Not long after concluding his second tenure as head coach of Spain’s senior national basketball team, Sergio Scariolo received one of the country’s highest sporting distinctions, the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit.
The Italian strategist, now 64 years old, had overseen the Spanish squad during two lengthy periods – first from 2009 to 2012, and then again from 2015 until 2025 – amounting to a remarkable 15 years in charge.
His departure came following Spain’s elimination at EuroBasket 2025, after which he decided to dedicate himself fully to his new chapter with Real Madrid.
Scariolo’s legacy with “La Familia” is monumental. During his stewardship, Spain cemented its reputation as one of the strongest basketball nations in the world, collecting a total of eight major medals.
Among these achievements were silver and bronze medals at the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016, and the crowning glory of winning the FIBA World Cup in 2019.
His consistency was also evident in European competition, where his teams captured EuroBasket gold in 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2022, along with a bronze medal in 2017.
Recognizing the unparalleled impact of these results, the Spanish Council of Ministers decided to honor him with the highest sporting award bestowed by the government, underlining his unique contribution to the nation’s international sporting prestige.
Though leaving the national team, Scariolo is not stepping away from Spanish basketball. He remains in the country, this time taking command of Real Madrid, preparing for the challenges of the 2025–26 EuroLeague season as well as domestic competitions.
This is not his first association with Los Blancos. He had previously guided the club between 1999 and 2002. His résumé in Spain also features a successful spell with Unicaja Malaga from 2003 to 2008 and earlier stints with Tau Ceramica, later known as Laboral Kutxa, from 1997 to 1999 and again in the 2013–14 season.
Across his domestic coaching career, he has already amassed two ACB League championships and two Copa del Rey titles, solidifying his status as one of the most accomplished foreign coaches in Spanish basketball history.
Beyond Europe, Scariolo also gained experience on basketball’s biggest stage. From 2018 to 2021, he served as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, working under head coach Nick Nurse.
That collaboration culminated in the Raptors’ historic 2019 championship, further expanding Scariolo’s reputation as a versatile and successful tactician on both sides of the Atlantic.
🇪🇸 Sergio Scariolo earns the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 9, 2025
👏 A recognition of historic success as the selector of the Spanish national teamhttps://t.co/TaS64HZV8B
