“A new iron fist”, who is Vassilis Spanoulis, the new coach of AS Monaco Basket?

The Greek signed a two-season contract with the Roca Team. A legend of European basketball during his playing career, he arrived in the French championship with, in his sights, a return of the Monegasque club to the Final Four of the Euroleague.

The officialization was made this Tuesday, November 26, at 7 p.m. “Vassilis Spanoulis is the new coach of the Roca Team!”announced AS Monaco on its website and social networks.

The Greek coach signed a two-year contract, plus an additional one as an option.

At 42, he succeeds It’s hard Obradovic. The Serb has been limoged on November 18, following the home defeat against Le Mans (74-86) during the 9th day of the French championship.

His arrival is already generating a lot of expectation among supporters. “On paper, it does it and it makes you want to see it in action!”, “A new iron fist”, “It looks exciting!!! Now all we have to do is work hard to continue writing the magnificent history of the Roca Team”; can we read in the comments under the Monegasque club’s Facebook post.

It must be said that Vassilis Spanoulis seems to have the most beautiful European CV ever in the French championship. If only because he is considered by many to be the greatest player in Euroleague history.

On the field, when he was a player, Vassilis Spanoulis was a killer. From his first years on the floor, he did not give gifts. At 16, he led the Larissa (Greece) U18 team to the national title by scoring 40 points in the semi-finals and crucifying Olympiakos in the final with a three-point shot at the buzzer.

Then, in 2000, when he was still only 19 years old, he scored the decisive shots in the U20 Euro won by Greece. He will do it again with Olympiakos on numerous occasions. The basketball player was nicknamed “Kill Bill” for his decisive baskets.

Former guard/point guard, Vassilis Spanoulis won three Euroleagues (one with Panathinaikos, two with Olympiakos) as a player. And, each time, he left with the distinction of MVP (best player) of the Final Four. According to the official Euroleague tally, he finished his European career with 4,455 points and is currently the 3rd highest scorer in the history of the competition behind Mike James and Nando De Colo

On the national team side, he has a title of European champion (2005) and a place of vice-world champion (2006).

Former coach of Peristéri BC – a club in the suburbs of Athens – and coach of the Greek national team since October 2023, this is the first time that Vassilis Spanoulis is preparing to coach a club playing in the Euroleague.

No matter, the Greek has already proven that he is capable of carrying responsibilities on the bench. This, as recently as last summer, in reaching the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympic Games with the national team. This after a perilous qualifying tournament against Slovenia and Croatia.

He was thus attracted the praise of NBA star and Greek team players, Giannis Antetokounmpo. “He’s a winner and thatIt can’t be taught: either you’re a winner or you’re not. But he wants to earn more than us. You should have seen him this morning during the shoot going back and forth on the floor. We could have given him a jersey and he would have played. He imprinted his mentality on us”, according to comments transcribed by our colleagues at BeBasket.

In short, Vassilis Spanoulis has the prestige on his side, essential for the Monegasque club, where we love everything that shines. Then, he already maintains good relations with many members of the group. This is significant when supporters criticize certain players for playing “too personal”.

So, he gets along well with Nick Calathes. As a player, Vassilis Spanoulisa shared a season with him at Panathinaikos (in 2009/10) and several campaigns with Greece (EuroBasket 2009 and 2015, World Cup 2010). Then, he led the selection this summer.

There is mutual respect between us

Mike James

Players, leader/back, of AS Monaco

And, above all, he fulfills the almost inevitable prerequisite: having a good relationship with Mike James, the Monegasque star. He also became the best scorer in the history of the Euroleague in place of his new coach last season.

On January 1, 2023, the player attended one of the Peristeri BC training sessions led by Vassilis Spanoulis. “There is mutual respect between us.”he told BasketNews.

Currently, AS Monaco is in sixth place in the Euroleague and seventh in the Elite Championship. This Wednesday, Vassilis Spanoulis is expected on the rock accompanied by his deputy Ilias Kantzouris to begin his mission. This should lead the club to a new title of champion of France as well as to the Final Four of the Euroleague.

With the AFP.