L. Kleiza is hindered by the record number of foreign coaches: “I would like more Lithuanians”

At the moment, five foreign strategists are working in the “Betsafe-LKL” championships – Andrea Trinchieri leads Kaunas “Žalgiris”, Nenad Čanakas returned to Panevėžys “7bet-Lietkabelis” at the end of October, Oliver Kostićius conducts Utena’s “Uniclub Casino – Juventus” team, Georgios Vovoras skina victories against Klaipėda “Neptūnas”, and Mažeikiu’s “M Basket-Delamode”, which returned to the championship after nine years, with Nikola Vasilev in the lead, is also moving to the rhythm of the playoffs.

Let’s add the Latvians Roberts Štelmaheris and Nikolaj Mazuras, who were fired in 2023, and we will get as many as seven specialists who managed to touch the steering wheels of “Betsafe-LKL” teams this season.

This is a record number in the history of “Betsafe-LKL”, surpassing the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons, when five “legionary” strategists each worked in the country’s top league.

“It is the choice of each club, but I would like to see more Lithuanian coaches in the LKL. We have young professionals who are waiting for a chance to show themselves. Of course, sometimes victories are lulled, but we will see what the final result will be. Everyone wants to win at the end,” 15 minutes Linas Kleiza said in the show PIKENROLAS.

However, it is difficult to deny the statistics – the current five foreign strategists are reaping victories.