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The Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) has officially appointed Chus Mateo as the new head coach of Spain’s men’s national basketball team, succeeding Italian coach Sergio Scariolo, whose tenure ended after last year’s EuroBasket. The announcement also confirmed a notable coaching swap: Scariolo will take over as head coach at Real Madrid, the club Mateo led over the past three seasons.
Mateo, 56, now takes charge of a national team built on Scariolo’s legacy, which includes eight international medals, four European titles, and a World Cup victory. He faces the challenge of maintaining Spain’s winning culture while guiding a younger generation of players during a transitional period.
Who is Chus Mateo?
Chus Mateo is a Madrid-born basketball coach with decades of experience in Spanish basketball. He began coaching at just 16 at Colegio Agustiniano in Madrid’s Estrella neighborhood and soon joined Real Madrid’s youth system, assisting an under-12 squad. In 1999, he became an assistant coach for Real Madrid’s first team under Sergio Scariolo. 
Mateo also worked with Scariolo at Unicaja Málaga and on the Spanish national team starting in 2009, helping secure Spain’s first men’s EuroBasket title. As a head coach, Mateo led Zaragoza, Fuenlabrada, and Unicaja, before returning to Real Madrid in 2014 as Pablo Laso’s assistant. After eight seasons, he took full control and, over three years as head coach, won six major titles — including the EuroLeague, two Liga ACB championships, a Copa del Rey, and two Supercopas — achieving 199 wins in 262 games, a 76% winning rate.
Trusted Leadership for a New Era
Mateo’s extensive experience managing star players and his intimate knowledge of Real Madrid convinced the FEB to select him over other candidates, including Pablo Laso, who is also currently without a team. FEB President Elisa Aguilar will officially present Mateo on Tuesday at the federation’s museum in Alcobendas.
He inherits a national team at a pivotal moment. Spain’s golden generation has largely retired, leaving a roster that has dropped to seventh in the FIBA world rankings and failed to reach the final stages of the last three major competitions, including the 2023 World Cup, 2024 Olympics, and EuroBasket 2025.
Goals and Immediate Challenges
Mateo’s first focus will be the November qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, starting with matches against Denmark in Copenhagen on November 27 and Georgia in Tenerife on November 30. He will initially have to coach without NBA and EuroLeague-based players, emphasizing homegrown talent and emerging stars from Spanish and U.S. collegiate programs.
Beyond the qualifiers, Mateo aims to rebuild team hierarchy, secure commitment from younger players, and prepare Spain for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2029 EuroBasket, which will be hosted in Madrid.
🚨 OFICIAL | @MateoChus, 𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘃𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 de #LaFamilia 👋#BienvenidoChus #SomosEquipo pic.twitter.com/BuENDTXNHB
— Baloncesto España (@BaloncestoESP) September 22, 2025
Recognition from Players
During his tenure at Real Madrid, Mateo earned widespread respect for his tactical expertise and leadership. After winning the EuroLeague in his first season, center Walter Tavares praised him:
“We are here because of him. He trusted us when others doubted. He’s the boss and deserves all the credit.”
Mateo’s ability to manage a roster of high-profile players while maintaining cohesion and performance will be crucial as he takes charge of the national team.
A New Era for Spain Basketball
With a trophy-laden resume and decades of experience in Spanish basketball, Chus Mateo now faces the dual task of preserving Spain’s legacy and building for the future. His appointment marks the start of a new era, balancing the weight of past successes with the challenge of guiding a younger generation to restore Spain to the top of European and global basketball.
Information Source:
Photo Attribution:
Chus Mateo Real Madrid Baloncesto Euroleague 20250206 (3)
Photo by Zafer, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
