MADRID, 30 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Italian coach Andrea Trinchieri replaced the Lithuanian Kazys Maksvytis as head coach of BC Zalgiris this Saturday, following the Kaunas team's sixth consecutive defeat in the Euroleague, where it is in the lagging positions with a balance of 5-12.
Zalgiris announced on its website the changes made to its coaching staff, describing “by mutual agreement” its farewell to Maksvytis, who had been its coach since April 2022. In addition, the press release highlighted Trinchieri's “considerable experience” in the Euroleague.
“The decision was not easy, but both parties accepted it. Although a couple of weeks ago we publicly showed confidence in the coach, lately the team's play and results have not satisfied the coaching staff, the club management or the fans. “commented Paulius Jankunas, director of Zalgiris.
“Maksvytis came to Zalgiris at a difficult time and last season he helped the team get back to where we want to be. We are grateful to him for his work here. Anyway, basketball always goes through different processes, so it is time for a change that “he should move the team forward. The new coach arrives at the Zalgirio Arena with his eyes lit and we hope that with his arrival we can stabilize the situation,” Jankunas added about Trinchieri.
The new head coach of Zalgiris led Bayern Munich for three years, until last June. He also coached Partizan Belgrade, Brose Baskets Bamberg, Unics Kazan, several Italian clubs and the Greek men's national basketball team.
“He has worked in the Euroleague for eight seasons, in 2021 and 2022 Bayern Munich qualified for the playoffs and once came close to reaching the Final Four under his direction. In 2014, the Italian was voted best coach in the Euroleague. European Cup and has won titles in all the countries in which he has worked,” Zalgiris said in its note, specifying that Trinchieri's contract will end at the end of the 2024/25 season.