By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A former team manager and team president of Panathinaikos, coming out of a five-year stint as the general manager of Zenit, Manos Papadopoulos is heading to Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv.
Papadopoulos, 61, penned a contract with the team based in Tel Aviv, as reported by Israeli outlet Sports Channel on Tuesday.
Winning the BKT EuroCup in April, Hapoel punched a ticket to the 2025-26 installment of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Through his earlier spells in Europe’s premier club competition, the experienced executive will serve in an advisory role and strengthen the relationship between the newcomers and the league, as noted.
Papadopoulos will reunite with the head coach of the Israeli club, Dimitris Itoudis. Greek representation extends to lead assistant Stefanos Dedas and GM George Hinas.
Following the continental campaign, the team guided by Itoudis focused on the domestic league and entered the Playoffs of the 2024-25 Winner League as the second seed. After sweeping Hapoel Gilboa Galil in a best-of-five series, a best-of-three series opposite third-seeded Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem follows in the Semifinals.
Winner League Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best of five)
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv – Ironi Hai Motors Ness Ziona 3-0 (96-73, 83-65, 98-75)
Bnei PenLink Herzeliya – Hapoel Netanel Holon 1-2 (78-86, 99-94, 94-86)
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv – Hapoel Gilboa Galil 3-0 (103-95, 93-78, 86-72)
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – Maccabi Ramat Gan 3-0 (81-58, 102-100, 87-61)
Semifinals (best of three)
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv – Bnei PenLink Herzeliya OR Hapoel Netanel Holon
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv – Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem
Finals (best of three)
Winners of Semifinals