Zvi Sherf

Who is Zvi Sherf?

Zvi Sherf, known almost universally by his nickname Zvika, is an Israeli basketball coach and former player.

Sherf played for the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, starting at age 12. By age 16, Sherf was playing for Maccabi South Tel Aviv, and was sent to a coaching course, along with fellow future basketball coach Pini Gershon. By age 20, Sherf was coaching the Maccabi Tel Aviv youth team, and by age 25 was coaching Maccabi South Tel Aviv, leading it to his first championship.

In the 1980/81 season—where Maccabi Tel Aviv won the European Championship, the Israeli League and the Israeli State Cup—Sherf was an assistant coach to Rudi d'Amico. Sherf became Maccabi Tel Aviv's head coach in 1983/84, staying through to the 1985/86 season. In 1984, he became the Israeli national basketball team coach. His first national coaching tenure saw two Eurobasket appearances and Israel's historic 7th placing at the 1986 FIBA World Basketball Championship. Sherf's tenure as national coach ended after what was perceived as a poor performance at EuroBasket 1987, but Sherf later returned as coach for the years 1991-97. In 2005, Sherf was again appointed coach of the Israeli national basketball team, and on January 1, 2008, was appointed head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv.