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Basketball: Coach Mumbrú to Juggle National Team and Virtus Bologna Roles
🇩🇪 Germany /Sports

Basketball: Coach Mumbrú to Juggle National Team and Virtus Bologna Roles

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • German national basketball coach Álex Mumbrú will also coach Italian Euroleague club Virtus Bologna next season.
  • The German Basketball Federation (DBB) approved the dual role after extensive discussions with Mumbrú and the club.
  • Mumbrú, who has been Germany's head coach since August 2024, previously coached Valencia and is committed to the national team.

German national basketball coach Álex Mumbrú is set to take on a dual role, simultaneously coaching the Italian Euroleague club Virtus Bologna in the upcoming season. The German Basketball Federation (DBB) has granted approval for this unprecedented arrangement following thorough deliberations.

We consulted intensively within the DBB, had very good discussions with Álex and with Virtus Bologna, and came to the decision to enable him this dual role.

— Ingo WeissThe President of the German Basketball Federation explained the reasoning behind approving coach Mumbrú's dual role.

DBB President Ingo Weiss stated that the decision was made after "very good discussions" with both Mumbrú and Virtus Bologna. Weiss emphasized that the national team remains a top priority for Mumbrú, particularly with crucial upcoming qualification windows for the 2027 World Cup.

For national coach Mumbrú, the national team continues to be of outstanding importance; the upcoming qualification windows are very important to him.

— Ingo WeissDBB President Ingo Weiss stressed the continued commitment of coach Mumbrú to the German national team despite his new club role.

Mumbrú, who led Germany to a European Championship title and has been the national team's head coach since August 2024, previously managed Valencia before his current role. The DBB's decision marks an exception to their usual policy, which prohibits national coaches from simultaneously managing club teams. This contrasts with the situation of Mumbrú's predecessor, Gordon Herbert, who was denied a dual role after the 2024 Olympics and chose to coach Bayern Munich instead.

I am very grateful to the DBB for giving me the opportunity and opening the chance to be Head Coach of a Euroleague team.

— Álex MumbrúCoach Mumbrú expressed his gratitude to the German Basketball Federation for allowing him to take on the coaching position at Virtus Bologna.

Weiss assured that Mumbrú will continue to serve as national coach with "great enthusiasm and full commitment," highlighting shared goals for the future. The German team faces important World Cup qualifiers in July against Israel and Cyprus, with the 2027 World Cup in Qatar looming, where Germany, as defending champions, will not be automatically qualified.

He will continue to be available to us as national coach with great enthusiasm and full commitment. Together, there are still many goals.

— Ingo WeissDBB President Ingo Weiss reassured that Mumbrú's dedication to the national team will not waver.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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