SERGIO SCARIOLO
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2009-Present Spanish National Team
European Champion - Eurobasket 2009, Poland2009 is the year I finally became coach of the Spanish National Team, a role that I didn't accept earlier for the 2006 World Championships, when we didn’t come to an agreement. This time the program was a long term one, allowing me to manage a 4 year period.I’m sure you are all aware of our achievements in Poland, a fantastic experience because of the end result and because of howt we achieved it, overcoming a difficult start with many setbacks, a lot of pressure, to then grow and beat all of our opponents in the last five games by a an average of 20 points.It was a remarkable tournament from a human and personal perspective too, that created some long lasting bonds beyond that of the competition’s results.
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2009-2010 BC Khimki
I’m very satisfied of how things are going. In the league we reduced our distance behind CSKA, and we are preparing well for the play-off final. In the Euroleague the play-offs just escaped us, in a rocambolesque final match in the Final 16. We’ll do whatever it takes to finish the season as best as possible.
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2008-2009 BC Khimki
Eurocup Finalist, Russian Superleague A FinalistI started the 2008-09 season with the idea of taking a sabbatical year, working in television (which I had a fun time with) and preparing for the 2009-10 season for which I had an agreement with BC Khimki. However, the Russian’s league situation was precipitated for the team and we decided to cut the deadline short. It was a great season, ending in the Eurocup finals and then the Russian Superleague finals. It was a fundamental season for us, marking the appearance of BC Khimki as protagonist on the European stage, and it also allowed us to participate to the following season's Euroleague.
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2007-2008 Unicaja Málaga
This was a difficult year, with many setbacks and knowing that our relationship had may be deteriorated. We mutually split at the season’s end, with great respect.
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2006-2007 Unicaja Málaga
3rd place in the Euroleauge Final4, AthensThis season we reached our peak. Reaching a third place in the Euroleague Final4 was one of the most prestigious awards for the team and the city, with a victory in Athens against Tau Ceramica.
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2005-2006 Unicaja Málaga
Spanish Champions Winners (ACB League)This was a historic season where we won the first ACB league ever for the team, with play-offs wins against Estudiantes, Joventut (in a very hard semifinal) and Tau Cerámica.
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2004-2005 Unicaja Málaga
Copa del Rey WinnersThis was the year of the rebuilding of the team with the arrival of Garbajosa and the definitive launch of Fran Vázquez: we finished the year with Unicaja´s first Copa del Rey ever in a final against Real Madrid in Zaragoza, which ended 90-76. I also proudly remember the league’s play offs, when we won 0-2 in the quarter finals against Alicante to then go on to the semis winning the series 3-2 (something which had never occurred in the playoffs in the ACB League).
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2003-2004 Virtus Bologna - Unicaja Málaga
I arrived at Virtus Bologna in the summer and committed a mistake: I trusted the promises of Virtus´ president and found the Club in a critical situation in economic terms, with the threat of not being able to participate in the league. Throughout the summer we fought to fix the situation and when everything seemed to be resolved, we got the axe and were excluded from the league; an example of how sometimes politics is stronger than justice. Then we mutually decided to split before we had even started.I started the season without a team and then I got the first call in my career with a team already into the season. Malaga was in its first year post-Malikovic and his loss had left a void. I took charge of the team in a bad state, but we worked hard up to Christmas to then improve continuously until the play-off semifinals, where we beat Barcelona, who then went on to win the title against Estudiantes. We also classified for the Euroleague.
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2002-2003 United States
This was a sabbatical year for me, and a very interesting collaboration with the New Jersey Nets, who I participated with in the Summer League in the pre-season. This was also the year I got married, and got to truly enjoy it. Who ever said that at coach without a team doesn’t have anything to do?
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2001-2002 Real Madrid
This was a down year, where we finished 16th in the Euroleague and fifth in the Spanish league.The double role as Coach and General Manager was an interesting challenge, but I would probably not do it again, since when things go wrong, all the weight falls on one person, especially in such a demanding place like Madrid. Another great source of happiness was the birth of my daughter Carlota.
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2000-2001 Real Madrid
Finalist Spanish Championship (ACB League), Finalist Copa del ReyI started the season with two roles: Coach and General Manager, for which I remained for two years.We arrived at the final of the ACB League and the Copa del Rey, both against Barcelona. We were a strong team, but without a star like we faced in Pau Gasol. I think I had never before felt the impotence of playing against a player like Pau, not even against Drazen Petrovic. This season we got to the quarter finals in the Euroleague against Fortitudo Bologna (series result: 1-2). This was also an unforgettable year because of the birth of my eldest son, Alessandro.
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1999-2000 Real Madrid
Spanish Champions (ACB League)Real Madrid called: it's the season of my first ACB League. I remember how one of the key moments was the decision to sign Sasha Djordjevic. A great final was decided at that match, when we beat Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona.
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