Türkiye’s nationwide basketball group, led by veteran coach Ergin Ataman, will tackle Italy in Thursday’s 2025 European Championship Qualifiers Group B conflict.
This recreation will mark Ataman’s 79th match in command of the group, a tenure that has spanned two stints.
Ataman’s return to the nationwide group in April 2022 has been outlined by each highs and lows, with a document of 39 wins and 39 losses in 78 matches, 38 of which have been official video games.
His first stint as head coach from 2014 to 2016 noticed him lead the group in 45 matches.
Ataman’s first expertise with the nationwide group got here on Aug. 2, 2014, in a pleasant in opposition to Belgium, the place the group misplaced 74-70.
However, it was not lengthy earlier than Ataman celebrated his first win – main the nationwide group to a 77-66 victory over Puerto Rico within the Belgrade Cup.
His first official match in cost got here in the course of the 2014 FIBA World Cup, the place Türkiye confronted New Zealand of their opening recreation.
The nationwide group clinched a slim 76-73 victory, starting Ataman’s aggressive reign with a win.
Türkiye finally reached the quarterfinals of that event however have been eradicated by Lithuania, 73-61.
In official video games, Ataman has led Türkiye to 21 wins and 17 losses in 38 matches.
Under his steering, the group loved important victories, together with a dominant 86-52 win over Belgium within the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.
However, there have been some heavy defeats, notably a 104-77 loss to Spain within the 2015 European Championship.
Ataman’s time with the nationwide group has additionally positioned him sixth on the listing of the most-capped nationwide group coaches.
His 78 matches put him behind Bogdan Tanjevic, who holds the document with 173 video games.
Others within the prime 5 embody Mehmet Baturalp (146), Aydın Siyavuş (130), Samim Göreç (107), and Aydın Örs (81).
Beyond his achievements with the nationwide group, Ataman’s teaching profession has been one among groundbreaking success.
He is broadly considered one of the vital profitable coaches in Turkish basketball historical past.
He is the one coach to have gained Turkish league titles with three totally different golf equipment – Anadolu Efes, Beşiktaş, and Galatasaray.
Ataman made historical past as the primary Turkish coach to work in knowledgeable European league, main Panathinaikos to a number of championships, together with the Greek League title.
He additionally grew to become the primary Turkish coach to win the EuroLeague title, reaching this feat with Anadolu Efes within the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons.
His early success got here with Montepaschi Siena in Italy, the place Ataman gained the Saporta Cup in his first season, turning into the primary Turkish coach to say a significant European trophy.
Ataman’s legacy contains important achievements with Turkish golf equipment in Europe.
He led Beşiktaş to the 2012 FIBA EuroChallenge title and helped Galatasaray safe the ULEB European Cup in 2016, additional cementing his fame as one among Europe’s premier coaches.
Source: www.dailysabah.com