Former captain Michael Bree appointed head coach of Irish team
Bree will take charge of the team from 1 September and has signed a four-year contract.
Capped over 40 caps for Ireland between 2000 and 2006 – the Sligo man is currently assistant with Denmark's senior men's team and will start his new role at the conclusion of their FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bree has been with the Danish national team since 2023.
The 45-year-old spent five years as Sweden's Under-16 and U18 men's head coach and worked with Gothenburg's Högsbo Basket, following an eight-year professional playing career in France, Germany, Spain, Poland and Sweden between 2002 and 2010.
After leaving Sligo in 1998, Bree played college basketball at NCAA Division 1 programme Davidson College in North Carolina.
Bree said: "I am delighted and honoured to be taking on this new role within Basketball Ireland. I'm ecstatic to have the good fortune to represent our basketball nation once again on the international stage.
"We are an emerging nation within the international basketball community and to have the opportunity to add value to the programme is immensely motivating and makes me very proud. Throughout my career, Irish basketball has presented me with so many wonderful experiences and opened numerous doors to new and exciting possibilities.
"My wish is to offer at least as much in return, as we navigate the potential challenges that high-level competitive international basketball can present."
Basketball Ireland CEO,John Feehan, added: "There's been a huge interest in this position from coaches at home, in Europe and beyond, which is a testament to the growing respect for the ability of Irish players to compete at the highest level.
"Michael's commitment to the ongoing development of Irish basketball mirrors Basketball Ireland's ambition for the growth of the sport. I'm looking forward to seeing what he brings to the role in the over the next four years."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
8 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Watch ‘the greatest goal in Cork Business League history' that Irish football fans label ‘2025 Puskas winner'
Fans were just as surprised by the celebration from the Grangevale AFC striker AN AMATEUR player has wowed fans with an unbelievable overhead kick in Cork. Grangeville AFC's Billy Tabb amazingly extended his sides lead against Cork Hospitals FC with a sublime strike. 2 The acrobatic effort had football fans blown-away 2 The Grangevale captain was in disbelief by the goal Luke Dennehy controlled a difficult high ball excellently before slipping a dangerous through ball into teammate Niall Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald swung an expertly precise cross into his striker Tabb who controlled the ball with his head before swinging his body around under it to set up a bicycle kick attempt. Tabb then leapt into the air and struck the overhead kick sweetly into the top left corner. The Mayfield native did not celebrate putting his side 3-1 up in outrageous fashion but instead strolled back to the halfway line to prepare for the restart. Captain David Barrett couldn't believe what he had seen as he put his hands behind his head in incredulity before looking to the bench for reassurance that his eyes weren't deceiving him. Football fans around the country praised the crazy finish in an Irish amateur league game on social media but some were disappointed with Tabb's celebration. One fan hailed: "Billy Tabb with possibly the greatest goal in Cork's Businness Leagues history for Grangevale AFC. "A moment of pure class that will beat anything scored across the globe this season. He needs to work on the celebration though." Another believed Tabb's goal will be the best scored all year in football saying: "Give this man the Puskas Award now!" Fans have also praised the team effort in the lead up to the sensational finish with one fan praising: "The pass was class aswell. Some goal." Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca gives update on Levi Colwill after suffering worrying injury and being sent for scan Another football fan added: "Even the first pass under pressure." Grangevale AFC went onto win the game 4-2 against Cork Hospitals FC with goals from Gabriel Cerini, David Barrett and Niall Fitzgerald ensuring victory for the visitors. Just two games into the Cork Business League Premier Division season Dennehys Health & Fitness Grangevale AFC find themselves second on goal difference with two wins from two. It wasn't the first time Tabb struck gold this season as he scored the season opener for his side last week. An almost equally impressive left-footed volley from the striker put the Mayfield based side 1-0 up just minutes into their first game of the season. Grangevale AFC went on to win 2-0 against Jay Bazz FC - a barbershop in Cork - after a goal from Corey Harris doubled their lead. They are making their presence felt in the Premier Division having only been promoted into it last season. Grangevale finished top of the First Division in the 24/25 season, eight points ahead of also promoted Longboats and Martin Harvey Solicitors.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
What TV channel is Ballkani vs Shamrock Rovers on? Stream, kick-off time and odds as Hoops travel to Kosovo
