In the 21st century, only Zeljko Obradovic has managed to reach five consecutive Final Fours, doing so with Fenerbahce, while Dimitris Itoudis is the only one to have done it six times in a row, leading CSKA Moscow. That only show how massive Jasikevicius\u2019 achievement really is, and how difficult it is to deliver results at the highest level, year after year.<\/p>\n
![\"sarunas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/sarunas-jasikevicius2.jpg\")
Photo: Maksim Konankov<\/p>\n
2) ERGIN ATAMAN<\/p>\n
Over the past six seasons, no head coach in the EuroLeague has accomplished more than Ergin Ataman. He\u2019s lifted the trophy three times, and might have done it a fourth time if the COVID pandemic hadn\u2019t interrupted the 2019\/20 season. He completely transformed Panathinaikos and restored their glory, but the most recent campaign didn\u2019t go as planned.<\/p>\n
Panathinaikos fell flat at the Final Four, losing to Fenerbahce, and were also outplayed by Olympiacos in the Greek League Finals.<\/a> Still, Ataman remains one of the best in the business, and there\u2019s no doubt that the Greens from Athens will once again be contenders for the most prestigious trophy in European basketball next season.<\/p>\n 3) ZELJKO OBRADOVIC<\/p>\n When ranking European basketball coaches in any way and for any purpose, it often feels almost absurd not to place Zeljko Obradovic at the very top. The man won nine EuroLeague titles in his career, five more than anyone else. He\u2019s also been a FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket winner with Yugoslavia, and he coached that same national team to an Olympic silver medal in Atlanta. Add to that two Saporta Cups (the equivalent of today\u2019s EuroCup), and it\u2019s fair to say that no one is likely to ever replicate such a career.<\/p>\n Still, in recent years, Obradovic hasn\u2019t been able to replicate his EuroLeague success with Partizan, the same club he led to the title back in 1992. The last two seasons were particularly disappointing, as Partizan didn\u2019t even reach the EuroLeague Play-In. Yet, two ABA League titles in three seasons<\/a> show that there\u2019s still plenty of fire in him. His quality and knowledge are unquestioned, and perhaps best exemplified two years ago, when Partizan came within a single step of the EuroLeague Final Four, which would have been an enormous achievement.<\/p>\n 4) GEORGIOS BARTZOKAS<\/p>\n Winning the Greek League title against this Panathinaikos team must be considered a success, but any Olympiacos fan claiming that the EuroLeague trophy wasn\u2019t the only real ambition last season would be lying. Georgios Bartzokas managed to lead the Reds to four straight Final Four appearances \u2014 a remarkable feat in itself \u2014 but he\u2019s repeatedly fallen short of finishing the job during this tenure. He\u2019s been eliminated in the semifinals three times, including a shocking loss to Monaco just two months ago<\/a>.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt Bartzokas is one of the top coaches in Europe right now, but time is not currently working in his favor at Olympiacos. The club has assembled the most expensive roster in its history, and once again, the entire season will be judged based on EuroLeague Final Four results. And under Bartzokas, Olympiacos hasn\u2019t found success on that stage since 2013. It\u2019s also fair to say that Sergio Llull has had a lot to do with that.<\/p>\n 5) DIMITRIS ITOUDIS<\/p>\n Winning the EuroCup might not define his career or encapsulate everything he\u2019s achieved, but that trophy with Hapoel Tel Aviv may very well be the sweetest one<\/a> yet for Dimitris Itoudis. When one of the greatest basketball minds in Europe in the 21st century drops down a level, all eyes inevitably turn to him, and many hope or expect him to fail. But Itoudis lived up to his reputation and stature. He captured the title by upsetting Valencia in the semifinals and now returns to the biggest stage.<\/p>\n His stint at Fenerbahce may not have fully lived up to the expectations of that fan base, but the two EuroLeague titles with CSKA Moscow, along with the unprecedented run of six consecutive Final Four appearances, should never be forgotten. No other coach has achieved that in the 21st century, and it\u2019s worth noting that Itoudis wasn\u2019t the only one who had elite talent at his disposal.<\/p>\n 6) ETTORE MESSINA<\/p>\n The past few seasons have been anything but fruitful for Ettore Messina. No coach in European basketball has faced as much criticism as he has<\/a>. Not even three consecutive Serie A titles with Milano were enough to ease the pressure. Last season was particularly disappointing. His team once again failed to reach the EuroLeague Play-In, and this time they were also knocked out of the Serie A in the semifinals by Virtus.