

| team8 = Olympiacos

| years9 = 2002–2003

| team9 = Casademont Girona

| years10 = 2003

| team10 = Pippo Milano

| years11 = 2003

| team11 = Granada

| years12 = 2004

| team12 = Split

| years13 = 2004

| team13 = Ülkerspor

| years14 = 2004–2005

| team14 = Kyiv

| cyears1 = 2006

| cteam1 = Split

| cyears2 = 2007

| cteam2 = Varese

| cyears3 = 2012

| cteam3 = Cibona

| cyears4 = 2015–2017

| cteam4 = Cedevita

| cyears5 = 2017–2018

| cteam5 = Bilbao Basket

| cyears6 = 2019–2022

| cteam6 = Croatia

| cyears7 = 2020–2021

| cteam7 = Zadar

| cyears8 = 2022–2024

| cteam8 = Río Breogán

| cyears9 = 2025–present

| cteam9 = Split

| highlights =

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)
4× Croatian Cup winner (2016, 2017, 2021, 2025)

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{bk|CRO}}}}

}}

Veljko Mršić ({{IPA|sh|ʋěːʎko mr̂ʃitɕ|pron}}; 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.[https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/lid_38135_cp/1/pid/8680/q/Veljko%20Mrsic/rpp//_//players.html Veljko MRSIC.]

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,{{cite web|url=https://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=319565 |title=Veljko Mršić novi trener Splićana |work=Index.hr |date=15 June 2006 |access-date=28 November 2020 |language=hr}} but following a series of poor results in the NLB League, he was sacked on 13 December 2006.{{cite web|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/naslovnica/veljko-mrsic-vise-nije-trener-splita-3765105 |title=Veljko Mršić više nije trener Splita |work=Jutarnji list |date=13 December 2006 |access-date=28 November 2020 |language=hr}}

= 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.24sata.hr/sport/veljko-mrsic-preuzima-klupu-talijanskog-varesea-20676 |title=Veljko Mršić preuzima klupu talijanskog Varesea |work=24sata |date=13 June 2007 |access-date=9 June 2020 |language=hr}}

= 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.{{cite web|first=Mihaela |last=Bradovski |url=https://sportnet.rtl.hr/vijesti/487253/kosarka-aba-liga/veljko-mrsic-potvrdjen-za-novog-trenera-cedevite-sljedece-sezone/ |title=Veljko Mršić potvrđen za novog trenera Cedevite sljedeće sezone |website=sportnet.rtl.hr |date=29 June 2015 |access-date=9 June 2020 |language=hr}}

In Mršić's inaugural season with Cedevita, the club won the Croatian League title and reached the playoffs of the ABA League.{{cite web|url=http://arhiva.hks-cbf.hr/vijesti/cedevita-treci-put-zaredom-prvak-hrvatske |title=Cedevita treći put zaredom prvak Hrvatske |publisher=Croatian Basketball Federation |date=3 June 2016 |access-date=9 June 2020 |language=hr}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://arhiva.hks-cbf.hr/vijesti/2017/cedevita-obranila-naslov-prvaka-hrvatske |title=Cedevita obranila naslov Prvaka Hrvatske! |publisher=Croatian Basketball Federation |date=1 June 2017 |access-date=9 June 2020 |language=hr}} In May 2017 Mršić was fired from Cedevita and replaced by renowned Slovenian coach Jure Zdovc.{{cite web|url=http://hr.n1info.com/Sport-Klub/Kosarka/a211709/Veljko-Mrsic-vise-nije-trener-Cedevite.html |title=Veljko Mršić više nije trener Cedevite |work=N1 HR |date=8 June 2017 |author=Hina |access-date=9 June 2020 |language=hr}}

= Cibona (2012) =

On 11 June 2012, Mršić was named head coach of Cibona.{{cite web|url=https://www.tportal.hr/sport/clanak/cibona-je-bila-brza-veljko-mrsic-novi-trener-vukova-20120611 |title=Cibona je bila brža: Veljko Mršić novi trener 'vukova' |website=tportal.hr |publisher=Tportal |date=11 June 2012 |access-date=9 June 2020 |language=hr}} He signed a three-year deal, but on 26 November 2012, he was sacked.{{cite web|url=https://www.cibona.com/2012/11/trener-cibone-vise-nije-veljko-mrsic/ |title=Trener Cibone više nije Veljko Mršić |publisher=KK Cibona |date=26 November 2012 |access-date=9 June 2020 |language=hr}}

