Endy euphoria is replaced by wider Euroleague ambitions
Among the newcomers – Dubai?
On May 29, the Euroleague issued an official notice that 2025-2026. Two teams will participate in the tournament – 20.
This development project will have to be approved by the Euroleague General Assembly.
Kaunas Žalgiris, Istanbul Fenerbahce, Istanbul’s Anadolu Efes, Wilerban ASVEL, Barcelona, Madrid Real, Vitoria’s Baskonia, Panathinaikos, Athens, Olympiakos, Munich Bayern, Tel Avivo, Tel Aviv. Milan’s EA7 Emporio Armani.
The 1-3 year licenses are awarded Monaco, Paris Basketball, Belgrade Partizan, Belgrade Crvena Zvezda, Bologna Virtus.
After the Euroleague withdraws from the Berlin Alba Club, after the break to return to the tournament Valencia, the ranks should be supplemented by Tel Aviv Hapoel and, according to unofficial data, Dubai (United Arab Emirates, UAE) teams.
Fans: The Fenerbahce team was greeted by crowds of supporters, accompanied by a motorcycle column. / Photo by Fenerbahce.org
UAE club – famous faces
Hapoel, led by Coach Dimitri Itoudis this season, has won the European Cup.
The Dubai club was founded in 2023. Playing in the Adriatic League, finishing 3rd place in the regular season and ranked in the playoffs: in the quarterfinals 2: 1 (86:85, 89:94, 85:76) defeated Ljubljana’s Olympia, shared in the semi-finals with Belgrade’s « Partizan » victory-72: 102 and 100: 95. 1st).
The development project will have to be approved by the Euroleague General Assembly.
Slovenian Jurica Golemac’s UAE team – well -known faces in Europe: strategist compatriot Clement preparations, Croatian Leonas Radoševičius, Serbs Danilo Andušičius and Nemanja Dangubicius, Latvian Davis Bertanis, Awudu Abas. In 2017, the Euroleague champion with Fenerbahce became Turkish Ahmet Duveriogl.
The ability to earn
Paulius Motiejūnas, Director General of the League, shared his thoughts on the development conference on the Euroleague Final Four in Abu Dhabi.
« Our future depends on what the clubs will decide – what the direction should be. I sincerely believe that there are enough strong teams to join and maintain the level of the competition. This season Paris has shown what leap can be done, » said P. Motiejūnas.
Asked about the claims of Alba’s leaders, that the Euroleague was a very unprofitable business, Mr Motiejūnas replied that the German club’s move was not surprising, although the league helped the Berlin team for many years.
« I think that comment is about the losses incurred by the clubs, not about the league itself. We generate profits and distribute it to clubs shareholders. Euroleague creates opportunities to earn, but not all teams use it in every way, » said Euroleague CEO.
Photo by Fenerbahce.org
Will feel the influence of the load
« The first thought is ten double weeks, » said Zalgiris head coach Andrea Trinchieri.
The strategist meant sections when teams need to play two matches a week.
« On the other hand, there are questions that, unfortunately, I do not know who can answer at the moment. We do not know what it will look like, because this is the first time. But obviously, the national championships will be influenced first. How to deal with it, ”Trinchier said.
This season, the Zalgiris had six « double weeks »: five matches won, seven.
