Dejan Stankovic resigns after Red Star’s Champions League exit

Dejan Stankovic has resigned as Red Star Belgrade head coach following elimination from Champions League qualifying. The members of his coaching staff also left their positions.

General director Zvezdan Terzic confirmed the decision after an emergency board meeting. The club expects to appoint a replacement before its next European tie.

Hapoel won both matches

Red Star entered the return leg one goal behind after losing the first match. Hapoel Be’er Sheva then won 2-0 in Belgrade. The Serbian champions were therefore eliminated with three unanswered goals across the tie. They did not produce the home response expected by their support.

Stankovic received a red card for protesting during the second half. He had to leave the technical area while the score was still close. Hapoel controlled the closing stage and completed qualification. Red Star now moves from Champions League qualifying into the Europa League route.

The resignation followed the final whistle

Stankovic informed the club of his decision after the match. He was not present for the planned post-match press conference. Assistant coach Nenad Sakic belonged to the same staff and did not replace him there. The club later apologised for cancelling that media appearance.

The full coaching group resigned together rather than leaving one assistant in temporary control. That created an immediate need for a new appointment. Terzic said the club had already discussed several possible candidates. He did not identify a preferred name before an agreement was complete.

Red Star has a short appointment window

European registration for the new coach closes on Friday night. Terzic expects the club to make its decision within two days. Red Star’s next European opponent is Viktoria Plzen.

The first match of that tie is scheduled for 20 August.

A new coach will therefore receive limited preparation time. The squad also continues its domestic schedule during the same period. Club officials have spoken with two of three candidates under consideration. Negotiations remain private until one appointment is completed.

Stankovic’s two spells included domestic trophies

Stankovic first became Red Star coach in December 2019. His opening spell brought league titles, Serbian Cups and progress in the Europa League. The team completed the 2020-21 league season without defeat. It also reached the Europa League knockout stage during his first period.

He left in August 2022 and returned in December 2025. The second spell ended after the two defeats against Hapoel. Across both periods, he led Red Star in 195 matches. The record contained 149 wins, 26 draws and 20 defeats.

Champions League qualification remained missing

Stankovic won important domestic trophies but did not guide Red Star into the Champions League. Four qualifying exits occurred during his two spells. Omonia, Sheriff and Maccabi Haifa ended earlier attempts. Hapoel Be’er Sheva became the fourth team to stop his Red Star side.

The latest elimination caused concern because of the performance as well as the result. Club officials said the home display lacked confidence and control. The board did not dismiss the coach during its emergency meeting. Stankovic had already submitted his resignation after the match.

The club also announced leadership elections

Red Star will hold new elections for its senior leadership positions in December. The current administration received a four-year mandate in May. Terzic said club members would have the opportunity to present another direction. The election decision followed the same emergency board meeting. The immediate sporting task remains separate from that process. Red Star needs a coach before facing Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League qualifier.

Stankovic’s departure is already final and includes his staff. The next appointment will begin during a demanding run of domestic and European matches. Red Star began the return match needing to overturn a one-goal deficit. Hapoel protected that advantage and added two goals in Belgrade. The home side created pressure but did not turn it into a goal. Stankovic’s red card removed him from the technical area during the second half. His staff then managed the remaining minutes from the bench. The defeat completed a 3-0 aggregate result. It also moved Red Star into Europa League qualifying instead of ending its European season completely.

Stankovic’s decision included every member of his senior coaching group. No assistant remained as a confirmed temporary head coach. Terzic accepted the resignation after speaking with Stankovic. The emergency board then discussed the next appointment and wider club leadership. UEFA registration for the Viktoria Plzen tie closes on Friday night. The first match is scheduled for 20 August. Red Star therefore entered the week with a vacant coaching position and an active European campaign. His record of 149 victories came across two separate periods. Domestic success formed the strongest part of both spells. Red Star won league and cup trophies while maintaining a high winning rate. Champions League qualification remained the main sporting problem. Four opponents stopped the club before the competition’s main stage under Stankovic. The latest defeat followed Omonia, Sheriff and Maccabi Haifa in that list. Those exits do not erase the trophies, but they explain the timing and pressure around his resignation. The next coach inherits an active European campaign and a domestic title defence.

Viktoria Plzen is Red Star’s confirmed opponent in Europa League qualifying. The first leg follows only days after the club announced Stankovic’s departure. December elections concern the club’s leadership rather than the immediate team selection. Members will vote on the senior administration after several more months of competition. Stankovic and every member of his coaching staff have already left. The identity of the replacement remained undecided after the emergency board meeting. Red Star’s European season continues despite the Champions League exit. The defeat moved the club into Europa League qualifying instead of ending all continental matches. That distinction gives the next coach an immediate competitive task. Viktoria Plzen will arrive before a long adjustment period is possible. Domestic matches also continue while the staff changes. Stankovic left through his resignation after the board meeting. The club then began an appointment process with a fixed registration deadline. Terzic confirmed that talks had started but did not announce an agreement. Until a contract is signed, Red Star has a vacancy rather than a confirmed successor. Possible names remain separate from the completed departure.