Pablo Laso returns to Real Madrid Baloncesto with FC Bayern Munich

Pablo Laso and Real Madrid. Real Madrid and Pablo Laso. It is a relationship that will forever be intertwined, but in Round 14 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, the Spanish coach heads back to his former side with his new team, FC Bayern Munich.

During a glittering 11-season stay in the Spanish capital, Laso led Real to two EuroLeague titles (2014-15, 2017-18) and three runner-up finishes (2012-13, 2013-14, 2021-22). Los Blancos reached the Final Four seven times under Laso’s stewardship, too, which is only bettered by one other team in the same period: CSKA Moscow, which went on eight occasions.

After leaving Real in the summer of 2022, Laso decided to spend a year away from coaching. But now, having recharged his batteries, he is leading Bayern’s exciting project. Nevertheless, the 56-year-old will always hold a big place in his heart for Real.

“A lot of things. Many years, many experiences, a lot of wins, EuroLeague champions,” Laso responds when asked what Real means to him.

“Real Madrid, for me, has been almost a life. When somebody tells you that you’ve been 11 years at that club, that’s a lot.”

Almost a year and a half has passed since Real took the decision to dismiss Laso, citing medical reasons after the Spaniard suffered a heart attack during the 2021-22 Spanish League finals, but the current Bayern boss still has lots of old friends at WiZink Center.

“[Sergio] Llull is my friend, Rudy [Fernandez] is my friend, for sure. Facu [Campazzo], Gaby Deck, for sure,” Laso comments. “I had a great relationship with them. All the players that I coached.

“That’s dangerous, because they might really want to play good against you and they’re great players. I just hope that they’re very anxious and they don’t play that good!

“The best thing that I take [from my time at Real] is the friendship I have with a lot of the players there, and at the end it’s what you get [for your hard work] – those relationships. I’m really glad that I will have relationships there forever.”