Beşiktaş's Pivot Search: Names in Garabaya's Network

Beşiktaş's Pivot Search: Which Names Does the Garabaya Connection Highlight?

Beşiktaş Handball Team is undergoing a significant rebuild at pivot following Cedric Sorhaindo's retirement and other possible departures. New head coach Rubén Garabaya's network and preferences are expected to shape the club's pivot recruitment as well.

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| 08 Jun 2026, 17:26 3 min okuma read 0

In This Story

With Sorhaindo's retirement and other potential exits, Beşiktaş's pivot line effectively needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
New head coach Garabaya's ties to Pelister, Egypt and ASOBAL are shaping the club's likely recruitment route.
Khaled Walid Ibrahim, Gianfranco Pribetić and Žarko Peševski stand out as candidates, though none has been officially linked to Beşiktaş.

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As Beşiktaş accelerates its squad planning for the 2026-27 season, the pivot position — not yet a major talking point among fans, but clearly a priority for the technical staff — is taking center stage internally. Cedric Sorhaindo's retirement from professional handball, the uncertainty surrounding Koray Ayar's career path, and speculation linking Alper Aydın to Spor Toto have combined to force the Black-and-Whites into effectively rebuilding their pivot line from the ground up.

Adding new head coach Rubén Garabaya's background into this picture makes the transfer expectation more concrete. Garabaya has previously worked at Eurofarm Pelister, Sinfín and Logroño, and has also been part of the Egyptian National Team's coaching staff. This trail points Beşiktaş's pivot search toward player profiles connected to the Balkans, Egypt and ASOBAL.

Names to watch

A clear caveat is needed here: none of the following names have been reported as linked to Beşiktaş in foreign sources. This is a connection-based analysis built on squad needs, the coach's network, and market movement.

The strongest profile is Egyptian pivot Khaled Walid Ibrahim. The 27-year-old previously wore the Beşiktaş jersey before moving to Eurofarm Pelister, where Garabaya was coaching, and currently plays for Al-Ahly. Three separate lines converge in his case: familiarity with Beşiktaş and the Turkish league, a direct connection to Garabaya, and standout performances with the Egyptian National Team. There is no concrete confirmation, but it would not be surprising if he tops the club's watch list.

The second notable profile is Gianfranco Pribetić. The 26-year-old, 196cm Croatian pivot left TVB Stuttgart early to join GRK Ohrid and currently appears to be without a club for the 2026-27 season. No direct link to Garabaya has been identified, but his age, physical profile, and experience in the Bundesliga and European cup competitions align well with Beşiktaş's needs.

Another name emerging from Garabaya's Pelister connection is Žarko Peševski. The 35-year-old, 195cm/125kg North Macedonian pivot boasts strong European cup statistics, including a season in the EHF Champions League in which he finished with 34 goals. His age is a drawback, but if Beşiktaş is looking for a pivot who prioritizes physical presence, he could be viable as a short-term option.

Summing up the picture

While Beşiktaş's transfer business at goalkeeper, right wing and playmaker positions is taking shape, a pivot move has yet to materialize publicly. Garabaya's Pelister-Egypt-ASOBAL network remains the most concrete clue for predicting the direction of this search.

Beşiktaş is fundamentally overhauling its squad philosophy this season. The void left by a character like Sorhaindo isn't just statistical — it runs deep in terms of physical presence, defensive leadership, and in-game experience. How central Garabaya makes the pivot position to his system will also hint at how he intends to build the team's defense. If the coach plans to make a 6-0 defense his backbone, a physical and intelligent pivot should be the top priority. No name is currently officially linked to Beşiktaş in the market, but it is highly likely that the club's pivot search will take concrete shape in the coming weeks.