Jonathan Alon Takes Over as Sporting Director of Hapoel HaEmek

Jonathan Alon, the former head coach and sporting director of Hapoel Jerusalem, has been appointed sporting director of the newly unified Hapoel HaEmek club, which combines Gilboa Galil and Hapoel Afula. The club announced the move on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, saying Alon was brought in to help build a long-term professional foundation for the team.

Alon arrives in northern Israel after three intense seasons in Jerusalem. During that stint, he served both as sporting director and head coach. His tenure ended recently when Sasha Obradovic was named Hapoel Jerusalem’s coach. Alon’s record in the capital included winning the State Cup in the 2023/24 season, then reaching the cup final and the playoff final in the following campaign.

Hapoel HaEmek is aiming to establish itself among the top teams in Israeli basketball, and Alon will be responsible for shaping its professional identity. He said he was “proud and excited” to join the club, describing it as an organization with a clear vision and major ambitions.

“The goal is to build a strong professional culture that will be the basis for success for years,” Alon said. “We will create an environment that allows people to develop and become the best version of themselves. The goal is to establish a stable system that will keep improving year after year.”

Club owner Gidon Yadin said Alon was brought in to strengthen the team’s professional infrastructure and that the club believes he is the right person to help the coaching staff and wider setup improve. CEO Michal Vardiger added that the ambitious club is focused not only on results on the court, but also on deepening its connection with the community and with the unified fan base in the valley.