By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Eurohoops had informed from last night that a deal between Giannis Sfairopoulos and Maccabi Tel Aviv was in place. As of Sunday morning and the team’s announcement, the 51-year-old Greek is officially the Israelis new head coach. He will replace Neven Spahjia who’s second Maccabi tenure ended due to the Israelis’ 2018-19 poor start.
Sfairopoulos signed a contract up to the end of the 2019-20 season confirming Eurohoops’ report. He will debut with his new club on Tuesday in Turkey, where Maccabi will face Anadolu Efes in Round 8 EuroLeague regular season game.
Per Maccabi’s announcement, he said: “I’m very proud to be a part of such a big club with a glorious tradition and join the Maccabi family. I would like to thank the owners, the management and everyone who helped this happen and expressed their confidence on me taking on the role of Maccabi’s coach”.
Sfairopoulos added: “I would like to tell the fans that I’ll do everything in my power to succeed. Now it’s time to work hard and change the situation we’re in. I believe in the players and the staff. We will fight together and we will be prepared to give 100% every time”.
He was Olympiacos’ head coach from 2014 until the end of last season. He previously worked as a head coach of various Greek teams and as an assistant at the Houston Rockets, CSKA Moscow and the Greek National Team, but now got his first head coach job in a team outside of Greece.
Goodes also out
As for 56-year old Spahija, Maccabi thanked him for his efforts and wished him luck in his future endeavors in a separate announcement. The Israelis also noted that Guy Goodes will not continue. Vasilis Geragotelis will take his place becoming Sfairopoulos’ assistant.