Reyer Venezia announces coach Spahija: his career

Croatian coach takes over from De Raffaele as Venice coach

Umana Reyer Venezia made it official that “Neven Spahija, a Croatian coach born in Sibenik on November 6, 1962, is the new head coach of the men’s first team. Coach Spahija, who led Saski Baskonia in the Spanish league and Euroleague last season, will join the orogranata team on Thursday. Tonight, in the Eurocup against the Lithuanians of Lietkabelis, the head coach will be Gianluca Tucci.”

“Precisely with Baskonia, in 2008, the Croatian coach won one of the eight national titles of his career, after the two Croatian ones in 2000 and 2001 with Cibona Zagreb, the Slovenian one in 2003 with Krka Novo mesto, the Lithuanian one in 2006 with Rytas Vilnius, the two Israeli ones with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2007 and 2018 and the Turkish one with Fenerbahce Ulker in 2011. Spahija’s palmares, who also led the Croatian national team from 2001 to 2005, playing in the 2003 and 2005 European Championships, also include winning the 2009/10 EuroCup with Valencia, the 2007 Spanish Super Cup with Baskonia, two Croatia Cups with Cibona Zagreb (2000 and 2001), a Turkish Cup with Fenerbahce Ulker (2010/11), an Israeli League Cup with Maccabi Tel Aviv (2017) and a Baltic League with Rytas Vilnius (2005/06).”

“Neven Spahija, who began his coaching career as a deputy in 1986/87 at Elemes Šibenik and then from 1992 to 1996 at Zrinjevac, first served as head coach in 1996/97 at Gradine Pula. As assistant coach he also landed in the NBA: at the Atlanta Hawks from 2014 to 2017 and then at the Memphis Grizzlies from 2019 to 2021, with experience in China at the Shanghai Sharks in between. He also coached in Italy, at Roseto, in the 2004/05 season. Other teams led in Spahija’s career include Krka Novo Mesto and Avtodor Saratov.”

Neven Spahija will be introduced to the press at Taliercio on Friday afternoon.