By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Ibon Navarro takes the reins at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet, heading to the 2026-27 season following a legendary, trophy-laden era with Unicaja. The deal was formally confirmed by the Belgrade outfit on Friday.
The tactical strategist arrives in Belgrade after triggering an exit clause to conclude a historic four-and-a-half-season tenure with the Malaga outfit. Taking charge of the Andalusian club midway through the 2021-22 season, the Vitoria-Gasteiz native engineered a complete roster transformation that yielded seven major championships. His stellar trophy cabinet features back-to-back Basketball Champions League crowns alongside two FIBA Intercontinental Cups, two Copa del Rey titles, and a Supercopa Endesa. Under his guidance, Unicaja also secured a top-seed regular-season finish while leading the domestic league in both offensive and defensive efficiency. The 50-year-old manager departed as the winningest leader in team history, amassing 180 victories across 261 fixtures to post an unprecedented 68.97% winning percentage.
Navarro is widely renowned for implementing a high-octane, fast-paced style of play that heavily utilizes deep roster rotations. He brings a wealth of elite experience to the Serbian giants, having sharpened his skills as an assistant at EuroLeague mainstays Baskonia and Valencia before launching his independent career with successful stints at ICL Manresa, UCAM Murcia, and MoraBanc Andorra. The Basque tactician now embraces a demanding multi-front challenge spanning the EuroLeague, the AdmiralBet ABA League, and domestic Serbian competitions.
Ибон Наваро нови је тренер КК Црвена звезда Меридианбет! Шпански стручњак, који је са великим успехом предводио екипу Уникахе и освојио седам трофеја за четири сезоне, стиже у Београд, где га чека нови изазов, као првог тренера црвено-белих!
Наваро у Београду отвара ново… pic.twitter.com/GSug9m7cfu
— KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) June 12, 2026
Zvezda’s 2025–26 campaign concluded with disappointing exits in the EuroLeague Play-In Showdown, the ABA League Semifinals, and the Serbian Meridianbet Basketball League Semifinals, following a midseason Radivoj Korac Cup title.
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