Monaco’s basketball team is navigating a period of uncertainty as head coach Vassilis Spanoulis has reportedly submitted his resignation, a move the club’s management does not appear to be opposing. An official announcement is expected soon.
The 43-year-old coach missed the team’s last two games, both resulting in victories for Monaco – a win against Cholet Basket in the French league on March 7, 2026 and a triumph over Nanterre in the cup semi-finals on an unspecified date.
This situation unfolds as the Monaco club faces financial difficulties, a concern Spanoulis has publicly acknowledged and expressed disappointment over in recent press conferences. These challenges can impact team performance and stability, highlighting the interconnectedness of financial health and athletic success.
Spanoulis took the helm of the Monaco team during the previous season, leading them to the EuroLeague final, where they narrowly lost to Fenerbahçe Istanbul, coached by Šarūnas Jasikevičius.
However, the team’s performance has declined recently, with only one win in their last eight EuroLeague games, currently placing them ninth in the standings and at risk of not qualifying for the play-in tournament. Despite these challenges, Monaco demonstrated resilience, securing a win even without their head coach.
In fact, for the second time in a week, Monaco persevered without a head coach, defeating Nanterre 88-83 (24:19, 21:20, 26:22, 17:22) in the French Cup semi-finals on March 7, 2026, to advance to the championship game.
The team led throughout the game, building a lead of 19 points in the third quarter (61:42). In the final, Monaco will face Le Mans Sarthe Basket, a familiar opponent for Vilnius’s Ryto in the FIBA Champions League.
Alpha Diallo led the winning team with 16 points (3/5 three-pointers, 4 rebounds), while Matthew Strazelis added 15 (5/7 two-pointers), Mike James and Nemanja Nedović each contributed 14 (James with 5/8 two-pointers and 7 assists, Nedović with 3/4 three-pointers), and Elie Okobo scored 12.
Monaco will return to EuroLeague action on March 11, 2026, hosting Olympiacos Piraeus. Serhiy Hladyr, currently an assistant coach, will lead the team in this game.
