Jose Maria Buceta appointed head coach of Britain's women's basketball team

Jose Maria Buceta has been appointed head coach of Britain's women's basketball team ©British Basketball

Spaniard Jose Maria Buceta has been appointed head coach of Britain’s women’s basketball team with immediate effect, it has been announced.

Buceta has strong links with women’s basketball having led the Spanish side to fifth place at their home Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and will oversee Britain’s EuroBasket 2017 qualification campaign, which begins on November 21 against Montenegro.

He then went on to coach the Bulgarian national team between 2009 and 2012 and says he is looking forward to making his return to the international scene.

Buceta however admitted it will be “difficult” to secure a spot at EuroBasket 2017, due to be hosted by the Czech Republic.

“For me, it is a great honour to be the head coach of the Great Britain national team,” he said.

“This qualification will be difficult for two main reasons – primarily because EuroBasket Women 2017 will have a reduced field of 16 teams instead of 20.

“Secondly, there will not be much time for preparation and players in the USA may not be able to attend.

“However, we have to adapt and I believe that the aim of qualification is possible if we play to our maximum.”

Britain’s women competed at London 2012 by virtue of being the host nation but suffered defeat in all five of their group stage matches.

Britain lost all five of their group games at their first-ever Olympic appearance at London 2012 ©Getty Images

They finished bottom of their EuroBasket 2015 group having lost their four pool phase contests to Latvia, Russia, Croatia and eventual winners Serbia.

“I am determined to do my very best and I'm looking forward to starting this challenging project of working with the senior team and younger players,” Buceta added.

“Montenegro are a strong team and have shown this during the last three EuroBasket Women tournaments.

“In theory, our first game will be the most difficult of the whole round robin.

“Italy also have experienced players and we can't look past Albania – even if they look the weakest team of the group, because everyone should be respected and all games are important.

“Our short-term goal is to quickly build the team to be able to compete and take any chances to win against Montenegro and Italy during November.”

British Basketball, the governing body for the sport in the country, had their funding cut early in 2014 before the British Government performed a u-turn on the decision in November.