<\/p>\n Still, it\u2019s impossible to overlook everything Messina has accomplished in his career. Four EuroLeague titles with two different clubs and double-digit Final Four appearances speak for themselves. After all, massive amounts of money have been poured into Milano for the past 15 years, and many high-profile coaches have come and gone. Yet, only Messina managed to take them to the EuroLeague Final Four. That might say more about the DNA and environment of the club \u2014 which seems incredibly difficult to change \u2014 than about the coach himself.<\/p>\n 7) DUSKO IVANOVIC<\/p>\n Just when you think his time has passed and his EuroLeague career is over, he comes back stronger than ever \u2014 rising like a phoenix from the ashes. When he took over Besiktas in 2018, it seemed like his glory days were behind him. But just two years later, he led Baskonia to a stunning Liga Endesa title. And when he left that same club at the end of the 2023\/24 season, many doubted he\u2019d get another shot on a big stage. Guess what? Dusko Ivanovic arrived at Virtus, turned everything around, and delivered the club\u2019s first Serie A title in four years<\/a>.<\/p>\n When it comes to his coaching methods, there are always two drastically different sides. One is extremely positive, the other extremely critical. The truth is, not everyone has the mental toughness and character to be coached by Ivanovic. But his career and results speak for themselves. Titles in Italy, Serbia, Spain, France, and Switzerland prove it. Because hard work and discipline are respected on every corner of the European basketball map.<\/p>\n 8) SERGIO SCARIOLO Aside from Dusko Ivanovic, there\u2019s no doubt that Sergio Scariolo is the most respected and accomplished European coach without a EuroLeague title under his belt. To be fair, he\u2019ll have a massive opportunity to change that in the near future, as he has taken over at Real Madrid<\/a>, clearly with that very ambition in mind. To lift the one trophy that would complete an extraordinary career, built largely in Spain, where he led the national team to four EuroBasket titles and one FIBA World Cup crown.<\/p>\n ChatGPT said:<\/p>\n The previous stint at Virtus didn\u2019t end on the happiest note, but it shouldn\u2019t be forgotten that he was the one who brought the Bologna club back to the EuroLeague after a long wait. He also delivered Unicaja\u2019s only title in club history, and as head coach, he won trophies with Real Madrid even in the last century. That alone speaks volumes about how long and successful Scariolo\u2019s career has been.<\/p>\n 9) IGOR KOKOSKOV When Basketball Sphere first reported in early March<\/a> that Igor Kokoskov would take over Anadolu Efes starting summer 2025, many were surprised. Not so much by the Turkish club\u2019s decision, but by the Serbian coach\u2019s choice to give the EuroLeague another shot. One of the most prestigious NBA assistants of the 21st century didn\u2019t make a splash at Fenerbahce, failing to win any trophies and never reaching the EuroLeague Final Four with his team.<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear Kokoskov wants to change that narrative and prove that all the success he\u2019s had across the Atlantic wasn\u2019t and can\u2019t be accidental. He\u2019ll have one of the best rosters in Europe at his disposal after several major signings recently, and it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see him ranked much higher on this list 12 months from now.<\/p>\n 10) GORDON HERBERT<\/p>\n Gordon Herbert is a coach who has been widely talked about recently, and understandably so, given what he accomplished with the German national team during his tenure. Winning the FIBA World Cup, securing a bronze medal at EuroBasket, and finishing fourth at the Olympics were more than enough to earn him the Bayern Munich job, where once again his basketball style earned widespread admiration.<\/p>\n Although Bayern stumbled late in the regular season and missed the EuroLeague playoffs by just one win, that doesn\u2019t change the fact that Herbert achieved a massive overachievement. The Bavarians boasted one of the most dynamic and effective offenses in the entire competition. In the end, they captured the Bundesliga title<\/a>, and Herbert firmly established himself as one of the hottest coaches on the continent.<\/p>\n 11) IOANNIS SFAIROPOULOS<\/p>\n If any head coach has experienced huge ups and downs in a short period, it\u2019s Ioannis Sfairopoulos. After a remarkable run of victories against Zeljko Obradovic\u2018s Partizan during the 2023\/24 season, he was hailed as a top-tier coach. Yet just 12 months later, he came under heavy fire when his Crvena Zvezda squandered a massive lead and opportunity late in the EuroLeague regular season. That slump carried over into local competitions, with early semifinal exits in both the ABA League<\/a> and Serbian Super League<\/a>.