Crvena Zvezda has appointed Spanish coach Ibon Navarro as its new head coach, handing one of Europe’s most accomplished bench leaders a new challenge ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Serbian club announced Friday that Navarro will take charge of the Belgrade-based powerhouse after four highly successful years with Unicaja Malaga. During that stretch, Navarro guided the Spanish club to seven trophies, including back-to-back FIBA Basketball Champions League titles in 2024 and 2025 and consecutive FIBA Intercontinental Cup championships.
Navarro arrives at a club seeking to build on a competitive 2025-26 campaign. Crvena Zvezda finished 10th in the EuroLeague regular season with a 21-17 record. The Serbian side earned a play-in berth but fell short of advancing into the postseason field that ultimately saw Olympiacos capture the EuroLeague title.
The 50-year-old has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most innovative coaches. Crvena Zvezda highlighted his preference for fast-paced, high-intensity basketball and his willingness to utilize deep rotations, traits that helped transform Unicaja into one of the continent’s most successful teams outside the EuroLeague.
Navarro’s coaching career spans more than two decades. He began in Baskonia’s youth system in 2000 before serving as an assistant at several Spanish clubs, including Baskonia, Menorca and Valencia. His first head coaching opportunity at the top level came with Baskonia in 2014, followed by stints at Manresa, Murcia and Andorra.
His breakthrough came in Malaga. After taking over Unicaja in 2022, Navarro guided the club to two Basketball Champions League crowns, two Spanish Cup titles, a Spanish Supercup championship and two Intercontinental Cup trophies. The sustained success elevated his standing among Europe’s elite coaches and made him a coveted target on the coaching market.
