By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Sfairopoulos became the head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv in November 2018. After leading the “Yellows” to win the Israeli League, he’s now pushed the team towards a playoff return for the first time since 2016.
Before the EuroLeague suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, Maccabi was tied with defending champion CSKA Moscow at the fourth place in the standings and competing for a spot that grants homecourt advantage in the postseason.
“We have already shown to everyone, both in Israel and abroad, that we have changed Maccabi’s mentality and the form we play. It’s very positive and we are all very happy about it. We continue together to the end,” Sfairopoulos said in an interview for Maccabi’s website, in light of his birthday. The Greek coach, who signed a three-year extension with Maccabi in December, became 53 on March 21.
“When I came to Maccabi my first goal was to make a change in the mentality of the team,” Sfairopoulos previously mentioned in the interview. “I made calls and had personal meetings with all the players. I listened to them and talked to them. We talked about how we are supposed to continue together and started to practice hard.”
Sfairopoulos is coaching abroad for the first time since his 2011-2012 stint with CSKA Moscow as an assistant to Jonas Kazlauskas. He came to love Israel for a multitude of reasons.
“I fell in love with the whole country. It’s a very beautiful country with sun, sea, very organized and a country that helps people live a good life with access to nature, parks, hiking trails by the beach and warm people. It’s something I love because everyone here is friendly to me and my family,” Sfairopoulos said.