German basketball coach Álex Mumbrú has left the clinic in Barcelona after a four-week hospital stay. The 46-year-old is recovering from pancreatitis that affected him during the European Championship. It remains unclear if he will return in time for the World Cup qualifiers.
Álex Mumbrú, the Spanish coach of the German basketball national team, left the Barcelona clinic on Friday. "I'm feeling better. Today I'm finally going home, no more hospital," the 46-year-old told the "Bild" newspaper. After winning the European Championship title, Mumbrú traveled to his homeland to recover from pancreatitis that had plagued him during the tournament.
He spent a total of four weeks in the clinic. According to the newspaper "Mundo Deportivo," the coach lost 16 kilograms in body weight. During the EM, his assistant Alan Ibrahimagić took over the coaching duties, especially for games featuring stars like Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner. Mumbrú attempted a return in the round of 16 but appeared exhausted and handed coaching back to Ibrahimagić. Nevertheless, he stayed with the team, accepted the gold medal, and lifted the EM trophy.
The German Basketball Federation is planning for Mumbrú's return for the World Cup qualifiers starting at the end of November. The opening match is on November 28 in Neu-Ulm against Israel. Whether this is realistic remains open, as Mumbrú is to continue recovering. Germany is considered the favorite but will have to do without NBA pros like Schröder or Franz Wagner. Newly committed is NBA champion Isaiah Hartenstein, who has agreed to play in the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. "I want to play in the 2027 World Cup. [...] I want to play as much as possible for Germany now," Hartenstein told "Sport Bild."