Asvel announced on Wednesday the signing of Italian coach Gianmarco Pozzecco (51) expected since Tuesday to replace TJ Parker, dismissed on Friday October 20 after a start to the season marked by four defeats in four Euroleague matches and three setbacks after seven days in Betclic Elite. The club did not specify the duration of his commitment.
Pozzecco has led the transalpine selection exclusively since 2022. He obtained the green light from the Italian Federation on Tuesday to wear both coaching hats, at club and national level.
“Gianmarco Pozzecco arrives with his assistant Edoardo Casalone (33 years old), and will continue to occupy his position at the head of the Nazionale in parallel,” specifies Asvel which does not indicate the fate of the deputies of TJ Parker, Pierric Poupet and Jean-Christophe Prat. Poupet led the team on Sunday October 22 in the victory against Roanne in Betclic Élite (93-88).
“I am very happy to welcome Gianmarco! He will give new impetus to our season by bringing his enormous energy and his high-level experience. I am impatient to see the first effects of his arrival on the ground,” added Tony Parker, president and majority shareholder of Asvel.
Pozzecco should take up his duties today in Villeurbanne and will be on the bench Friday for the 5th day of the Euroleague against Virtus Bologna with the mission of quickly putting an end to a series of 17 losses in a row in the Euroleague, on horseback about last season.
Two international top 8s with Italy
After having suffered the refusal of Sergio Scariolo, the coach of Spain, then Monday of Gordon Herbert, the Canadian coach of Germany, world champion 2023, who did not have the green light from the German Federation, Tony Parker therefore chose the coach of the Italian selection which he led to the final top 8 at Euro 2022 (8th) and at the 2023 World Cup (8th).
At club level, “Le Poz”, his nickname, does not have a very extensive track record as a coach, apart from two titles, a FIBA European Cup (C4 in 2019) and an Italian Super Cup (2019) with Sassari . He was also Ettore Messina’s Euroleague assistant in 2021-2022, before taking charge of the Nazionale.
