Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv is dealing with a complicated season and needs some changes to improve the situation. The EuroLeague team is looking at a couple of profiles for their GM position.
So far, this has been a complicated EuroLeague campaign for Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Between playing home games away from Israel, a huge roster revamp, and some changes at the front-office level, Maccabi currently find themselves in 17th place of the EuroLeague standings.
Naturally, changes will be necessary to improve the situation next season. That's why the Israeli club has begun the search for a new GM who can fix at least some of these issues.
At the beginning of this season, Avi Even, who was dealing with most of the GM responsibilities, left the club.
Since then, he has joined Octagon, one of the biggest agencies in Europe, as director of basketball operations.
Maccabi are considering several candidates to replace Even, but two names have stood out so far.
Multiple sources have confirmed to BasketNews that Maccabi Tel Aviv are strongly interested in two Italian executives: Claudio Coldebella, currently the GM of Italian side UNAHotels Reggio Emilia, and Nicola Alberani, GM of French side SIG Strasbourg.
Coldebella joined Reggio Emilia in 2023 after the end of his experience with UNICS Kazan, where he built a solid EuroLeague team.
Meanwhile, Alberani has been with SIG Strasbourg since 2020 after spending many years in Italy between Virtus Roma and Scandone Avellino.
Both executives have already had direct contact with the Israeli powerhouse, sources have told BasketNews.
Coldebella has a contract with Reggio Emilia for next season. In a recent interview with La Gazzetta di Reggio, he said he's happy in Italy and doesn't want to ruin his relationship with the club.
"The job of a manager always has a beginning and an end, but I'm happy here in Reggio," Coldebella stated. "We have a great ownership here. I was lucky enough to be selected by these people, and I don't see why I should ruin everything."
Despite these words, the interest for Coldebella from other clubs has been strong, sources have told BasketNews.
The Italian executive has been monitored by Crvena Zvezda as well, another source told BasketNews.
Regarding Alberani, after spending five years in France, the Italian GM might look for other opportunities.
Strasbourg is struggling in the French league this season, currently holding a negative record of 7 wins and 13 losses.
Alberani is also a candidate for the Reggio Emilia GM position in case Coldebella decides to leave at the end of the season.
Maccabi Tel Aviv will intensify its search for a new GM in the coming weeks, hoping EuroLeague will give the green light for games to return to Israel. It would allow Maccabi to plan more efficiently for the next season.
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