Van Lacke joins the coaching staff of Unicaja

Federico Van Lacke becomes the new member of the coaching staff of Unicaja. The club has reached an agreement for the assistant coach to join the Málaga team for the upcoming season, bringing his extensive experience accumulated over more than two decades on Spanish and Argentine courts. Van Lacke, born in Santa Fe, spent most of his professional career in his home country, where he played for nine seasons in Liga Endesa, five in Primera FEB, and one in Segunda FEB.

A long career in Spanish basketball

Van Lacke's career as a player reflects his commitment to elite basketball. Since 2002, he defended the jerseys of renowned teams in the Spanish landscape, including Cantabria Lobos, CB Murcia, Villa Los Barrios, CB Ciudad de Huelva, Coviran Granada, CB Valladolid, Joventut de Badalona, Movistar Estudiantes, and Gipuzkoa Basket. His presence in Liga Endesa for nine seasons allowed him to accumulate valuable experience in high-level competitions, establishing himself as a respected professional in the national circuit.

Beyond Spain, Van Lacke also represented the Argentine Senior National Team in 2012 and 2013, demonstrating his ability to compete on international stages. He also participated in several seasons of the Argentine League with teams such as Boca Juniors, Obras Sanitarias, and Ciclista Olímpico, extending his experience at the continental level.

Transition to the bench and training

After his retirement from the courts in 2020, Van Lacke began a new stage related to coaching and player development. His dedication to this aspect has been constant, serving as Director of Technical Development and working on the training of talents in various competitive categories. He has actively participated in the development of players in Liga Endesa, Primera FEB, Segunda FEB, and Liga Femenina Endesa, demonstrating his versatility and ability to work with different levels of competition.

In recent years, Van Lacke has served as coach of the junior male teams of EASO Basket in San Sebastián, where he has applied his knowledge in training future basketball talents. This experience in lower categories complements his profile as a specialist in player development, a crucial aspect of the technical structure of any professional club.

Continuous training and qualifications

Van Lacke's dedication to his professional preparation has been comprehensive. In addition to his practical experience, he obtained the qualification of Superior Coach from the Spanish Basketball Federation in 2024, culminating a training process that began after his time as a professional player. This official certification validates his competence and positions him as a qualified coach to work in high-performance structures.

His profile also includes extensive experience in sports coaching and training, having worked with players, coaches, and teams from different disciplines. This versatility allows him to bring a multidisciplinary perspective to technical work, enriching the team's methodology with varied and adaptable perspectives suited to different competitive contexts.

Reinforcement of the coaching staff under Vidorreta's direction

With the addition of Van Lacke, Unicaja solidifies its technical structure under the direction of Txus Vidorreta. The club's technical staff already included the presence of Andrija Gavrilovic, Gonzalo Hermoso, and Mikel Ereño, professionals with established careers in basketball. The arrival of the Spanish-Argentine assistant coach represents a significant reinforcement, adding experience in player development and training, fundamental aspects for the team's competitive growth.

The choice of Van Lacke responds to the club's need for specialists in different areas of technical work. His knowledge of Liga Endesa, acquired both as a player and in his subsequent training phase, allows him to understand the specific requirements of the Spanish competition and the dynamics of national professional basketball.

Federico Van Lacke's joining Unicaja closes a cycle in his professional journey, allowing him to contribute from the bench to the development and competitiveness of an elite team. His experience, continuous training, and dedication to basketball position him as a valuable asset for the Málaga technical structure in the 2026-27 season.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Van Lacke se suma al cuerpo técnico del Unicaja