By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Gianmarco Pozzecco was officially named head coach of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on Wednesday morning.
He was set to take over the reins, replacing T.J. Parker as the new head coach of the French club. Reaching an agreement with ASVEL was confirmed by Eurohoops on Tuesday.
“I am very happy to welcome Gianmarco!” reacted team president Tony Parker, “He will change our momentum with his enormous energy and top-notch experience. I can’t wait to enjoy his impact on the players on the floor.”
Pozzecco, 51, will remain head coach of Italy’s senior national team, confirmed ASVEL. The Italian Basketball Federation, FIP, gave a blessing to complete the move without affecting his status in the Azzurri. His assistant Edoardo Casalone will also combine international and club duties between Italy and the team based in Villeurbanne.
Welcoming Pozzecco, ASVEL carries a 0-4 record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and sits at 5-3 in Betclic Elite. The Italian tactician will debut in both Europe’s premier club continental competition and France’s domestic league.
His path to ASVEL
A former player with multiple accolades, including helping Italy capture the silver medals in the 2004 Olympic Games, he shifted into a coaching career in 2012. Following head-coaching stints in Italy with UPEA Capo d’Orlando and OpenjobMetis Varese, he spent two years in Croatia as an assistant for Cedevita. Back in his home country, the next stop was a brief stay at Consultinvest Bologna.
Winning the FIBA Europe Cup and Italy’s Zurich Connect Supercoppa in 2019 highlighted the two successful years with Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari, lasting until 2021. The most recent jobs stretched from working under Ettore Messina at AX Armani Exchange Milan during the 2021-22 season and taking over the national team in the 2022 EuroBasket and 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL