Bayern Basketball has a new head coach: Pablo Laso, 55, will coach Munich the 2023 Cup winners, in the next two seasons as the former Spanish international and long-time coach of Real Madrid signed a contract until summer 2025.
The 55-year-old Basque was received over the weekend for the final formalities by Managing Director Marko Pesic and Sports Director Daniele Baiesi and had the first rendezvous in the press lounge of the Audi Dome with the Munich media on Monday morning.
"100 percent committed and ready"
Laso, who arrived in Munich on Sunday evening, said: "It is a great honor and pleasure to be in Munich. I want to thank this great club that they have thought of me now to help write the next chapter of Bayern in the EuroLeague and the BBL. Of course, I would be happy to achieve similar success as in the past, but success is not defined by winning the EuroLeague alone, that should be clear to everyone. I am 100 percent committed and ready to help Bayern reach the next level of this exciting project."
Club president Herbert Hainer "There's no other way to say it, and it's meant in the same way, that we're all super happy that we were able to convince Pablo Laso to join FC Bayern Basketball," said the club boss. "He has an incredible amount of experience, has celebrated great successes with Real Madrid and is one of the most high-profile coaches ever in the EuroLeague. At FC Bayern, a new task now awaits him and we are very happy that he believes in our vision."
He has an incredible amount of experience, has celebrated great successes with Real Madrid and is one of the most high-profile coaches in the EuroLeague. A new task now awaits him at FC Bayern and we are very happy that he believes in our vision.
Club President Herbert Hainer
"One of the most distinguished coaches around".
GM Marko Pesic said: "We are delighted to be able to attract a basketball professional like Pablo Laso to our club. He has been highly courted for understandable reasons and it is a great honor that he has now agreed to join us. Pablo is one of the most successful coaches of the last decade and will leave a positive mark on us with his know-how and personality, I am very sure."
FCBB sport director Daniele Baiesi added: "Pablo had the longest tenure with the most successful team in Europe, he is one of the most successful coaches in Europe. He has stepped in to direct the next phase of our team and it's a pleasure and a distinction to have this elite coach on board for this."
Pablo Laso has been one of the most renowned and successful coaches in Europe for a good decade. In eleven seasons between 2011 and June 2022, he led Real to no fewer than 22 titles, including the EuroLeague twice (2015, 2018) and six championships and cup successes each in the Spanish ACB, one of the top national leagues in Europe. He also won the Club World Cup (Fiba Intercontinental Cup) with Madrid in 2015.
22 titles as coach with Real, 61 caps for Spain
Laso was an outstanding player himself as a point guard in his playing days, and even today - 20 years after his career ended - his all-time stats for assists (2,896, 4.6 apg) and steals (1,219, 1.95 Stpg) are still unmatched in the Spanish league. Also as a professional, after long years at his hometown club Baskonia in his native Vítoria-Gasteiz, he played for Real, winning the European Saporta Cup in 1997 and the Copa del Rey (1995).
Laso made 61 appearances for the Spanish national team and was a World Cup and European Championship participant.
Pablo Laso started his coaching career right after the end of his active career in Castellón, Valencia; he led Brusea (San Sebastian) to first-class status in 2008 and gradually aroused the desires of the big clubs.
Farewell from Madrid
Real acquired him in 2011. After winning the Cup in his first year, he won his first championship there in 2013; only one of eleven seasons was without a title win - in this season, however, in 2021, he was named ACB's "Coach of the Year" for the fifth time.
In the EuroLeague - where he has coached 310 games and won 213 (69%) - he received this award in the two years where his team won the finals. In total, he was in the Final Four with Real seven times in the eleven years, and in the final five times. The official departure from Real took place after the end of the season a year ago.
Pablo Laso is married and father of three sons.
PABLO LASO (*13. Oktober 1967, Vítoria-Gasteiz/ESP)
Head coach:
2003 – 2004: AB Castelló (ESP 2)
2004 – 2005: Pamesa Valencia (ACB)
2006 – 2007: Cantabria Baloncesto (ESP 2)
2007 – 2011: Gipkuzkoa Basket San Sebastian (ACB)
2011 – Juni 2022: Real Madrid (ACB)
Awards and achievements
EuroLeague winner 2015, 2018
Fiba Intercontinental Cup 2015
Spanish Championship 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022
Spanish Cup 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020
Spanish Super Cup 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020
ACB promotion 2008, Bruesa GBC
EuroLeague Coach of the Year 2015, 2018
Spanish Coach of the Year 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019
Spanish Coaches Association AEEB Coach of the Year 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018.
Erfolge/Auszeichnungen as a player
- Fiba Saporta Cup 1997
- Spanish Cup 1995
- MVP Spanish Cup 1995