EURO TRIP What TV channel is Ballkani vs Shamrock Rovers on? Stream, kick-off time and odds as Hoops travel to Kosovo SHAMROCK Rovers have ventured all the way out to Kosovo for this evening's European Conference League third round qualifier. The Tallaght outfit secured their spot in this stage of the competition by comfortably easing past St Joseph's of Gibraltar 4-0 on aggregate. Here's everything you need to know about this evening's first leg: WHAT STREAM IS BALLKANI VS SHAMROCK ROVERS ON? After weeks of having to resort to less familiar streaming sites, this European tie involving a League of Ireland club will be shown on LOITV. It won't be televised anywhere. WHAT TIME IS KICK-OFF? The match will start at 7:30pm Irish time. The Fadil Vokrri Stadium, also known as the Pristina City Stadium, will be the venue. WHAT ARE THE ODDS? The home side are favourites to win on the night at 5/4 while The Hoops are 11/5 outsiders. A draw is set at 9/5. WHAT'S BEEN SAID BEFOREHAND? Stephen Bradley has hailed record-breaking Roberto 'Pico' Lopes as one of the reasons why the Hoops can believe in playing group-stage football again. Captain Lopes, 33, will make his 48th European appearance for Rovers this evening — beating Ronan Finn's club Euro record. And Bradley insisted that the Cape Verde international deserves all the plaudits he gets as a key man in Rovers' success since joining in 2017. Bradley said: 'It's a credit to Pico. When he came here, he was an average midfield player, I would say. He would say. 'And he's turned into the best centre-back in the country for quite some time. He's become a full international. 'He's played at a really high level. He's been a big part of what we've done.' Son Heung-min breaks down in tears as Tottenham legend bids emotional farewell before MLS transfer Echoing his gaffer's view, centre-back Dan Cleary admitted he has been a long-time admirer of his defensive partner. Cleary said: 'I've known Pico probably since we were kids. I used to hang around with his brother in Crumlin. We used to be knocking around near his house as well. 'When I came here three years ago then I got to know him even better. We went to the same school as well. He's a top lad. Leads by example every day.' Bradley insisted that the European experience Lopes and his side have — which includes two seasons in the Conference League group stage — makes him sure the Hoops can qualify again. 1 Rovers look to practically have the league title wrapped up with 10 games to go But this season they are trying to navigate a trickier path as they must win every tie, compared to 2022 and 2024 when they were on the 'Champions path', giving them the safety net of dropping down from other competitions on both occasions. Bradley said: 'That's the beauty of the Champions path. And not having that, we knew it was going to be difficult. 'What I said at the start, our aim is to get into the group phase, the league phase. That's our aim.' The Hoops will face either Larne or Portuguese outfit Santa Clara in a play-off if they can overcome the Kosovans.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
What TV channel is St Patrick's Athletic vs Besiktas on? Stream, kick-off time and odds for glamour Euro tie
The game won't be played at The Saints' usual home ground GUNNAR DO IT? What TV channel is St Patrick's Athletic vs Besiktas on? Stream, kick-off time and odds for glamour Euro tie OLE Gunnar Solskjaer and Besiktas are in Dublin for tonight's third round qualifier for the Europa Conference League. St Patrick's Athletic secured this glamour tie with the Turkish giants by completing an epic comeback against Nõmme Kalju of Estonia. Advertisement Here's everything you need to know about this evening's first leg: WHAT STREAM IS ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC VS BESIKTAS ON? The match won't be televised anywhere but you can stream it through Solidsport. Purchasing the stream doesn't come cheap, however, as it'll set you back €13. WHAT TIME IS KICK-OFF? The action will get under way at 7:45pm. It will be played at Tallaght Stadium due to Richmond Park not meeting UEFA criteria for this stage of the competition. Advertisement WHAT ARE THE ODDS? The home side are massive underdogs at 12/1 while Besiktas are 2/9 to win on the night. A draw is set at 5/1. WHAT'S BEEN SAID IN THE BUILD-UP? Stephen Kenny believes beating Besiktas would be one of the greatest ever League of Ireland results. The former Ireland gaffer did not try to down play the scale of the task facing his St Patrick's Athletic outfit. He admitted: 'It would be one of the great victories in Irish football history if we could do it. It's a big challenge and Besiktas have a tremendous tradition and are an institution in Turkey, a big club. Advertisement 'To win over two legs is the challenge, not just the game tomorrow, but the game in Istanbul of course. 'But first and foremost is tomorrow. You have to prepare well because you can lose it in the first ten minutes if you're not psychologically tuned in.' Bright Osayi-Samuel on legend Tom Brady and his future with Birmingham But the Saints boss believes his side are ready having already knocked out Latvians Hegelmann and Estonians Kalju in the opening two rounds. And he pointed to last season's run to the Conference League play-off round where they were beaten by Turks Basaksehir. Advertisement Kenny said: 'We've had to get through games in Lithuania and Estonia. You have to draw on all your experiences. 'We obviously did play Istanbul Basaksehir last year so the players have experience of playing a top Turkish team.' 1 The Man United legend's job status is reportedly on shaky ground Credit: Getty Kenny's side are bolstered for today's game by the arrival of Jamaican winger Jordon Garrick who has plenty of lower league experience in England with Oldham and Forest Green Rovers. Advertisement He arrives until the end of the season as a replacement for winger Zack Elbouzedi who is ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
