León Najnudel
León David Najnudel was an Argentine professional basketball player and basketball coach, and the main driving force in the creation of the Liga Nacional de Básquet, the first nationwide yearly professional basketball league in Argentina.
Najnudel is considered the most prominent figure in the history of basketball in Argentina, and also named "the father of Argentine basketball".
He coached several teams along his career, including the Argentina national team
Biography
Najnudel had a strong passion for basketball since his early age. He played in Villa Crespo, Victoria, Barracas Juniors and Atlanta. He started his coaching career at the Atlanta's children and youth divisions, when the club was presided by León Kolbowski, one of the most prominent executives in its history.When Atlanta fired its basketball senior coach Jaime Pérez in 1963, Kolbowski asked Najnudel to take over the team. Under his guidance, Atlanta made a great campaign and promoted to Primera División after defeating Deportivo Español in the final. Najnudel continued coaching Atlanta until 1971.
In 1969 Najnudel was hired by the Basketball Association of Junín to coach the local team at the provincial championship. He also coached Santiago del Estero team in the 1970 Argentine Championship in Catamarca.
In 1976 Najnudel was hired as coach of Ferro Carril Oeste, where he won the Campeonato Sudamericano de Clubes in 1981 and 1982. During those years, Najnudel forged a relationship with Ferro's football coach Carlos Griguol, who used to visit him at the training sessions to adapt Najnudel's tactic moves to the football team, which would win the 1982 and 1984 Primera División titles, the only senior titles for the club to date.
Najnudel, along coaches José María Cavallero and Horacio Seguí, as well as journalist Osvaldo Ricardo Orcasitas, were the main proponents of the creation of the Liga Nacional de Básquet. Sports magazine El Gráfico gave a strong support to the initiative. The goal was finally achieved on 26 April 1985, when the first game of the league was played.
The new nationwide league allowed basketball to grow in cities other than Buenos Aires, like in Bahía Blanca and Córdoba, that became important basketball centers.
In 1985 Najnudel became coach of the Argentina national team, qualifying for the 1986 World Cup after finishing 3rd. in the qualification round. It was the return to the top competition after 12 years of absence.
Najnudel's coaching career continued in Sport Club Cañadense, Ferro Carril Oeste, Deportivo San Andrés, Gimnasia y Esgrima de Comodoro Rivadavia, Boca Juniors, Racing Club, and a second return to Ferro C. Oeste to end his career. In Liga Nacional, Najnudel set a record of 241 wins and 207 loses.
After his retirement, Najnudel served as adviser at the Secretariat of Sports of Argentina.
Najnudel died of leukemia in 1998, after one year and a half of battling the disease.
Coaching career
Teams
| Nat. | Team | Tenure | Ref. |
 Titles;Ferro Carril Oeste
Statistics |