Basques are considered powerful, brave, and skilled, traits that were very helpful for centuries in whaling off the coast of the Bay of Biscay. Pablo Laso is Basque, hailing from Vitoria, and still owns a house there. However, he didn't gain fame as a fisherman along the rugged shores of the Basque Country. Instead, he's known as a trophy collector in the Spanish capital of Madrid—and as someone who captures the hearts and minds of those meeting him.
A portrait of the new Munich head coach who, on Thursday (8:45 PM), faces his longtime club for the first time with Bayern.
Not much happens outside when Madrid's streets sizzle with summer heat. Locals sit at home in front of fans or by the sea under umbrellas. And those who've stayed behind hurry through the necessary errands, eager to return to the shade. Yet sometimes, they stop for him, approach him, and express how much they've appreciated his work here in Madrid over the years.
"Though I'm not a footballer, they recognize me occasionally," says Pablo Laso, a bit touched, after the man has left, leaving behind his best wishes for the future. "Nice, a good feeling."
Even as a successful professional
In Munich, even after three months, Pablo Laso can still walk through the streets relatively unrecognized, especially when he's out for a stroll or shopping with his wife. He lives in Schwabing, but his true home is the court. He might not achieve the same level of success as at Real Madrid here; he's aware of that, no matter how early he arrives at the office to prepare for the next training session or review the previous night's game. But that doesn't bother him at all.
Señor Laso, 56, is quite balanced and a realist who enjoys his new job: head coach of FC Bayern Basketball.
"Star coach" is what the writers in Munich are calling him now, those who prefer very bold headlines. And it's true, because Pablo Laso is undoubtedly one of the most successful and prestigious basketball coaches on the continent. He has won 22 trophies in his eleven years with the Royals, twice the EuroLeague, and six times each the championship and the Copa del Rey, the cup in Spain which holds significantly more importance than the BBL-Pokal here in Germany
Early Contact with Marko Pesic
Coach Laso himself was a successful professional player, a point guard, naturally, who played long in his Basque homeland of Vitoria. Later, he also played for Real and even once abroad, in Trieste, Italy. To this day, he holds the record for the most assists in the Spanish ACB, undoubtedly Europe's strongest league: 2896, averaging 4.6 assists per game.
Laso is now coaching abroad for the first time, although he never had any qualms, as after his active career, he interned, for instance, with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA coaching staff. "To have a different perspective on basketball and training," as he puts it. With Bayern, especially with Marko Pesic, he was in contact very early this spring, thus engaging with a much sought-after man much earlier than other clubs that presented princely offers to him.
This remarkable deal was thus struck; between a club that is very big but still considered more of a European middle-class team in basketball, not part of the rich aristocracy like Real—and a coach who took a sabbatical at the end of the 2022 season after a minor heart attack, broadened his perspective, and sometimes disregarded princely offers.
"This club has a vision; they are building something continuously,' says Laso. 'The new arena is coming, the SAP Garden, German basketball is now at the forefront. I think this was precisely the right moment for me to come to Munich."
"A different approach, everything a bit more open"
In training, Laso isn't quite as fixated on details as his predecessor Trinchieri. But he can be assertive and demanding; his whistle rings quite loudly through the BMW Park during sessions. "A different approach, a bit more freedom in the game, although he already has very clear ideas," described world champion Andi Obst regarding the new man on the sidelines.
In connection with Laso's takeover, there's talk in professional circles of a 'Spanish school,' referring to the Berlin era under Aito. However, that doesn't quite fit, despite Laso's background in faster play and more open systems. For instance, defense is far too sacred for him, considering he once held the ACB record in steals: 1219 in total, almost two steals per game.
"The results come naturally"
That this composed, amiable man might eventually be recognized regularly in Schwabing, much like how Andi Obst now often finds himself stopped more frequently in Munich or even in Oldenburg or Frankfurt, isn't something Pablo Laso worries about. He doesn't hold himself in such high regard. On the other hand, that would mean he'd have led Bayern to fame and honor even without directing a team of stars here. Successes make basketball more visible; we've known that since this summer.
So, what would constitute a successful season with Bayern? Okay, says Laso, smiling; he prefers others to outline specific season goals. He doesn't like 'the tyranny of results.' Of course, he's familiar with the ambitions in big clubs, having been a coach at Real for a long time.
Pablo Laso responds, 'People should be excited when they see us. If we generate that atmosphere, then the results will come naturally.'
The reception could be a touching moment
The Top 4 for the cup has just been reached, a first milestone, and the trend in both the BBL and EuroLeague is also on the rise. Laso is patient anyway—'new coach, new team, it takes time.' Perhaps it was a little different at Real; the Royals always had to deliver, every time.
Pablo Laso delivered; they don't forget that. The reception on Thursday night at the Wizink Center could be a touching moment.
