Luca Banchi will begin coaching Milano “Olimpia” next week, with his first game set for Thursday, November 12, against Kaunas “Žalgiris” in EuroLeague play, 15min.lt reported. The 61-year-old Italian will simultaneously serve as head coach of the Italy national team, a dual arrangement he negotiated in Florence with Italian Basketball Federation president Gianni Petrucci. Delfi reported that the contract runs through 2028.
The appointment comes as Olimpia sits at the bottom of the EuroLeague standings with a 1-9 record after ten games, including eight consecutive defeats that prompted the club to fire Giuseppe Poeta, Sportas.lt reported. In Italy’s domestic league, the defending champions have a 4-2 record and share fourth through sixth place.
Banchi, who previously coached Olimpia from 2013 to 2015 and won the Italian championship with the club during that spell, takes over a team in crisis, Lrytas reported. He replaces Poeta, whom the club officially dismissed this week after the string of EuroLeague losses.
Olimpia’s 1-9 EuroLeague Start Forces Immediate Change
Milano “Olimpia” lost nine of its first ten EuroLeague games, a slide that led to Poeta’s dismissal after the eighth defeat. The club won the Italian title last season but has struggled to translate that success to European competition this year. In the Italian league, Olimpia has won four and lost two.
Banchi Will Miss Olimpia Games During November International Window
Banchi will step away from Olimpia during the November international break to coach Italy in World Cup qualifying matches. Italy plays Turkey in Rome on November 26 and Serbia in Belgrade on November 29, Lrytas reported. During those dates, assistant coach Marco Ramondino will take charge of Olimpia. The two sides agreed that further decisions about the long-term arrangement will be made later.
🚨 Luca Banchi has received the green light from the Italian Basketball Federation to become the new head coach of Olimpia Milano, while maintaining his role as coach of the National Team, per Gazzetta. 🇮🇹 Luca Banchi, c'è l'ok dalla FIP di Gianni Petrucci per il doppio ruolo… pic.twitter.com/UBNtBARRW7
A Coach With Four Italian Titles Returns to Milan
Banchi has won the Italian championship with four different clubs, including Olimpia during his 2013-2015 tenure. From 2021 to 2025, he coached the Latvia national team. Over the past two seasons, he has led EuroLeague clubs Virtus Bologna and Anadolu Efes. As Italy’s national team coach, he has twice defeated Lithuania in World Cup qualifying matches.
Ramondino Temporarily Replaces Banchi During National Team Commitments
When does Luca Banchi coach his first game for Milano Olimpia? He debuts on Thursday, November 12, in a EuroLeague match against Kaunas “Žalgiris,” Delfi reported.
Marco Ramondino coaches Olimpia when Banchi is with the Italy national team. Assistant Marco Ramondino will lead the club during the November 26-29 international window, 15min.lt reported.
Banchi’s contract with Olimpia runs until 2028. The deal reportedly runs through 2028, according to Delfi.
Whether Banchi can sustain both roles beyond the November window remains undecided, as the club and the federation agreed to revisit the arrangement in the future.
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