In her first season in Brazil, Jelena Todorovic became a pioneer in national men’s basketball. The 31-year-old Serbian-Australian is the first coach in the history of the NBB, heading Fortaleza Basquete Cearense.
This title is not merely a status: the head coach of Carcalion, as the team is known, achieved two victories in two important games, in the opening of the NBB. The first, against Vasco, by 88 to 78, and the second against Botafogo, by 84 to 80, showed the reformulation of the Ceará team taking effect.
— I’m here not just as a coach, but as a representative of my family, my people and my country. I want to leave a significant and lasting mark on Brazilian basketball — declared Jelena in an interview with the National Basketball League (LNB), before the start of the season.
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Who is Jelena Todorovic?
Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Jelena began her career as a player at Red Star, before moving into coaching. Along the way, he has played for clubs in Türkiye, Greece and Spain, as well as experience with youth teams and national teams. In this process, he worked on training and development projects for elite athletes.
With Serbian and Australian citizenship, she has an international background that includes collaborations with NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Contact with Fortaleza happened naturally, during an event in Ceará, when Jelena met team president Thális Braga and idol Felipe Ribeiro. “I felt that there was a connection of values, energy and mentality. The club’s project is solid, and the passion of the people here is contagious,” he told the league.
— The NBB is a competitive league, with incredible local talent and an environment that breathes basketball. I want to learn from this culture and contribute with my international experience — he said.
Work team at Fortaleza Basquete Cearense
In the new challenge, Jelena has the support of assistant coach Vladimir Dosenović, also a Serbian, aged 29, with experience in EuroLeague projects.
Among the new commission’s first challenges are cultural adaptation, building the game’s identity and getting along with the cast.
— It will be my fourth continent of work, and I know that each experience requires humility and listening. I’m ready to learn and lead at the same time — said the coach.
How was the last season of Fortaleza Basquete Cearense in the NBB
In the last season of the NBB, the Fortaleza Basketball Cearense finished in last place, after a complicated campaign, with just 29.4% success and ten wins in 34 games.
The team had to deal with changes in the squad, adjustments and an intense sequence of matches, some with results below expectations. The technician Spike commanded much of the campaign. The irregularity and physical exhaustion of the athletes at crucial moments ended up costing important results.
For the 2025/26 season, the Ceará team underwent a complete overhaul. In addition to the new coach, he made six new signings: point guard Alex Mudronja, center Bernardo Silva (ex-Pinheiros), center Rafael Rodrigues, forward Jack Gohlke, forward Aleksa Popovic and point guard Jean Lucas.
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