Scariolo Exits Real Madrid
Real Madrid Basketball Mutually Ends Tenure with Former Spain Coach Sergio Scariolo
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Real Madrid has parted ways with head coach Sergio Scariolo by mutual agreement, the club announced on July 2, 2026. The Italian tactician's three-year contract was cut two years short, ending a tenure that reached the EuroLeague Final but produced no trophies — the first time since the 2010-11 season Madrid finished a year without a major title, according to Gamereactor.
Real Madrid said in a statement that the club "will always be his home" and thanked Scariolo for his "commitment, dedication, and professionalism," per Real Madrid Official. Pedro Martínez, the 65-year-old Valencia Basket coach who just won the Spanish league title, is expected to take over. The coaching change is estimated to cost the club around €7 million immediately, according to BasketNews.
A Trophy-Drought Season That Sealed Scariolo's Fate
Scariolo's 2025-26 season looked strong on paper. Real Madrid went 28-16 in the EuroLeague and reached the league final, per Euroleague Basketball. His overall win rate was 67.9% — 55 wins and 26 losses. But the club's board saw the results differently. Madrid lost the EuroLeague Championship Game to Olympiacos Piraeus on May 24. Then, days later, a lower-seeded Tenerife knocked them out in the ACB Quarterfinals.
That early exit in Spain's domestic league was the final straw. BasketNews reports that management felt a squad of Madrid's caliber had no business losing to Tenerife in the quarterfinals. Scariolo himself called the loss a "scar on our skin." Despite his regrets, he also pushed back in his farewell statement: "We came within a hair's breadth of becoming European champions," he wrote, per Basketball Sphere.
Pedro Martínez Steps In at a Steep Price
Real Madrid moved fast to find a replacement. By June 29, MARCA reported the club was in "advanced negotiations" with Valencia's Pedro Martínez. Madrid triggered his €1 million buyout clause to free him from Valencia, per Blogdebasket. Martínez informed Valencia of his departure on June 30. He is notable for being the first coach in recent history to win Spain's ACB league title with a team other than Madrid or Barcelona.
The full financial cost of the move is staggering. BasketNews projects the total three-year price tag for the Martínez era — including his salary, the buyout, and Scariolo's severance — at €11 million. That figure exceeds the entire player payroll of eight other EuroLeague clubs. Basketball Director Juan Carlos Sánchez, who recently returned to leadership, is credited with driving the hire, according to Basketball Sphere.
Scariolo's Record With Spain Remains Untouched
Whatever the circumstances of his exit, Scariolo's legacy with Spanish basketball is remarkable. Between 2009 and 2025, he led Spain's national team to eight medals. That includes five gold medals — the 2019 World Cup and four EuroBasket titles in 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2022. He also won silver at the 2012 London Olympics and bronze at the 2016 Rio Games, per Newsday.
His time at Real Madrid itself dates back to 1999-2002, when he won the Spanish League in 2000. This was his second stint with the club. In his farewell, he said: "Twelve months later, with both humility and pride, I can say that we achieved the goal of restoring Madrid to Europe's elite," per Basketball Sphere.
What Comes Next: Roma, Valencia's Exodus, and Madrid's Rebuild
Scariolo is not expected to be out of work for long. He is heavily linked to Roma SPQR, a new Italian club reportedly backed in part by NBA star Luka Dončić, according to Piratas del Basket. Meanwhile, Valencia Basket is reeling. Reports describe "full-scale frustration" there, with management blindsided by how Madrid contacted Martínez directly, per Basketball Sphere. Key Valencia players including Jean Montero and Brancou Badio are expected to leave.
At Real Madrid, a busy summer transfer window is expected. The club will look to build a roster around Martínez's high-pace, dynamic style of play. Thibault Luwawu-Cabarrot has already emerged as a transfer target for the new era, per Piratas del Basket. Some analysts have questioned whether Martínez's system, which worked well at Valencia, will translate to Madrid's heavier expectations and veteran roster, according to Ground News.
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