The Real Madrid playmaker opens up about his EuroLeague journey
Sergio Rodriguez's career album: 'A lot of memories'
Focus on
3 Minute de lecture
One of the most senior players in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is Real Madrid's Sergio 'El Chacho' Rodriguez, who has enjoyed a fantastic career to date.
After making his debut with Estudiantes Madrid back in the 2004-05 season, he has since appeared in 14 EuroLeague campaigns with Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. He's also a three-time EuroLeague champion, having lifted the trophy in 2015, 2019 and 2023, and was the season MVP in 2013-14.
A wonderful ride
It's been a long and eventful ride for Rodriguez, who sat down to take a trip down memory lane by revisiting some of his most touching moments thanks to the photos that make his career album.
"I was very fortunate to start my career playing in such a competition as the EuroLeague," Rodriguez says when looking at a picture of him with Estudiantes. He started in five of his 14 appearances that season and it would open the doors to the NBA for him.
Rodriguez went on to spend a few seasons in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings and New York Knicks before returning to the Spanish capital with Real Madrid for the 2010-11 season. That year, he helped Los Blancos make their return to the EuroLeague Final Four for the first time since 1995.
Starring at Real Madrid
Following that season, coach Pablo Laso started his tenure at Real Madrid. In 2013-14 Rodriguez was named MVP of the season, but it would take yet another year before the most successful club in European basketball history could lift the title again; that was in 2015 and, coincidentally, the Final Four was played in Madrid.
"After three seasons chasing it, we finally lifted the trophy," Rodriguez remembers. "The two previous seasons, we lost in the final. After you lose your first final, it is in your head every night."
After that, Rodriguez went on to have a successful career with Real. His first European experience outside Spain came when he signed for CSKA Moscow, with which he lifted his second EuroLeague Trophy in 2019. He then went on to play for Milan and he was one of the leaders that took the team to the 2021 Final Four in Cologne.
In 2022, Rodriguez returned to Madrid to play for Real again, joining former teammates Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull and becoming another fundamental part of a team that won the EuroLeague, once again, in 2023.
"It was a long career — a lot of experience and a lot of memories," Rodriguez concludes.