By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes has officially ushered in a new era by welcoming back legendary executive Alper Yilmaz as the new general manager, a move confirmed on Tuesday following his departure from the Turkish Basketball Federation on Monday.
The 51-year-old’s return to the Istanbul powerhouse marks a significant homecoming for the individual most responsible for the club’s recent golden age. TBF expressed deep gratitude for Yilmaz’s visionary leadership as sporting director since 2024, noting his success in bridging the gap between youth development and the senior national team, but the pull of his former club proved irresistible as Efes seeks to stabilize its continental standing.
Yilmaz’s legacy at the club is peerless, spanning both the hardwood and the front office. An Ankara native, he first cemented his status as a fan favorite while playing for Efes Pilsen between 2001 and 2006, securing four Turkish League titles. However, his transition to management defined a generation of European basketball. After ascending to general director in 2015, Yilmaz orchestrated a historic run that culminated in back-to-back Turkish EuroLeague championships in 2021 and 2022. His strategic brilliance earned him the Gianluigi Porelli EuroLeague Executive of the Year Trophy twice, alongside a massive domestic haul of three league championships, three Turkish Cups, and six Presidential Cups.
Kulübümüze hem oyuncu hem de yönetici olarak çok uzun süre hizmet etmiş, A Takım düzeyinde 22 kupa kazanmış, EuroLeague tarafından iki yıl üst üste “Gianluigi Porelli EuroLeague Yılın Yöneticisi” seçilmiş olan Alper Yılmaz, Genel Direktörümüz olarak kulübümüze geri dönüyor.… pic.twitter.com/BF0UlnlGFW
— Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) April 14, 2026
Under the guidance of head coach Pablo Laso, Efes has endured a frustrating 2025-26 continental campaign, having already been eliminated from EuroLeague postseason contention with a 12-25 record, while currently sitting sixth in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketball Super Ligi Regular Season with a 16-10 tally.