By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Seeking the next head coach of the senior national team, the Israeli Basketball Association wants to hire Pablo Laso.
Laso, 55, has been offered the job, as reported by multiple Israeli outlets noting national teams general manager, former player and coach, Pini Gershon as the intermediary.
Since parting ways with Real Madrid last summer, the successful tactician has been on hold for a chance to resume his coaching career lacking a substantial link with a specific team. In this case, he has been in contact and is expected to meet with officials of Israel’s Basketball Association soon.
The previous boss of Israel’s national team, Guy Goodes resigned in November. The Blue and Whites failed to go through the preliminary stage of the tournament behind a fifth-place finish in Prague’s Group D and were eliminated from the 2023 FIBA World Cup under the guidance of 51-year-old play-caller, current head coach of Hapoel Atsmon Holon at the club level. The next challenges stretch from the conclusion of the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers to next summer’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and 2025 EuroBasket Qualifiers.
Laso was in charge of the Madrid giant from 2011 until suffering a heart attack during the 2022 Playoffs of Spain’s Liga Endesa. Later officially parting ways with Los Blancos was surrounded by controversy with the team citing medical reasons behind the decision to change head coach and Laso himself declaring himself healthy. The lengthy tenure produced two Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles along with numerous domestic championships.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net