Vassilis Spanoulis discusses his transition to coaching Monaco in the EuroLeague, sharing his vision for a dynamic, modern style of basketball and his drive to prove himself just as he did as a player.
Vassilis Spanoulis is embarking on a new chapter of his illustrious basketball career, this time as a coach in the EuroLeague.
AS Monaco / Schedule
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens
AS Monaco
Olympiacos Piraeus
ALBA BerlinAfter years of dominating the court as one of Europe's best players, winning multiple titles and accolades, he now faces the challenge of guiding AS Monaco to success as their new head coach.
For Spanoulis, this is an excellent opportunity to prove himself once again, but now in a different capacity – transitioning from player to coach with the same determination and ambition that defined his playing career.
Vassilis Spanoulis shared his initial observations about Monaco, emphasizing both the potential he saw in the team and the areas where improvement was needed.
"I saw talent, but at the same time, a team that didn't play together enough, with too much isolation, and players who didn't show enough joy on the court," Spanoulis told L'Equipe.
"Mind you, I have immense respect for Sasa Obradovic's exemplary work here for three years – three quarter-finals, a Final Four," Spanoulis argued.
Spanoulis then outlined the similarities to the environment in Athens and how that makes him feel.
"I see this new cycle as an opportunity to change the way and the path to success. There's everything you need here. I feel good; the organization is top-notch, and the environment is similar to my daily life in Athens, right down to the proximity of the sea," Monaco's new coach noted.
Spanoulis elaborated on the kind of basketball he wants to instill at Monaco, focusing on modern, dynamic play while retaining the ability to control the game when needed.
"I want a modern basketball, where we run a lot, with counterattacks, freedom, where we don't execute systems like robots," he said.
"But also that we are able to control, to understand when to accelerate or play half-court," Spanoulis argues.
His ultimate aspiration is for his players to master this style of play independently.
"I dream that in the long term, the players will achieve this without me having to intervene. It's beautiful, such a level of mastery," Spanoulis noted.
Spanoulis also shared a more realistic view of defense, recognizing the evolving nature of basketball.
"I'm not the type to say that we shouldn't concede more than 60 or 70 points in an era where we play more possessions, where there is always more talent," Spanoulis noted.
Reflecting on his mentality as a player and coach, Spanoulis acknowledged the drive that has always motivated him throughout his career.
"It's true. When I do something, I always do it to be the best. The job of coach is no exception," Monaco's coach argued.
He spoke about his passion for basketball and how it led to his transition into coaching.
"During my career I didn't necessarily imagine myself as a coach, but I was obsessed with basketball, how to improve my game, that of my teammates, I had long conversations with them, and the great coaches that I had the chance to work alongside," Spanoulis noted.
Spanoulis also explained how he came to embrace coaching.
"After my career, I thought about taking a break for a year or two, but when my agent Misko Raznatovic convinced me to take the EuroLeague youth team, I quickly understood that I had it in my blood," Spanoulis said.
He also emphasized the importance of earning his place at the top.
"I had offers from the Euroleague, but I made it a point of honor to start from the bottom, like when I was a player – at Larissa, then Maroussi before Pana and Olympiacos. To prove to myself and to others that I deserved to be there and could be myself, bring my identity," Spanoulis argues.
Reflecting on one of the most defining moments of his career, Spanoulis recalled the 2016 shot that secured Olympiacos' title in a dramatic final against Panathinaikos.
"Probably because I had achieved some crazy things in the last three matches of this final. It was the derby. We brought back a new title to Olympiacos," Monaco coach recalled
Despite the joy of the moment, Spanoulis shared his mixed feelings about the iconic shot.
"My only bittersweet regret is to have done that against Dimitris Diamantidis, my friend and teammate in the national team, for whom it was his last match," Spanoulis said.
However, he acknowledged the historical significance of the moment.
"But for us, this shot made history," he concluded.
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