Former Maccabi Tel Aviv Coach David Blatt has been appointed as the new head coach of Israel's national team. Blatt will be charged with the difficult task of guiding Israel through the Additional Qualifying Round, which offers one spot at Eurobasket 2005 for the nine remaining participants.

Blatt, who is currently coaching Russian side Dynamo St. Petersburg takes over from Muli Katzurin. Katzurin quit the side after he failed to secure qualification to Eurobasket during the Qualifying Round in a group with Latvia, Bulgaria and Portugal.

		David Blatt

It was Latvia and Bulgaria who claimed the two available Eurobasket spots, relegating Israel to the Additional Qualifying Round. Israel have been regular participants in European Championships, qualifying on the last 6 occasions. 

The Israel Basketball Federation put together a 3-man commission to recommend the new national team coaching staff. As well as Blatt, the team will feature Erez Edelstein as an assistant. Edelstein coached Hapoel Tel Aviv to the Israeli League play-off finals and Final Four of the FIBA Europe League in 2004.

Blatt has won 2 EuroLeague titles as an assistant coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv. This season, he has led Dynamo St. Petersburg to a perfect 11-0 record in the FIBA Europe League.

Israel are paired with Belgium and the Netherlands in the Eurobasket Additional Qualifying Round. They face Belgium in the opening game on 20th August.

Should they win the group, Israel will advance with the two other group winners to a tournament which will be played on 11-13 September in Serbia & Montenegro. The winner of that 3-team tournament will qualify to Eurobasket 2005.

Blatt's appointment will only become official after the Board of the Israeli Federation meets on 1st February to rubber stamp the commission's recommendations.