Lithuanian champions could start next season with a new head coach. As the new contract negotiations with Aleksandar Trifunovic stalled, the club started looking at other candidates to lead the team in 2012-13 season.
Lrytas.lt reports that Spaniard Joan Plaza, who is currently in charge of Banca Civica visited Kaunas a few days and met with Zalgiris’ owner Vladimir Romanov.
Former Real Madrid coach won Eurocup in 2007 beating Lietuvos Rytas in the final. However, Plaza lost support from the club’s board after unsuccessful 2008-09 season and was replaced by Ettore Messina.
So far Plaza has only coached in his native Spain. Last season was the 7th as a head coach for the 48-year-old.
Aleksandar Trifunovic was the favourite to stay. Though Zalgiris’ results were far from great throughout the season. The Greens won LKF Cup, LKL and BBL but they were knocked out of VTB United League’s eight-finals and finished Euroleague Top 16 with zero wins.
Zalgiris is reportedly also getting closer to signing Sarunas Jasikevicius who declined an offer to take coaching position at Panathinaikos.
Vladimir Romanov expressed his wish to gather a bigger budget this season making his team more competitive in both Euroleague and VTB United league.
