Successor to Herbert: Spaniard Álex Mumbrú is the new national basketball coach

Álex Mumbrú is the successor to world champion coach Gordon Herbert as national men’s basketball coach. The Spaniard, who is relatively unknown in Germany, is expected to further establish the team among the world’s best. “We wanted a coach who is young, who fits in with our team, who is keen on the DBB and wants to develop something,” said the President of the German Basketball Association (DBB), Ingo Weiss, at the presentation in Berlin.

It is Mumbrú’s first job as national coach. “I am happy to continue the great work that has been done with the national team in recent years. I am ready to accept this challenge,” said the 45-year-old Spaniard.

Previously, several media outlets had reported unanimously on the impending signing of Mumbrú. Herbert, who finished fourth at the Olympic Games with the German team led by captain Dennis Schröder, had announced his departure early on and is moving to German champions Bayern Munich. In contrast to other nations, the German association rules out a dual role as club and national coach.

Great successes as a national player

The 45-year-old Catalan Mumbrú was part of the golden Spanish generation as a professional. As a player, he won World Cup and European Championship gold and Olympic silver in 2008. Most recently, he coached the Euroleague club FC Valencia. After clearly missing the Euroleague playoffs last season, the 45-year-old was fired.

For the first time, the new national coach will be in the spotlight in November in the European Championship qualification, in which he will probably have to do without NBA pros such as Dennis Schröder and the Wagner brothers as well as most of the Euroleague players. Herbert’s shoes are big to fill. Under him, the team experienced its most successful era to date with the World Cup title last year, European Championship bronze in 2022 and fourth place at the Olympic Games in Paris.