Olimpia Milano: Ettore Messina resigned, team with Poeta

Sensational news at Olimpia: Ettore Messina, who was the coach of the red and white club since 2019 and also held the role of President of Basketball Operations, has resigned. Faced with a difficult start to the season and after three defeats in a row in the last week between the championship and the Euroleague, the 66-year-old coach has decided to leave the position. However, he will remain in the club as a personal advisor to President Leo Dell’Orco. The team will be led by Giuseppe Poeta, who returned to Milan in the summer with a three-year contract after his experience in Brescia as coach Messina’s designated successor.

the statement

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“Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano announces that Ettore Messina has left the role of Head Coach of the first team. This decision was taken in mutual agreement with President Leo Dell’Orco, thus anticipating the transition with Peppe Poeta, who takes on the role of Head Coach. Ettore Messina will continue to be part of the organization in his managerial role, thus guaranteeing continuity and competence in the club thanks to the experience gained over the years. President Leo Dell’Orco declares: “I would like to express my most sincere thanks to Ettore Messina for the successes achieved together, from the championships won, to the Italian Cups and Super Cups, as well as reaching the Final Four in 2021. With the same conviction, I wish the best to Peppe Poeta, confident that he will be able to lead the team with passion and determination”.

goodbye after six seasons

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Born in Catania but raised in Mestre, graduated in Economics and Commerce, Ettore Messina has built up charisma and unique technical credibility over time. His is the career of the most successful Italian coach in modern basketball: 36 trophies, including 4 Euroleagues. He coached Virtus Bologna, Treviso, CSKA Moscow, Real Madrid, went to the NBA where he gained experience at the Lakers and San Antonio, as well as having coached the Italian national team. At the helm of Olimpia he won 3 consecutive championships (including that of the third star), 2 Italian Cups and 3 Super Cups. In 2021 he brought Milan back to the Euroleague Final Four, almost reaching the final due to Punter’s shot narrowly missing. In 2022 came the playoff defeat against Efes, a prelude to three seasons below expectations in Europe in which Milan was no longer able to go beyond the regular season, despite rosters built to go far. The last year was the most complex: despite the Super Cup won at the beginning of the season, the ups and downs in the game, discontinuity and injuries led to the defeat in the Italian Cup final against Trento and the subsequent elimination in the Scudetto semi-final against Virtus Bologna. Messina had arrived in Milan after five years at Spurs as assistant to coach Popovich: under his guidance the club has become an excellence recognized in Europe for structure, organization and culture. Over the years of coach Messina’s technical guidance, Italian and foreign championships have arrived or returned: from Melli and Datome, to Hines, Rodriguez and Mirotic. This season the record is 6 wins and 6 defeats in the Euroleague and 5 wins and 4 defeats in the championship.