Official: The former Hapoel Jerusalem coach has signed for the next season and a half and returned to the club with which he won the European Championship in 2000 • Lior Lubin, who left Gilboa, will serve as his assistant throughout the period
Oded Katash.
Closed a circle in Athens
Photography:
Pao's official website
Now it's official: Oded Katash has been appointed coach of Panathinaikos for the next season and a half today (Thursday) and will return to the club with which he won the European Championship in 2000. Lior Lubin, who left Gilboa / Galil, will serve as his assistant throughout.
Katsh will receive a one-and-a-half-year contract in Greece, which will not upgrade the coach financially compared to Hapoel Jerusalem, with whom Katsh earned about $ 200,000 a season.
The promise was for a year and a half "No Cut" and for building a stronger team this coming summer.
It should be noted that Katsh hesitated quite a bit before applying to the Jerusalem administration for his release.
First, the Euroleague trophy he won with the Greens 20 years ago became a year later an exchange of harsh accusations between the parties.
As you may recall, 20 years ago Katsch was supposed to earn $ 4.5 million in Panathinaikos, but received $ 1.5 million in the first year and an additional month's salary.
When his knee injury became complicated, Panathinaikos refused to pay him the balance of the contract and Katsch sued for $ 3 million in a Greek court, losing.
Either way, yesterday, after the loss to Ankara, Katsch looked excited, concluding the period in the capital: "You know me, it's hard for me. I cried enough last week. I can not find the words to explain how blessed I was for the opportunity I was given. It's like leaving a family. "You can't control everything in life. I wish it would happen in a different situation and at another time, I was heartbroken by that decision. If it happened in the summer it would be different, but there are situations like this where decisions have to be made in life."
"I went through a lot of experiences here, everyone knows that Hapoel Jerusalem is a big family and they hugged me. I got to coach amazing players and it is not obvious to me that they let me go with the blessing of the road like that. When asked what the biggest moment in my career is, it's never a game. , But I won people here.
"I am very proud of this connection, this family and this atmosphere, I am sure you will keep it and even a little jealous of the new coach who is coming. I hope you will do it and advance to the next stage in the Champions League so that this loss does not sit too hard on me. I thank you and love you All of you very much.I just want to sum up in two words: "Thank you, love".