Jonas Kazlauskas, widely considered one of the best coaches in Europe, has signed a two-year contract with Guangdong Southern Tigers, reigning champions of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), the club confirmed Friday.

The Lithuanian helped Guangdong win the CBA last year as executive coach, making him the first-ever foreign coach to do so. He will continue in his job until 2015.

In 2004 he was named assistant coach of the Chinese national team, with American Del Harris as head coach.

From 2005 to 2008, he was China's head coach, and led China to win the 2005 FIBA (International Basketball Federation)­ Asian Championship and gold at the 2006 Asian Games.

In 2009 he left China and continued his coaching career in Europe. He became the head coach of the Lithuanian national team in September 2012. In January 2013, due to contract problems with Lithuania, he came to Guangdong, but returned to Lithuania after leading Guangdong to a CBA title.

Global Times