By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pedro Martinez’s coaching career started a long time ago precisely back in the 1990s. In his blog for the Turkish Airlines Euroleague site, he recalled about these days but also wrote about upcoming playoffs in the Euroleague.
Despite the long career, this was only the second time that Martinez is coaching a Euroleague team. His first stint was also with Baskonia when he coached them for only four games in the Euroleague back in 2005.
“First of all, it is great to be back in the EuroLeague. I feel privileged to coach in the EuroLeague. I always felt privileged to coach in the Spanish League, and this is one step higher in our profession. Only 16 coaches can work in the EuroLeague. I still don’t make any future plans, but the best thing about the EuroLeague is being able to coach some of the best players in Europe. The EuroLeague features the best players and the better-structured clubs, all of whom aim to be at the top level. So taking part in the competition is a goal and a matter of pride for those who have the chance to coach in it“.
Knowing nothing is giving the Spanish coach is happy to be in the situation to be part of the Euroleague.
“I have not been in the competition for a long time but followed it, down to the details, each season. Logically, I know it well by watching it on TV, all the teams and all the coaches. From one point of view, I came to think that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to be back in the EuroLeague and work against these great teams, so it is a big challenge for me. I have had contacts with other EuroLeague coaches in the past but we had never faced each other. For instance, Ioannis Sfairopoulos of Olympiacos was PAOK’s assistant coach for many years, and when Juanan Morales – who I won the 1990 Korac Cup with – played there, I went to PAOK to see some of their practices when Ioannis was an assistant coach. So I knew him even thought I had never played against one of his teams, and now it was kind of fun to face him in the EuroLeague after so many years. Other than that, I have a lot of respect for all coaches out there, but even when I knew most of them, I had not played against them all“.
You can read the whole blog here.