GRE/ESP – Katsikaris joins Bilbao

BILBAO (ACB) - It didn't take long for Fotis Katsikaris to find a new job.

Immediately after stepping down as coach of Aris Thessaloniki, the Greek has been appointed as the new boss of Bilbao Basket in Spain's ACB.

Katsikaris will coach the Basque team, which is 17th in the ACB with just four wins, for the remainder of this season and all of next.

Katsikaris insisted at his press conference at Aris on Thursday that he had considered stepping down after the team's home defeat to Panellinios over the weekend before learning of Bilbao’s interest in his services.

"The interest of Bilbao Basket appeared on Monday, two days after our defeat to Panellinios," he said.

"The truth is that I feel comfortable in the ACB, I feel accepted there and I would like to return there."

Bilbao had announced on Sunday that Txus Vidorreta had resigned as coach.

Katsikaris will watch his new team’s game against CB Granada from the stands this weekend and then be unveiled to the media on Monday.

Russia national team coach David Blatt, meanwhile, will pen to paper on a contract to coach Aris later Friday.

FIBA