The Italian will make his debut as EuroLeague head coach of the French side.
ASVEL names Gianmarco Pozzecco as new head coach
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LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has announced the appointment of Gianmarco Pozzecco as its new head coach. Pozzecco has earned rave reviews since becoming Italy's head coach in the summer of 2022, with the Azzurri reaching the quarterfinals at both EuroBasket 2022 and the 2023 FIBA World Cup. This is the 51-year-old's first head coaching gig in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Pozzecco has been on the sidelines for EuroLeague games in the past, however. During the 2021-22 season, the Italian tactician acted as Ettore Messina’s assistant at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. That year, Milan had a 19-9 record in the EuroLeague regular season, before losing 3-1 in the playoffs to Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
Known for creating a strong team harmony, Pozzecco is now tasked with creating a chemistry at ASVEL that can help turn its EuroLeague fortunes around. He will continue as Italy's head coach on a part-time basis.
"I am very happy to welcome Gianmarco," ASVEL president Tony Parker said in a statement released by the club. "He will give new impetus to our season by bringing his enormous energy and his high-level experience. I can't wait to see the first effects of his arrival on the court."
Replacing T.J Parker
ASVEL can now look ahead to a new era under Pozzecco, who has come in to replace T.J. Parker, the brother of the club president. T.J. had been linked to ASVEL for 10 years, having acted as an assistant between 2013 and 2020 prior to becoming head coach, a role he held from the summer of 2020 to October 2023.
During his time in charge of ASVEL, Parker oversaw a 31-69 record in the EuroLeague. However, 17 consecutive defeats led to the coach being given his marching orders. ASVEL is currently one of only two teams in the EuroLeague with a 0-4 record so far this season; the other is ALBA Berlin.
Pozzecco’s previous experience
Pozzecco began his coaching career with Orlandina Basket in 2012, the club where he ended his playing days two years prior. He remained with Orlandina until 2014, then he took charge of Pallacanestro Varese – another club he previously played for – in the 2014-15 season.
From there, Pozzecco spent two years as an assistant coach at Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. In March 2018, the Italian became the head coach of Fortitudo Bologna, yet another club he used to play for. Then, in his last coaching job before arriving as an assistant at Milan, he became Dinamo Sassari’s head coach from February 2019 to the summer of 2021.