Magnano, the mastermind behind the best team in the history of Argentine basketball, has retired

The technical director who won Olympic gold with Argentina at Athens 2004 and was runner-up at Indianapolis 2002 has announced his retirement.

Rubén Magnano, intellectual architect of the gold medal in Athens 2004, the most important milestone in history for the Argentine National Team, announced his retirement on Tuesday. After his time at Hindú Club de Córdoba in 2021, the Villa María-born did not return to direct, and in the last hours he told the details of his decision. “I’m at a moment where I don’t intend to have distractions take away from the precious time I have for my family right now, so I’m hanging up my boots.“, declared the multiple champion in Atenas de Córdoba in a note with Super Sports Radio.

In 1982, a year after graduating as a physical education teacher, Magnano began his career as a basketball coach. Eight years later, he made his debut at the head of a professional team, as he took the position of none other than Athens. From its inception until 2004, it won at least one title every season, adding 20 trophies to its personal showcase..

Hall of Fame member since 2020, He never coached the Albiceleste again despite his great success with the same team.. A few years after his departure, he criticized the Argentine Basketball Confederation (CABB). “I never came back because they never called me.. In 2015, the introduction of part-time coaches was discussed and I was not among the nominees. I don’t know why they despised me“, he claimed.

Argentina achieved its first great basketball success in 1950, at home in Luna Park, when it won the first World Cup in history. However, many of those players were persecuted by the dictatorship that was forcibly imposed on the government of Juan Domingo Perón in 1955. On September 4, 2002, 52 years later, by Rubén Magnano The albiceleste returned to the forefront after knocking out the United States in the semifinals of the World Cup in Indianapolis. The victory against the Dream Team, and at home, meant the first great appointment (although they would eventually fall in the final against Yugoslavia) of the Golden Generation.

When the Argentine coach’s retirement was announced, his colleague and compatriot Julio Lamas expressed all his admiration for him on social networks: “Everyone standing, Rubén Magnano left. He led us to glory in Athens and beat the Dream Team. I always believe that I can win the next game.“said the former national team coach. Even against the United States, the local team and has never lost since it started calling NBA players at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Gamesthe man from Córdoba believes he can win.

Not content with being the second best team in the World Cup after beating the United States, Magnano saved the best for last. At Athens 2004, the Golden Generation won the gold medal for the first and last time in its history, so he left the United States on the road again.

With a Manu Ginobili is amazing, the albiceleste removed the thorn from second place in the World Cup. “We used the hardships we endured by winning the silver medal in Indianapolis“, said the coach at the time. In an interview with Infobaeput the San Antonio Spurs guard in a good spot: “It is, without a doubt, the greatest sports reference of Argentina in its history. Making a combination of all the variables, everything leads me to say what I say, and I am in charge: For me he is the athlete of all time“.

Although he left the team in 2004, the Golden Generation built by the former Brazil and Uruguay National Team coach continued its path without him, and after some time achieved the Olympic bronze at the 2008 Beijing Gamesin addition to a fourth place in London 2012.