By Stavros Barbaroussis / info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi Tel Aviv has parted ways with head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos after nearly four years, as it was officially announced by the club.
The Israeli side has been struggling all season long, though a defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli State Cup on Monday night called for immediate action from the club’s side.
Per club’s announcement:
“Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv’s Owners and management met today coach Giannis Sfairopoulos and came to a conclusion that the coach will step down from his duties. The experienced coach, who directed the yellows to win the last three Israeli championships and last year’s State Cup, will leave the team after over three years at the helm alongside assistant coach Vassilis Geragotelis. Avi Even will serve as interim head coach.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club wishes to thank coach Giannis Sfairopoulos for changing the culture in the team when he arrived, his contribution to elevating young players and coaches, leading the team to a secured EuroLeague playoffs spot in the unfinished 2019/20 season, and of course orchestrating three consecutive Israeli championships, one State Cup and two Winner Cups during his three-and-a-half seasons on the sidelines, while creating a special connection to the Maccabi spirit and legacy. Good luck”.
Maccabi is currently placed in the 12th spot of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings while holding on to an 11-12 record, far from the club’s initial projections for the season. Despite the club’s initial support to the Greek coach in December, the negative results have affected the outcome of their collaboration.
Sfairopoulos first joined Maccabi in 2018, following a four-year stint with Olympiacos. He has served as a head coach for Panionios, PAOK and Kolossos Rhodes, while he has also been an assistant coach for the Greek NT, CSKA Moscow and the Houston Rockets, among other teams.
Maccabi has already started talks with former player and most recently Panathinikos coach Oded Kattash