Neno Ginzburg Appointed Head Coach of Israel National Basketball Team

Neno Ginzburg has been officially appointed as the new head coach of the Israel men's national basketball team on a two-year contract, the Israel Basketball Association announced on Thursday. Ginzburg will take over the role in July following the conclusion of the upcoming FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers campaign, succeeding Ariel Beit Halachmi.

Expressing his enthusiasm, the 63-year-old coach stated that leading the national team represents the pinnacle of his career. "I am happy and proud to be appointed as head coach of the Israel national team," Ginzburg said. "Coaching the national squad has been the peak of my ambitions since I started my career as a coach. I believe deeply in the Israeli basketball player and think we have an excellent generation capable of achieving great results in the coming years."

Ginzburg brings extensive international experience to the position, most notably serving as head coach of the Czech Republic national team for a decade from 2013 to 2023. Under his leadership, the Czechs reached the EuroBasket 2015 quarterfinals, finished sixth at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, and qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. His extensive resume also includes club coaching stints in the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Japan, and Poland, alongside domestic experience with teams such as Bnei Herzliya.

Israel Basketball Association Chairman Amos Frishman praised the appointment, highlighting Ginzburg's impressive track record at all levels of the game. Frishman also expressed gratitude to outgoing coach Ariel Beit Halachmi, who will complete his current qualifying campaign through February before stepping down.