Is Ataman heading to Real Madrid? Marca reports

Ergin Ataman, one of European basketball's most successful coaches, has moved to the centre of the transfer agenda. According to Marca, a new door is opening for the Turkish coach who has parted ways with Panathinaikos: the Spanish newspaper names Ataman among the candidates Real Madrid's basketball team is considering for the head coach role.

Ataman's place on that list is no surprise. The Turkish coach has won three EuroLeague titles in his career: with Anadolu Efes in 2021 and 2022 back-to-back, and with Panathinaikos in 2024 in his first season. Moreover, that 2024 final was won directly against Real Madrid; the "Greens" beat the Spanish side in Berlin to lift the trophy. That history shows Ataman is a name well known within the Real Madrid world.

After his last two seasons at Panathinaikos fell below expectations and the team also disappointed in the domestic league, Ataman and the Athens club parted ways; legendary coach Željko Obradović is expected to take over. That development has made Ataman, who also currently coaches the Turkish national team, an available option.

On Real Madrid's side, there is an intense agenda around coaching and squad planning ahead of the new season. The mention of an experienced, trophy-winning name like Ataman aligns with the height of the club's ambitions. Even so, at this stage the news is a candidate assessment as reported by Marca; how the process unfolds and where Ataman's future lies will become clearer in the period ahead. The Turkish coach's next stop remains one of European basketball's most intriguing storylines.

Source: Marca
Image: Eurohoops