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Background/Bio
Martins Zibarts career began in men basketball with Latvijas Universitate masculino and he combined it with Kolibri Junior from 1999 to 2010.
Also, Martins was assistant coach with Barons Riga in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 season, reaching Baltic League Semifinals and becoming Eurocup Champion.
In January 2009 , Martins Zibarts was named head coach in Barons Riga and he won the Latvian men league in the 2007/08 and 2009/10 seasons.
In the 2011/12 season, Martins Zibarts signed with Ventspils and in the assistant coach role he was Latvian League finalist.
Martins Zibarts continued his career in men basketball and in the 2012/13 season he signed as assistant coach with Spartak Primorie Vladivostok. One season later, Martins continued in Russia and signed with Spartak St. Petersburg
In the 2014/15 season, Martins Zibarts signed as assistant coach with Dynamo Kursk and he won the russian Cup, reached the Euroleague final Four and also advanced until the Russian League Semifinals.
Martins re-signed with Dynamo Kursk in the 2015/16 season and he won again the Russian Cup (as head coach), reached the Euroleague Quarterfinals and later was named as head coach and reached the Russian League Semifinals.
In the 2016/17 season, Martins Zibarts continued with Dynamo Kursk and he won the Euroleague as assistant coach of Lucas Mondelo and reached the Russian League and Cup Finals.
Martins Zibarts returned to Latvia in the 2017/18 season, signing with TTT Riga and becoming Latvian League Champion and EEWBL Finalist. In the Eurocup, Martins was undefeated during the first round, collecting 2 wins against Besiktas, Gorzow and Olympiacos.
Martins re-signed with TTT Riga in the 2018/19 season and he had an incredible season, qualifying his team for the Euroleague after defeating Venezia clearly (140-112 balance).
Once in the Euroleague, Martins achieved amazing results, defeating Fenerbahce in both games, getting the win in Salamanca by 21 points difference, winning also in Hatay by 3 points and defeating them later at home by 51 points, winning both games against Olympiacos and finally defeating Charleville at home by 31 points. In addition, his TTT Riga competed excellent against Dynamo Kursk and lost by 1 point at home and by 3 points in Kursk.
With youth national teams, Martins Zibarts won the Silver Medal in the U16B European Championship played in 2006, won also the Gold Medal in the U18B European Championship in 2008 and the Bronze Medal in the U20 European Championship played in 2010.
Some years later, Martins Zibarts was appointed as Head Coach of the Latvian National Team and he achieved a brilliant 6th position in the 2017 Eurobasket, qualifying Latvia for the 2018 World Championship played in Spain.
In the 2019/20 season, Martins Zibats stayed at TTT Riga and was the only coach that won a game against UMMC Ekaterinburg.
In the 2021/22 season, Martins Zibarts signed in Greece with Olympiacos and became Greek League and Cup Champion while also obtained the best result in club history in the Eurocup, advancing the groups phase and eliminating Enisey and Nesibe Aydin.
In the 2022/23 season, Martins Zibarts re-signed with Olympiacos and qualified his team for Euroleague.
In the 2023 summer, Martins Zibarts won the Silver Medal with Latvia in the U20 European Championship.
In the 2023/24 season, Martins Zibarts signed in China with Shanxi and had 20 wins and only 7 losses.
Career
CLUBS
2023/24 Head Coach Shanxi (China)
2022/23 Head Coach Olympiacos (Greece - Euroleague)
2021/22 Head Coach Olympiacos (Greece - Eurocup)
2019/20 Head Coach TTT Riga (Latvia - Euroleague)
2018/19 Head Coach TTT Riga (Latvia - Euroleague)
2017/18 Head Coach TTT Riga (Latvia - Eurocup)
2016/17 Assistant Coach Dynamo Kursk (Russia - Euroleague)
2015/16 Head Coach Dynamo Kursk (Russia - Euroleague) and Assistant Coach Dynamo Kursk (Russia - Euroleague)
2014/15 Assistant Coach Dynamo Kursk (Russia - Euroleague)
2013/14 Assistant Coach Spartak St. Petersburg (Russia - Men)
2012/13 Assistant Coach Spartak Primorie Vladivostok (Russia - Men)
2011/12 Assistant Coach Ventspils (Latvia)
2010/11 Head Coach Latvijas Universitate (LBL | LSBL)
2009/10 Assistant Coach Latvijas Universitate (LBAL) and Assistant Coach Barons Riga (Latvia - Men)
2008/09 Head Coach Barons Riga (Latvia - Men) and Head Coach Latvijas Universitate (LBAL)
2007/08 Assistant Coach Barons Riga (Latvia - Men)
1999/2008 Head Coach Latvijas Universitate (Latvia - Men)
NATIONAL TEAMS
2016/19 Head Coach Latvian National Team
2016 Head Coach U20 National Team
2015 Assistant Coach Latvian National Team
2010 Head Coach U20 Latvian National Team
2008 Head Coach U18 Latvian National Team
2006 Head Coach U16 Latvian National Team
Achievements/Awards
- Silver Medal | U20 European Championship 2023
- Greek League Champion 2021/22
- Greek Cup Champion 2021/22
- EEWBL Champion 2018/19
- Baltic League Champion 2018/19
- Quarterfinalist Euroleague 2018/19
- Qualified for the 2018 World Championship with Latvian National Team
- 6th position | 2017 European Championship
- Euroleague Champion 2016/17
- Latvian League Champion 2017/18
- EEWBL Finalist 2017/18
- Russian League Finalist 2016/17
- Euroleague Quarter Finalist 2015/16
- Russian League Semifinalist 2015/16
- Euroleague Semifinalist 2014/15
- Russian Cup Champion 2014/15, 2015/16
- Quarterfinalist Eurochallenge 2011/12
- Bronze Medal | U20 European Championship 2010
- Latvian League Finalist 2008/09, 2010/11, 2011/12 (Men)
- Latvian League Champion 2007/08, 2009/10 (Men)
- Eurocup Champion 2007/08 (Men)
- Silver Medal | U16 European Championship - 2006