Joan Plaza
Encyclopedia
Joan Plaza Durán is a Spanish
basketball
coach. He trained Real Madrid Baloncesto
for three years, winning one Liga ACB Championship and an ULEB Cup
victory. On 2009, after a bad session, he was replaced by CSKA's successful coach Ettore Messina
. Plaza signed a one-year contract for Cajasol Sevilla on June 19.
In the summer of 2004, following the wish of the new coach Božidar Maljković
, Plaza switched to Real Madrid. When the Serbian coach left after a disappointing season, Plaza assumed the position of head coach.
In the following season, Real Madrid won the first thirteen league games in series, giving Plaza a new record for a coach in his first season. The team won the international ULEB Cup
and he was named coach of the year.
In 2007/2008, Real Madrid signed Greek star Lazaros Papadopoulos
, who failed to perform well during the whole session. The team lost in first round in ACB Playoffs and didn't reach the Euroleague Final Four for 12th consecutive year. Madrid's 2008/2009's team was reformed, but failed again to reach the Final Four or perform well in the Spanish Cup. After losing in playoffs' second round to TAU Cerámica, Plaza was sacked, and replaced by Euroleague 4 time winner Ettore Messina
on June 18. The following day, he signed a one-year contract with league strugglers Cajasol Sevilla.
American sports fans heard of him for the first time on January 11, 2010 when he was featured on the humor web site "Totally Looks Like", shown next to a picture of Steve Carell sporting a beard.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach. He trained Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ....
for three years, winning one Liga ACB Championship and an ULEB Cup
ULEB Cup
Eurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
victory. On 2009, after a bad session, he was replaced by CSKA's successful coach Ettore Messina
Ettore Messina
Ettore Messina is an Italian professional basketball coach currently working as a consultant for Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He has won 4 Euroleague championships as a head coach...
. Plaza signed a one-year contract for Cajasol Sevilla on June 19.
Biography
Joan Plaza began his career with the basketball school founded by him and his brothers, EB Betsaida. At the same time he worked for the women's team EB Santísima Trinitat as well as the small club CB Sant Adriá. In 1995 he at last became the new coach of the Joventut de Badalona, where he worked as the youth and assistant trainer until 2004. His greatest achievement was in the 2000-2001 season, when his team won the Spanish U20 championship.In the summer of 2004, following the wish of the new coach Božidar Maljković
Božidar Maljkovic
Božidar "Boža" Maljković is a Serbian basketball coach, one of the most successful in Europe, having won a title with practically all clubs he trained, including four Euroleague titles with three different clubs...
, Plaza switched to Real Madrid. When the Serbian coach left after a disappointing season, Plaza assumed the position of head coach.
In the following season, Real Madrid won the first thirteen league games in series, giving Plaza a new record for a coach in his first season. The team won the international ULEB Cup
ULEB Cup
Eurocup Basketball is the second-tier level transnational professional basketball competition in Europe. The Eurocup is the level that is one tier below the Turkish Airlines Euroleague level...
and he was named coach of the year.
In 2007/2008, Real Madrid signed Greek star Lazaros Papadopoulos
Lazaros Papadopoulos
Lazaros Papadopoulos , is a Greek professional basketball player. He is 7 ft 280 lbs. and he plays at the center position.-Personal:...
, who failed to perform well during the whole session. The team lost in first round in ACB Playoffs and didn't reach the Euroleague Final Four for 12th consecutive year. Madrid's 2008/2009's team was reformed, but failed again to reach the Final Four or perform well in the Spanish Cup. After losing in playoffs' second round to TAU Cerámica, Plaza was sacked, and replaced by Euroleague 4 time winner Ettore Messina
Ettore Messina
Ettore Messina is an Italian professional basketball coach currently working as a consultant for Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He has won 4 Euroleague championships as a head coach...
on June 18. The following day, he signed a one-year contract with league strugglers Cajasol Sevilla.
American sports fans heard of him for the first time on January 11, 2010 when he was featured on the humor web site "Totally Looks Like", shown next to a picture of Steve Carell sporting a beard.