By Alex Molina /amolina@eurohoops.net
The influence of Spanish basketball in Europe is no longer limited to its players or teams. Year after year, Spanish coaches have risen in prominence within the European basketball ecosystem, reaching their peak in the upcoming season: the EuroLeague will feature seven Spanish coaches among its 20 rosters, a fact that confirms the enormous prestige the Spanish coaching school has acquired over the last few decades.
The roster boasts experience, titles, diverse playing styles, and, above all, a strong international presence. Pedro Martínez, Xavi Pascual, Pablo Laso, Ibon Navarro, Joan Peñarroya, Álex Mumbrú, and Xavier Albert will be responsible for representing Spain from the sidelines of some of the continent’s most important clubs.
More than one-third (7/20) of all current EuroLeague coaches are Spanish 😮🇪🇸
🇪🇸 Pedro Martinez (Real Madrid)
🇦🇪 Xavi Pascual (Dubai)
🇹🇷 Pablo Laso (Anadolu Efes)
🇷🇸 Ibon Navarro (Crvena zvezda)
🇷🇸 Joan Penarroya (Partizan
🇮🇹 Alex Mumbru (Virtus)
🇪🇸 Xavier Albert (Valencia) pic.twitter.com/fNYGSANzgp— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 28, 2026
One of the most prominent names is Pedro Martínez, at the helm of Real Madrid. The Catalan coach, one of the most experienced in Spanish basketball, faces the challenge of leading one of Europe’s top contenders after making one of the most unexpected and significant moves of the summer.
Alongside him, though far from Spain, is Xavi Pascual, who embarks on his adventure with Dubai Basketball. Pascual is one of the Spanish coaches with the most international experience and knows perfectly well what it means to compete for Europe’s biggest titles. After his time at Barça, which ended prematurely, the Gavà native takes the reins of what is destined to be the EuroLeague’s next great team.
Another coach with a top-tier track record is Pablo Laso, who leads Turkish side Anadolu Efes. The Vitoria native built one of the most successful eras in Real Madrid’s recent history and subsequently expanded his international experience, establishing himself as a leading figure in European basketball.
The Spanish presence also extends to Serbia, and in two ways. Ibon Navarro will be at the helm of Red Star Belgrade, while Joan Peñarroya will lead Partizan Belgrade. These are two demanding destinations in a country where basketball is an integral part of the sporting identity and where the pressure on coaches is immense.
Italy will also have Spanish representation. Álex Mumbrú will take the reins at Virtus Bologna, continuing a career that has taken him from the court to some of the most important coaching positions on the continent, while also managing the German national team.
The seventh member of this unique Spanish contingent will be Xavier Albert, coach of Valencia Basket, completing a list that makes Spain the country with the most coaches in the competition.
This situation on the sidelines is no coincidence. For years, Spain has developed a coach training system that has made the Liga Endesa one of the main showcases of European basketball, so it’s no surprise that Spanish talent is highly sought after by foreign powers.
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