= Bilbao Basket (2017–2018) =

On 27 November 2017, Mršić was named head coach of the Spanish Liga ACB team Bilbao Basket.{{cite web|title=Veljko Mrsic named Bilbao Basket head coach|url=https://www.sportando.com/en/spain/acb/255379/veljko-mrsic-named-bilbao-basket-head-coach.html|access-date=27 November 2017|publisher=Sportando|date=27 November 2017}} On 30 April 2018, he parted ways with the Spanish team, which was then taken by Slovenian coach Jaka Lakovič.{{cite web|title=Bilbao Basket parts ways with Veljko Mrsic, promotes Jaka Lakovic as head coach|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/spain/acb/272830/bilbao-basket-parts-ways-with-veljko-mrsic-promotes-jaka-lakovic-as-head-coach.html|access-date=30 April 2018|publisher=Sportando|date=30 April 2018}}

= Zadar (2020–2021) =

On 25 June 2020, Mršić was named head coach of Croatian club Zadar.{{cite web|url=https://kkzadar.hr/aba-liga/sluzbeno-izbornik-veljko-mrsic-novi-je-trener-zadra/ |title=Službeno: Izbornik Veljko Mršić novi je trener Zadra |publisher=KK Zadar |date=25 June 2020 |access-date=25 June 2020 |language=hr}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news.php?id=43612 |title=Veljko Mršić is new Zadar head coach |website=aba-liga.com |date=25 June 2020 |access-date=25 June 2020}} In his inaugural season at the club, he celebrated winning the national cup title in February 2021.{{cite web|author=A.M./Hina |url=https://sport.hrt.hr/kosarka/zadar-svladao-split-i-osvojio-kup-kresimira-cosica-604678 |title=Zadar svladao Split i osvojio Kup Krešimira Ćosića |publisher=Croatian Radiotelevision |date=13 February 2021 |access-date=14 February 2021 |language=hr}}

In June 2021 Mršić led Zadar to win the national league title, for the first time since the 2007–08 season.{{cite web|author=Index Sport |url=https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/zadar-je-prvak-hrvatske-u-kosarci-nakon-13-godina-split-pao-pred-publikom-u-visnjiku/2281364.aspx |title=Zadar je prvak Hrvatske u košarci nakon 13 godina. Split pao pred publikom u Višnjiku |work=Index.hr |date=5 June 2021 |access-date=30 June 2021 |language=hr}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hks-cbf.hr/ht-premijer-liga/2021/zadar-je-nakon-13-godina-ponovno-prvak-hrvatske/ |title=Zadar je nakon 13 godina ponovno prvak Hrvatske! |publisher=Croatian Basketball Federation |date=5 June 2021 |access-date=30 June 2021 |language=hr}}{{cite web|author=KK Zadar |url=https://kkzadar.hr/novosti/zadar-je-prvak-hrvatske/ |title=Zadar je prvak Hrvatske! |website=kkzadar.hr |date=5 June 2021 |access-date=30 June 2021 |language=hr}} In July 2021, he left Zadar.{{cite web |title=Veljko Mršić ostaje hrvatski izbornik, poznato i do kada, ali napušta klupu Zadra |url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/kosarka/kosarka-reprezentacija/veljko-mrsic-ostaje-hrvatski-izbornik-poznato-i-do-kada-ali-napusta-klupu-zadra-15087887 |website=sportske.jutarnji.hr |access-date=14 July 2021}}

= Río Breogán (2022–2024) =

On January 20, 2022, he has signed with Río Breogán of the Liga ACB.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbbreogan.com/veljko-mrsic-dirixira-ao-rio-breogan|title=Veljko Mrsic dirixirá ao Río Breogán

|last=|first=|date=January 20, 2022|website=cbbreogan.com|publisher=|language=gl|access-date=January 31, 2022}}

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.{{cite web |title=Veljko Mršić napustio Rio Breogan: Neka se više ne ponavljaju zvižduci|url=https://sport.hrt.hr/kosarka/veljko-mrsic-napustio-rio-breogan-neka-se-vise-ne-ponavljaju-zvizduci-11895085 |website=hrt.hr|date=5 December 2024 |accessdate=14 January 2025|lang=hr}}

= Split (2025–present) =

In January 2025, Mršić was back in Split, the club where he started his coaching carrier.{{cite web |title=Veljko Mršić is the new Split bench boss|url=https://www.aba-liga.com/news/52180/veljko-mrsic-is-the-new-split-bench-boss/ |website=aba-liga.com |date=13 January 2025|accessdate=14 January 2025}}

