Many Serbian athletes decided to enter politics after ending their sports careers. Some joined opposition parties, while the majority became part of the ruling ones. In the following text, we present Serbian athletes who transitioned from sports to politics.
DRAGAN KICANOVIC
The legendary basketball player Dragan Kićanović entered politics after his playing and sports career, primarily through his work in sports institutions and government bodies. He served as the Minister of Youth and Sports from July 1991 to September 1992. Later, he was President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia from 1996 to 2005.
RADMILO MISOVIC
The famed Borac Čačak basketball player was a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia from 2000 to 2003. He was a member of Željko Ražnatović Arkan’s Party of Serbian Unity and, by his own account, entered politics to save Borac from collapse. From 2007 to 2009, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Basketball Federation of Serbia.
DRAGISA BINIC
During the same period, Dragiša Binić, a European Cup winner with Red Star Belgrade, was also a member of parliament representing Arkan’s Party of Serbian Unity. At that time, he was also an official of FK Obilic.
Binic is one of serbian players who won the Champions league:
ALISA MARIC
The famous chess grandmaster Alisa Marić served as Minister of Youth and Sports in Ivica Dačić’s government from July 2012 to September 2013. She was also a member of the Presidency of the Olympic Committee of Serbia from 2001 to 2008.
VANJA UDOVICIC
Alisa Marić’s successor as Minister of Youth and Sports was Vanja Udovičić, who moved directly from the pool into politics. His decision to end his sports career at age 31 and enter politics came as a surprise to many. He held the ministerial post from September 2013 to October 2022.
Slika levo:
Vanja Udovičić: “To će biti jedan od osam stadiona koji će se praviti širom Srbije, a Vlada će u potpunosti finansirati taj projekat.”
Slika desno:
Mapa bede u Srbiji pic.twitter.com/hCV2Ezk81A
— Dušan Teodorović (@duteodor1) March 5, 2020
ALEKSANDAR SAPIC
The all-time top scorer of Serbia’s national water polo team entered politics immediately after retiring from professional sports. He was elected President of the New Belgrade Municipality in 2012 and served three terms. In 2021, he merged his party, the Serbian Patriotic Alliance, with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), and he is currently the Mayor of Belgrade.
Gradonačelnik Beograda Aleksandar Šapić izjavio je da će se zbog uštede smanjiti broj sedišta u autobusima, pa će GSP uskoro prepoloviti broj mesta za sedenje. Na nekim linijama, pretežno ka Mirijevu, uskoro će u potpunosti ukinuti mesta za sedenje.
Izvor GBNC pic.twitter.com/GTM3v6jCVC
— Gibanica and 100 others (@jos5_minuta) November 26, 2024
DEJAN TOMASEVIC
The celebrated Serbian basketball player Dejan Tomašević joined the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in 2023. Since February 2024, he has been a member of the National Assembly of Serbia.
“Svaki igrač kojeg dovede Željko Obradović u svoj klub treba odmah da ga pita za broj žiro računa i da mu uplaćuje 50% svoje plate jer će toliko napredovati kod njega.”
– Dejan Tomašević pic.twitter.com/xGiMntcd5Z
— Snikpe Grobar (@SnikpeGrobar) February 4, 2023
JANKO TIPSAREVIC
One of the best Serbian tennis players of all time, Janko Tipsarević, became a member of the Serbian Progressive Party in May 2023. Since June 2024, he has served as a city councilor in the Belgrade City Assembly.
🇷🇸🙏🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/GO2EKMSIPd
— Janko Tipsarevic (@TipsarevicJanko) February 20, 2024
VLADIMIR STIMAC
Renowned basketball player Vladimir Štimac became a city councilor in the Belgrade Assembly representing the NADA coalition in 2024. In November 2024, he founded a civic organization called “National Strength” (Nacionalna Snaga).
Baskete gitmeye bugün başlamadık be Vladimir Stimac pic.twitter.com/iE8vbcGm8y
— YankeeeEmre (@YankeeeEmre1903) December 18, 2023
MARKO KESELJ
Another well-known Serbian basketball player, Marko Kešelj, joined the Serbian Progressive Party in 2022. He currently serves as State Secretary for Sports in the Government of Serbia.
DEJAN BODIROGA
The legendary basketball player Dejan Bodiroga is currently the President of the EuroLeague. In addition, he is a signatory of the “ProGlas” civic initiative and a frequent speaker at public events across Serbia.
“Vi, studenti i profesori, koji ste ustali za istinu i pravdu, vi ste Vidovdan”
Dejan Bodiroga
28.06.2025. Beograd pic.twitter.com/6HL915PzCn— fm Maestro (@fmMaestro1) July 1, 2025
Bodiroga is one of the highest scoring players in the history of Serbian national basketball team:
Top 10 scorers in the history of the Serbian national basketball team
ZELJKO REBRACA
Another famous Serbian basketball player, Željko Rebrača, joined the Serbian Progressive Party in October 2023 and was elected as a member of parliament the same year. He currently serves as President of the basketball club Vojvodina from Novi Sad.
Željko Rebrača u Brzom Brodu: Bitno je da budemo zdravi i da podržimo Aleksandra Vučića – https://t.co/72ZBWXprex pic.twitter.com/wJP5xJ6t74
— Glas Juga (@juga_glas) May 28, 2024
ZORAN GAJIC
The coach of Serbia’s golden volleyball generation that won Olympic gold in Sydney, Zoran Gajić, is the current Minister of Youth and Sports in the Government of Serbia. He served as President of the Volleyball Federation of Serbia from November 2016 to November 2022.
🇷🇸 🇷🇺Minister sportu Serbii Zoran Gajic stwierdził, że jego kraj jest gotowy do organizacji meczów drużyn rosyjskich, jeśli powrócą one na arenę międzynarodową
🗣 Oczywiście, że jesteśmy gotowi. Mamy Hapoel i Maccabi z Izraela, które grają u nasz mecze w koszykówkę. Jesteśmy… pic.twitter.com/x32w5FDgGZ
— Bartłomiej Banasiewicz (@babanasiewicz) June 20, 2025
