Spanoulis, new Monaco head coach, flies in with high ambitions

2024-11-27T13:23:20+00:00 2024-11-27T17:58:36+00:00.

Giannis Askounis

27/Nov/24 13:23

Eurohoops.net
spanoulis-Monaco

A few hours after the deal with AS Monaco became official, Vassilis Spanoulis arrives at Monaco in style

By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net

Making a great first impression, leave it to Vassilis Spanoulis.

Spanoulis, 42, was announced as the new head coach of AS Monaco on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, he landed in the Principality via helicopter.

From a spectacular entrance to focusing on his new duties, leading the La Roca Team in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and France’s Betclic Elite.

“I miss EuroLeague”

In his first interview as the play-caller of Monaco, the Greek specialist talked to SKWEEK about his next chapter.

“It’s a big honor for me to be here,” he mentioned on joining the La Roca Team.

“I miss EuroLeague. Player or coach, it’s the same to me. To hear the song and to compete against the best,” he continued, “We have to be ready to play with the best. And we have to be ready physically and mentally to adjust in every game.”

“I knew that one day, I would be in EuroLeague,” he described his jump to the top-tier level of European basketball, “It’s not like arrogant but it’s humble. I know what I can do in basketball. Playing and coaching is different. As a coach, I always say players are the stars of the game. I chose this team because I believe a lot in these players and the potential of this team.”

The path to Monaco

Following a legendary playing career, Spanoulis quickly went into coaching gigs and enjoyed a solid start. Guiding the Select Team of the Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament shaped his first experience in 2021. Between 2022 and 2024, he was in charge of Peristeri with achievements such as being named Basketball Champions League Best Coach in 2024 complementing team success.

In 2023, he became the selector of the senior national team of Greece, succeeding Dimitris Itoudis. Joining forces with NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo during the offseason, the combination paved the way for a run to the Quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympic Games in France.

The next challenge, alongside fellow Greek imports Nick Calathes and Giorgos Papagiannis, meets Monaco at 7-4 in the EuroLeague Regular Season, tied for fifth with three other teams, including defending champion and opponent in Athens’ OAKA Altion on Friday, Panathinaikos Aktor. At the domestic level, his new side carries a 5-3 W-L tally in the Betclic Elite Regular Season, two games behind leader Cholet.

Besides Calathes and Papagiannis, Juhann Begarin, Jaron Blossomgame, Vitto Brown, Petr Cornelie, Alpha Diallo, Mam Jaiteh, Mike James, Furkan Korkmaz, Jordan Loyd, Donatas Motiejunas, Elie Okobo, Matthew Strazel, and Terry Tarpey are also on board.

Read the latest News

×