Ljiljanko Naletilić was involved in sport since his school days and became very active with the football club NK Široki Brijeg and the basketball club HKK Široki. With both teams based in the city of Široki Brijeg in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Naletilić worked with them from their small beginnings as provincial clubs to their success as state champions. He later served as President of both organisations as well as the President of the Herceg-Bosna Basketball Association and the BiH Basketball Association. Naletilić helped to found the National Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving as their President from September to December 2001.