Earthquake at Olimpia Milano: Messina leaves, Poeta takes his place

Earthquake at Olimpia Milano: Ettore Messina is no longer the coach of the red and white club. After an afternoon of rumours and rumours chasing each other, in the evening it was the club itself to confirm the coach's step back: "Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano announces that Ettore Messina has left his position as head coach of the first team," reads the club's note. A decision taken "by common agreement with President Leo Dell'Orco," adds the club, which has already announced his successor: he is Giuseppe Poeta, who returned last summer after his experience in Brescia to become Messina's heir starting next season.

Such a transition is only anticipated, with "Peppe Poeta assuming the role of head coach," the club explains. "Ettore Messina will continue to be part of the organisation in his managerial role, thus guaranteeing continuity and competence in the club thanks to the experience gained over the years," Olimpia continued, with Messina therefore remaining in the role of "President of Basketball Operations". "I would like to express my most sincere thanks to Ettore Messina for the successes we have achieved together, from the championships we have won, to the Italian Cups and Super Cups, as well as reaching the Final Four in 2021," commented president Dell'Orco. "With the same conviction, I wish the best to Peppe Poeta, certain that he will know how to lead the team with passion and determination'.

Arrived in June 2019, Messina has won three scudetti with Olimpia (in 2022, the third star in 2023 and 2024), as well as three Supercoppa Italiana (2020, 2024, 2025) and two Coppa Italia (2021, 2022). What has been missing is the leap forward in Europe, although it came close in the 2020/21 season, when it took Milan back to the Euroleague Final Four after 29 years. However, the dream was shattered in the semifinals after a loss to Barcelona due to Punter's shot at the buzzer that went out by a whisker, with the Red Shoes then finishing third by beating CSKA Moscow in the final. Messina is paying for the difficulties of last season, which ended in fifth place in the regular season in Serie A and only in the semifinals of the championship playoffs, but also for a limping start in 2025/26: in the championship there are already four defeats after nine games, while in the Euroleague the record is 6-6 and in particular there are three losses in a row between Serie A and Euroleague in the last competitions. In addition to a locker room that, according to some rumours, was practically against him.