By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Turkish Basketball Federation has appointed experienced manager Alper Yılmaz to the position of Sports Director, which was created for the sports management of all leagues and national teams.
The 49-year-old Yilmaz, who has an important place in Turkish basketball with his 15 years of management experience at Anadolu Efes Sports Club and his playing career, will serve as the Sports Director within the TBF.
Before switching to a career as an executive, Yilmaz played for Efes Pilsen between 2001 and 2006, contributing to four BSL championships in Turkiye between 2001-02 and 2004-05. Additional success went into being a member of a Cup-winning team twice, in 2001 and 2002. Over those six years, he also featured in 80 games of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
He returned to the club in 2009 as the sports director and took over as general manager in 2015. In the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, behind back-to-back EuroLeague championships, he won the Gianluigi Porelli EuroLeague Executive of the Year Trophy. Domestic titles during his stint went to three league championships, three Cups, and six Presidential Cups.
The team coached by Tomislav Mijatovic is heading to the next double-game week of the 2024-25 EuroLeague Regular Season amid developments in the front office. Sitting inside the Play-In Showdown zone at 4-4, the challenge in Round 9 is against Baskonia in Fernando Buesa Arena, later Tuesday evening. Moving to the capital of Spain for Round 10, the next matchup is opposite Real Madrid on Thursday.
In the 2024-25 installment of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi, Efes is tied with Tofas at 6-0 on top of the standings.