By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Since moving up the ranks in his coaching career, Vassilis Spanoulis has been taking steps to improve challenges by challenges until helping AS Monaco get back to the EuroLeague Playoffs.
The Greek legend was the guest of the latest episode of “Best In Class”, the video-interview format published on SKWEEK, where he touched on his present and former experiences.
Looking back at his discussed move to Olympiacos, he remembered it clearly. “It was my destiny to go to Olympiacos. It was the right time to lead the team and to be the best team in Greece and Europe. I wanted to go and raise one team to the top. It was my dream,” he commented.
“In Panathinaikos, I didn’t have this chance because I was one of the best players of the team, but we had a lot of stars, a lot of great players. People of Olympiacos approached me in the right way, explained the plan to me, and I liked what I heard. I had a big motivation, and it was a big challenge for me.”
Vassilis Spanoulis was also asked about his leadership, one of the cornerstones of his legacy. “When you play the game, you have the ball and you decide about the game. Being a coach, you have to inspire and prepare the player to make decisions,” he drew such a comparison between the two worlds.
“For me, it’s very important to have the right chemistry and the right players because players are the stars of the game, not coaches. Coaches put the chemistry, the discipline, the roles, and the psychology. But I don’t shoot the ball, I don’t make decisions. Players make decisions,” AS Monaco’s coach followed.
He also touched on his character and attitude, which have both helped him reach the highest level in European basketball. “The most important thing for me is that I was never worried about failure. I’m not afraid to lose,” the Greek national team’s head coach touched on.
“I can take the responsibilities, I can accept to lose, but be sure that I will be back as soon as possible. This is my character. The biggest winners are those who are not afraid to lose. If you are afraid to lose, you will lose. And you will lose continuously,” Vassilis Spanoulis commented.
PHOTO CREDIT: Eurokinissi