Banchi returns to Olimpia Milano after 11 years
Luca Banchi returns to Olimpia Milano as head coach, succeeding Peppe Poeta with a multi-year contract. The Italian coach retains his role as the head coach of the Italian national team, a position he has held since October 2025.
Olimpia Milano has announced the return of Luca Banchi as head coach, eleven years after his first tenure with the Milanese team concluded. This is a move that marks the closure of an important cycle in the recent history of the Italian club, which seeks to regain its prominence in domestic and European competitions.
A decade of waiting and an anticipated return
Banchi's departure from Milano occurred in 2015, at a time when the Milanese club was beginning a new era. During his first term, between 2013 and 2015, the Italian coach led the team to win its first Italian league title in the Armani era, a historic milestone for the organization. Additionally, he managed to take the team to the EuroLeague playoffs, establishing Milano as a significant competitor in European basketball.
During these eleven years away, Banchi has built a career of considerable stature. He won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup with AEK Athens and the Italian SuperCup with Virtus Bologna. Recently, in 2025, he came within one victory of qualifying Anadolu Efes for the EuroLeague Final Four, demonstrating his ability to compete at the highest levels of continental basketball.
Numbers that back his tenure at Milano
During his first period at Olimpia Milano, Banchi coached 140 games, accumulating 93 victories. In the Italian league specifically, his record was 68 wins and 20 losses, representing a winning percentage of 77.2 percent. These figures place him second in the club's history, surpassed only by Cesare Rubini, underscoring the effectiveness of his tactical work and his ability to manage high-level teams.
Banchi has expressed his ambition in the club's official statement. "It is an honor for me to return to Olimpia Milano. I want to express my sincerest gratitude to the owners, who considered me the right person to lead the team at this time, and to President Petrucci for giving me the opportunity to continue as head coach of Italy," stated the Italian coach.
Succession of Peppe Poeta and recognition of his work
Banchi succeeds Peppe Poeta, who has left a significant mark on the club despite his brief time in charge. In his first words after his return, the new Milano coach addressed his predecessor with words of recognition: "My thoughts are with my predecessor, Peppe Poeta, who, in a very short time, wrote unforgettable pages in the history of a club of this caliber."
This statement reflects the respect within the Milanese organization and the importance of maintaining professional continuity in team management. Banchi emphasized his awareness of the responsibilities he assumes: "Aware of the responsibilities that await me, I begin this new chapter of my career with the enthusiasm and determination of someone who wants to prove they are worthy of such a prestigious position."
A prestigious international career
Beyond his achievements in club basketball, Banchi has left his mark on the international scene. He led the Latvian national team to achieve its best historical result in a FIBA World Cup, finishing in fifth place in the 2023 tournament. In that same competition, he was recognized as the best coach of the tournament, an award that testifies to his ability to prepare competitive teams and his innovative tactical vision.
Since October 2025, Banchi has served as head coach of the Italian national team, a position he will maintain while coaching Olimpia Milano. This simultaneous responsibility underscores the confidence that the Italian federation places in him and his proven ability to manage multiple high-level projects. The contract linking him to Milano is multi-year, providing stability and allowing for long-term planning for the Milanese project.
Banchi's return to Olimpia Milano represents a turning point for the club, which seeks to regain its reference position in Italian and European basketball. His accumulated experience, the titles won, and his knowledge of the Milanese project make him a suitable candidate to lead the ambitious goals of the organization in the coming years.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Banchi vuelve al Olimpia Milano tras 11 años
