Maccabi signed David Blatt for 3 seasons

A very familiar face is back to Maccabi Electra to step in as head coach, none other than David Blatt, who inked a three-year deal with the Israeli powerhouse on Friday.


Blatt, 51, returns to Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he led the team to the Euroleague Final Four in 2002, also capturing two Israeli League titles in 2002 and 2003. Blatt won a FIBA SuproLeague title in 2001 and a Euroleague trophy in 2004, on both occasions as a Maccabi assistant coach. Blatt then coached Dynamo St. Petersburg to the 2005 FIBA Europe League crown before moving to Treviso, Italy. In his first season with Benetton, Blatt took the Italian League title. Blatt has also coached Hapoel Galil Elyon in Israel, Efes Pilsen in Turkey, Dynamo Moscow in Russia and Aris BSA in Greece.

He has also won national cups in both Israel and Italy. Blatt has been the Israeli national team coach and currently holds the same position in Russia. He led Russia to the EuroBasket 2007 title and coached the team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. "I'm very happy to return home," said Blatt in the official press release published by Maccabi on Friday morning. "It is a big honor for me to continue the job Pini Gershon has done in the club. We have a long way ahead of us. Let's wish the best of luck to everybody. I want to return Maccabi to its natural and worthy place in Israeli and European basketball. We are going to do that with a lot of determination and character. I wish to bring Maccabi closer to our people's hearts, because there are so many people who love this wonderful club and want to see its success. If we stay together, I believe we will make it happen."

source : euroleague.net

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