Coaching record

= EuroLeague =

| align="left"|Cedevita

| align="left"|2015–16

| 10 || 4 || 6 || {{Winning percentage|4|6}} || align="center"|Eliminated in Top 16 stage

|-class="sortbottom"

| align="center" colspan=2|Career||10||4||6||{{Winning percentage|4|6}}||

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.{{cite web|url=https://sport.hrt.hr/509755/izbori/veljko-mrsic-je-novi-izbornik-hrvatske-kosarkaske-reprezentacije |title=Veljko Mršić novi izbornik hrvatske košarkaške reprezentacije |publisher=Croatian Radiotelevision |access-date=2 May 2019 |language=hr}}

Mršić debuted at Croatia bench at the 2019 NBA Summer League, while in July he celebrated winning the Stanković Cup title in China.{{cite web|url=https://www.hks-cbf.hr/vijesti/2019/izbornik-mrsic-dat-cemo-sve-od-sebe-i-pokusati-osvojiti-kup-borislava-stankovica |title=Izbornik Mršić: "Dat ćemo sve od sebe i pokušati osvojiti Kup Borislava Stankovića" |publisher=Croatian Basketball Federation |date=21 July 2019 |access-date=24 July 2019 |language=hr}}{{cite web|url=http://crosarka.com/crosarka-news/hrvatska-osvojila-stankovicev-kup-136528 |title=Hrvatska osvojila Stankovićev Kup! |website=crosarka.com |access-date=24 July 2019 |date=24 July 2019 |language=hr}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://sport.hrt.hr/579922/mrsic-objavio-popis-simon-i-ukic-predvode-hrvatsku-u-borbi-za-euro |title=Mršić objavio popis: Simon i Ukić predvode Hrvatsku u borbi za Euro |publisher=Croatian Radiotelevision |date=5 February 2020 |access-date=15 February 2020 |language=hr}} On 21 and 24 February, Croatia opened qualifiers with two consecutive wins, against Sweden (72–56){{cite web|url=https://www.hks-cbf.hr/reprezentacije/2020/foto-reprezentacija-hrvatska-rijesila-svedsku-vec-u-prvoj-cetvrtini/ |title=FOTO REPREZENTACIJA: Hrvatska riješila Švedsku već u prvoj četvrtini |website=Croatian Basketball Federation |access-date=25 February 2020 |language=hr}} and the Netherlands (69–59).{{cite web|url=https://www.hks-cbf.hr/reprezentacije/2020/foto-reprezentacija-pobjeda-nad-nizozemskom-za-savrsen-start-kvalifikacija/ |title=FOTO REPREZENTACIJA: Pobjeda nad Nizozemskom za savršen start kvalifikacija |publisher=Croatian Basketball Federation |access-date=25 February 2020 |language=hr}} On 29 November 2020, Croatia secured its place in the finals with a 87–72 victory over Sweden.{{cite web|first=Tvrtko |last=Puljić |url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/kosarka/kosarka-reprezentacija/hrvatska-ide-na-eurobasket-nakon-turske-pala-i-svedska-mrsicev-adut-zabio-pet-trica-15033945 |title=Hrvatska ide na Eurobasket! Nakon Turske pala i Švedska, Mršićev adut zabio pet trica! |work=Sportske novosti |date=29 November 2020 |access-date=14 February 2021 |language=hr}} On 20 January 2022, Mršić left his post as the national head coach.{{cite web |title=Veljko Mršić više nije izbornik hrvatske košarkaške reprezentacije |url=https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/veljko-mrsic-vise-nije-izbornik-hrvatske-kosarkaske-reprezentacije/2333386.aspx |website=index.hr |access-date=20 January 2022}}

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

External links

[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=AWT#!careerstats Euroleague.net Player Profile]
[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/coaches/showcoach?pcode=AWT&seasoncode=E2015 Euroleague.net Coach Profile]
[https://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/lid_38135_cp/1/pid/8680/q/Veljko%20Mrsic/rpp//_//players.html FIBA Player Profile]
[http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_BYg5Rb55Jw-G5I3MZ6JB01.season_2005.roundID_4109.teamID_5323.playerID_8680.html FIBA Europe Player Profile]
[http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=A3M Spanish League Player Profile] {{in lang|es}}
[http://web.legabasket.it/player/?id=MRS-VEL-71 Italian League Player Profile] {{in lang|it}}

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Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:1994 FIBA World Championship players

Category:Baloncesto Málaga players

Category:Basketball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Category:BC Kyiv players

Category:BC Žalgiris players

Category:CB Girona players

Category:CB Granada players

Category:Croatian basketball coaches