MIES (Switzerland) - Alessandro "Sandro" Gamba is among the most revered coaches in Europe for all that he achieved with both Italy's national team and various club sides. For this, he is being inducted in the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Born in Milan on June 3, 1932, Gamba was a small forward whose career lasted from 1950 to 1965. He spent most of his player journey at his hometown club and Italian giants Olimpia Milano with whom he celebrated 10 titles.

With Italy, Gamba played at the FIBA Eurobasket in 1955 and 1957, and the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where he was the captain.

It was Gamba's coaching career that made him even more famous.

At first, he served his time as an assistant coach at Olimpia Milano from 1965 to 1973.

Then, at his first club as head coach, Ignis Varese, from 1973 to 1977, he began to distinguish himself as one of the greats. He led the team to Italian league crowns in 1974 and 1977, and two European Cup Winners Cups.

Coaching Varese teams that had the legendary Bob Morse, Gamba's side beat Real Madrid twice in two European Finals: Antwerp in 1975, and Geneva in 1976.

Gamba then moved to Torino, to coach Auxilium Torino (1977-1980), a time that coincided with his first spell as Italy’s coach from 1979 to 1985.

During this period with the Azzurri, Gamba led the team to the 1980 Olympic Final in Moscow, and then to a FIBA EuroBasket 1983 crown.

On that legendary Italy team were Dino Meneghin, Antonello Riva, Renato Villalta, Renzo Vecchiato, Enrico Gilardi and Meo Sacchetti.

Gamba's Italy then went unbeaten at the FIBA EuroBasket 1985 before falling to the Soviet Union in the Semi-Finals but rebounded with a win over Spain to reach the podium.

After coaching Virtus Bologna from 1985 to 1987, Gamba returned to the helm of Italy and led the Azzurri to a runners-up finish at the EuroBasket 1991 in Rome.

In all, Gamba coached Italy at four Olympic Games and at seven EuroBaskets.

Gamba's excellence was recognized in 2006, when he was inducted into both the Italian Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The 2023 FIBA Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place  after the conclusion of the FIBA Congress on 23 August 2023 in Manila, Philippines, ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

FIBA