<\/p>\n Still, a few tough months can\u2019t erase everything Sfairopoulos has achieved with Crvena Zvezda before that. Nor can it overshadow the fact that he twice reached the EuroLeague Final with Olympiacos. There\u2019s no doubt he\u2019s eager to prove he still has a major say in one of Europe\u2019s most basketball-passionate cities.<\/p>\n 12) ODED KATTASH<\/p>\n Oded Kattash has quickly established himself as an excellent coach at the highest level. Twice in the past three seasons, he led Maccabi Tel Aviv from underdog status to the EuroLeague quarterfinals<\/a>, only to be eliminated in Game 5 both times. Once by later champion Panathinaikos, and before that by Monaco. Last season was a disappointment in the competition, but given the circumstances, it\u2019s clear that probably no other coach could have done more.<\/p>\n 13) VASSILIS SPANOULIS<\/p>\n One of the greatest players in EuroLeague history has quickly emerged as one of the brightest basketball coaching minds as well. Vassilis Spanoulis didn\u2019t skip any steps, as he started the right way. He led Peristeri to the Final Four of the FIBA Champions League, a massive overachievement, and his Greek national team looked perhaps the most mature it\u2019s ever been in the Giannis Antetokounmpo era.<\/p>\n This recent stretch with Monaco proved that he already possesses not just great potential, but real coaching quality. He guided the team to the EuroLeague Final, knocking out the heavily favored Olympiacos in the semifinals. The French League title slipped away in a Game 5 loss to Paris<\/a>, but it\u2019s important to note he was without the suspended Mike James.<\/p>\n 14) PEDRO MARTINEZ<\/p>\n Although he\u2019s been considered one of the best Spanish coaches for over a decade, Pedro Martinez returns to the EuroLeague after an eight-year absence. He\u2019s never been one to take the easy path, and he\u2019s always embraced the challenge of proving himself in different ways. Under his guidance, Manresa played well above expectations, and what he accomplished in Valencia will be remembered for generations.<\/p>\n Most notably, of course, is the club\u2019s only domesic title won in 2017. Last season, Valencia had one of the most potent offenses in all of European basketball last season. In fact, it was more surprising when they finished games with single-digit made three-pointers than when they hit 15 or more. They eventually reached the Liga Endesa Finals, but Real Madrid simply proved to be too strong<\/a>.<\/p>\n 15) JOAN PENARROYA<\/p>\n If there\u2019s a coach who just can\u2019t seem to catch a break and get a real chance to prove himself at the highest level, it\u2019s Joan Penarroya. Two FIBA Champions League titles with Burgos, along with a string of impressive results in Spain\u2019s lower tiers with Andorra, are clear proof that he knows how to do his job. And yet, something always seems to be missing on the biggest stage. His Baskonia team in the 2022\/23 season played some of the most attractive basketball in the EuroLeague, even leading the standings at one point. They held a Top 8 spot all the way until the final round of the regular season, only to let it slip away at the very end.<\/p>\n Luck hasn\u2019t been on his side in Barcelona either. The club just had one of its worst seasons in the past decade, though they were plagued by injuries throughout. Penarroya has been given another chance by the front office<\/a>, and now it\u2019s make-or-break time for him. Because if he doesn\u2019t deliver in Catalonia, the odds are far greater that he won\u2019t get another shot at the big stage than that he will.<\/p>\n 16) JURICA GOLEMAC<\/p>\n After a decade of coaching experience, Jurica Golemac has finally earned the opportunity to lead a team in the EuroLeague. He was one of the biggest sensations in ABA League history with Koper Primorska, and his Cedevita Olimpija remains the only version of that club to reach the EuroCup quarterfinals. He also left a strong impression last season in Dubai, guiding the team to the ABA League semifinals with some impressive wins over Crvena Zvezda and Partizan. Now, he\u2019ll look to prove himself on the biggest stage<\/a>.<\/p>\n 17) PAOLO GALBIATI<\/p>\n Paolo Galbiati has yet to be officially announced as the new head coach of Baskonia, although by now it\u2019s an open secret and everyone is just waiting for the club from Vitoria to make it formal<\/a>. The Italian coach did a phenomenal job with Trento, leading them to the Italian Cup title with a win over Milano earlier this year, and he also went on an extended unbeaten run in Serie A. Considered one of the most promising young coaches on the continent, Galbiati will now have the opportunity to show whether he truly lives up to the hype.