The director announced a big move: "If you can do better, here you go".

Following its elimination from the Champions League qualifiers, Red Star Belgrade has been engulfed in turmoil, with coach Dejan Stanković resigning and club president Zvezdan Terzić holding a heated press conference. The team will now attempt to qualify for the group stage of the Europa League, facing Czech side Viktoria Plzeň in the play-off round. If they fail, they will compete in the Conference League instead. The day after their 0-2 defeat against Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the third qualifying round, Terzić addressed reporters, expressing frustration over the team's performance. He criticized the players for showing signs of fear and noted that Stanković had told them that if they did not win, it would be his last 45 minutes on the bench. Terzić claimed that media pressure contributed to Stanković’s stress, particularly after four consecutive losses, including a 0-4 result. He stated that Stanković could not handle the pressure and passed it onto the players, leading to his resignation. Regarding the search for a new coach, Terzić mentioned that they were considering both domestic and foreign candidates. He indicated that discussions were ongoing and that the name of the new coach would soon be announced. He emphasized that the decision was made after extensive evaluation of all potential candidates. Reflecting on Stanković’s tenure, Terzić acknowledged that he had initially supported him but felt that the coach had placed too much pressure on himself. He recounted a conversation where Stanković warned that if they failed to advance, the board should look for a new manager. Terzić responded that such talk was unnecessary and later thanked Stanković for his efforts despite the outcome. He pointed out that the team had performed well in January and February, setting a standard for how Red Star should play in European competitions. However, as the season progressed, the team's performance declined. Terzić attributed this decline to a lack of proper preparation and support for the players, which affected their mental and psychological state. He admitted that while he had made decisions regarding training and strategy, he believed the responsibility lay more with the coaching staff than with the players themselves. Red Star was eliminated from the Champions League by Hapoel Be'er Sheva, who won the first leg 1-0 at home. In the return match in Belgrade, Red Star was heavily favored but lost 2-0, resulting in a 3-0 aggregate defeat. This marked the end of Stanković's second stint as head coach, with the club now seeking a replacement to lead them through the remainder of the season. In a separate statement, club director Terzić revealed that the board had decided to hold early elections for the club presidency, despite the new four-year mandate secured in May. He invited all interested parties to participate in the upcoming elections, emphasizing that the club needed fresh leadership to overcome its current challenges. He expressed confidence that someone could manage the club better with the available budget of €9.2 million. The absence of a press conference following the defeat was explained by Terzić, who cited the resignation of Stanković and his entire coaching staff as the reason for the lack of representation. The club is now focused on appointing a new coach and preparing for the upcoming matches in the Europa League play-offs.