By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nearing the end of the contract for head coach Chus Mateo, Real Madrid has launched negotiations, aiming for a new deal to keep the native of Madrid in his current position beyond the 2023-24 season.
Talks on a contract extension were reported by Marca on Wednesday.
Late in the 2021-22 season, Mateo took over head-coaching responsibilities from Pablo Laso, leading Los Blancos to the ACB championship. Later promoted to permanent head coach, his efforts extended to winning the 2022-23 edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and being named Alexander Gomelsky EuroLeague Coach of the Year of the 2023-24 season after his side finished first in the Regular Season and swept Baskonia to advance to the Final Four. Additional success at the domestic level with the 2024 Copa del Rey title and topping the Supercopa Endesa in 2022 and 2023.
Mateo, 55, working with his hometown club as an assistant under Laso for eight years produced many more continental and domestic championships.
Before moving to Berlin’s Uber Arena and a rematch versus last season’s runner-up Olympiacos in the Semifinals of the EuroLeague Final Four on May 24, the schedule leads into the Playoffs of Spain’s Liga Endesa. A series against Dreamland Gran Canaria tips off in WiZink Center on Wednesday. Game 2 is scheduled for Friday. With two wins required to advance to the Semifinals of the 2024 ACB Playoffs, a potential Game 3 would be played in the capital of Spain on Sunday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net