<\/p>\n 18) PIERRIC POUPET<\/p>\n He may be ranked low on this list, but in two seasons with Asvel, Pierric Poupet has shown that he possesses serious coaching potential. Time is on his side, but he still lacks a trophy with the club from Villeurbanne. Last season featured some big, eye-catching wins in the EuroLeague<\/a>, but the fact remains \u2014 basketball, at the end of the day, is played for titles.<\/p>\n 19) FRANCESCO TABELLINI<\/p>\n Let\u2019s be honest \u2014 if you had polled the average EuroLeague fan 12 months ago, four out of five wouldn\u2019t have had a clue who Francesco Tabellini was. But that says far more about them than it does about the highly talented and promising Italian coach.<\/p>\n His Nymburk side amazed everyone in the FIBA Champions League. Not just with a string of impressive wins, but with the style in which they played. That dynamic and high-octane offense is exactly what earned him the job in Paris<\/a>, a club that embraced that brand of basketball in recent seasons. A leap from the Czech League to the EuroLeague doesn\u2019t happen often, but Tabellini has rightfully earned his shot.<\/p>\n 20) TOMAS MASIULIS<\/p>\n He may be a rookie EuroLeague head coach with the least top-level experience among his peers, but Tomas Masiulis is anything but an unknown name at this level. For the past seven years, he was the right-hand man to Sarunas Jasikevicius, closely involved in every project the Lithuanian mastermind led, and there\u2019s no doubt he had one of the best mentors in the game. Now, he gets his chance with the club from his hometown<\/a> \u2014 the very organization that gave him everything in his playing career \u2014 and he\u2019ll aim to repay that trust to Zalgiris in the best possible way.<\/p>\n HOW WE CREATED THIS POWER RANKINGS?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re wondering how we put together this ranking and what criteria we used, here\u2019s the answer.<\/p>\n We applied three main parameters: the overall result each coach has achieved in their career as a head coach, their performance in the previous season, and the general impression and impact they\u2019ve made across all competitions over the past five years.<\/p>\n
![\"ergin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ergin-ataman-2.jpg\")
Photo: FIBA<\/p>\n![\"Zeljko](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/obradovic-zeljko.png\")
Photo: Dragana Stjepanovic\/ABA League<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/betlabel-banner-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Georgios](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Georgios-Bartzokas-1.jpeg\")
Photo: Basketball Sphere<\/p>\n![\"Dimitris](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_4-6-768x432-1.png\")
Photo: FIBA<\/p>\n![\"messina](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/messina-ettore.jpg\")
Foto: Basketball Sphere<\/p>\n![\"dusko](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/dusko-ivanovic-1.jpg\")
Photo: Basketball Sphere<\/p>\n
\nChatGPT said:<\/p>\n![\"sergio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/sergio-scariolo.jpg\")
Foto: FIBA<\/p>\n
\nChatGPT said:<\/p>\n![\"Igor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Kokoskov.jpg\")
Foto: Nebojsa Parausic\/KSS<\/p>\n![\"Gordon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Gordon-Herbert.jpg\")
Photo: FIBA<\/p>\n![\"ioannis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ioannis-sfairopoulos-2.jpg\")
Photo: Cibona (Ivana Dergez)<\/p>\n![\"oded](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/oded-kattash.jpg\")
Foto: Basketball Sphere<\/p>\n![\"Vassilis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Vasilis-Spanoulis.jpg\")
Photo: FIBA<\/p>\n![\"Pedro](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Pedro-Martinez.jpeg\")
Photo: FIBA<\/p>\n![\"Joan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_6-3.jpg\")
Photo: Marc Graupera \u2013 FC Barcelona<\/p>\n![\"Jurica](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Jurica-Golemac-1.jpg\")
Photo: Cedevita Olimpija\/Ales Fevzer<\/p>\n![\"Paolo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_7-1.jpg\")
Printscreen<\/p>\n![\"Pierric](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Pierric-Poupet.jpg\")
Photo: Asvel Basket<\/p>\n![\"Francesco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_8.jpg\")
Photo: FIBA<\/p>\n![\"Tomas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_6-6.jpg\")
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