Tuomas Iisalo should currently be a top candidate for coach of the year in Finland as well, writes Urheilu’s editor Roope Visuri.
Roope Visuri Sports reporter
Tuomas Iisalo in tears. He hugs the players of the Bonn team he coaches. At the same time, working as a commentator on an international broadcast Lassi Tuovi becomes sensitized. At least, if the commentator colleague of Suijeng’s head coach is to be believed. And why wouldn’t it be?
On Sunday evening, Malaga saw a fierce Finnish basketball performance. Tuomas Iisalo has led German team Bonn, who started the season as an underdog, to victory in the Champions League.
So how hard a trick is it?
First of all, it must be stated that basketball has not made rating easy.
In basketball, the Champions League is not unequivocally Europe’s main league, like in football or volleyball, where the Finns meet in the final Tuomas Sammelvuo and Eemi Terportti. Instead of a clear system, basketball’s Euroleagues are quite a mess.
Due to the disputes between the major European clubs and the international basketball association Fiba, the clubs eventually founded their own top league, the Euroleague. This season, 18 top teams have played in the Euroleague. All sports fans are familiar with the waste, such as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich.
There are a total of four European basketball leagues. The parent company of the Euroleague also manages its second division, the Eurocup. The Champions League and the FIBA Europe Cup are under the auspices of the international basketball federation FIBA.
The Champions League was established seven years ago as Fiba’s top league. Its value has increased year by year. Many consider the series as tough as the Eurocup.
So you can say that the Champions League is at least very close, if not even on par with the Eurocup as the second series. The same is underlined by the averages of the regular season teams of both series in the main leagues of their home countries. In the EuroCup it is 4.8, while in the Champions League it is 5.6.
Bonn has also brought down giant clubs in his home country
Although it is not the biggest and most beautiful basketball series, Bonn’s performance should not be underestimated. In the Champions League season, Bonn lost only two matches. In the German Bundesliga, Iisalo piloted Bonn to victory in the regular season. Even in the regular season of the Bundesliga, there were only two losses.
Bonn defeated Euroleague giants Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin in the regular season of the Bundesliga. The performance is underlined by the fact that Bonn operates in a completely different sphere than the two big clubs mentioned above.
Of the four final tournament teams of the Champions League, Bonna has had the weakest budget (you switch to another service). Although Iisalo has had less money available in Bonn than many of his other opponents, he has been able to get the most out of his team. One could even say incomprehensibly that once again.
Iisalo already did similar stretches under the leadership of his team at his previous employer in Crailsheim. One example can be found from the 2019–2020 season interrupted by the coronavirus.
Tuomas Iisalo and his brother Joonas took Crailsheim with the smallest budget in the league to fourth place in the regular season before the games were interrupted.
Currently Joonas Iisalo serves as Heidelberg’s head coach in the Bundesliga, but it hasn’t slowed down.
It’s raining international recognitions – now it’s time to wake up in Finland as well
The continuous overperformance of Tuomas Iisalo’s teams has also been noted in Europe. Bonn and Iisalo have been heavily incensed. The Finnish coach has been able to open up his story and way of playing in many different media. Bonn’s story has been considered a kind of cinderella story.
It would be a miracle if the big clubs weren’t after the 40-year-old Finnish basketball philosopher. Before the final climax of the Champions League, Iisalo was rumored to join Bayern Munich in the German media. (you switch to another service)
On the final day, on the other hand a couple of basketball journalists speculate that Iisalo might be moving to the ranks of the French team Paris Basketball (you will switch to another service). In Paris Basketball, the resources would be top class, as the club founded in 2018 has announced its desire to become a major club and, among other things, the Euroleague.
It is naturally a big deal when a Finnish coach is involved in such speculations. Iisalo has also had personal achievements. He has now been chosen as the Bundesliga coach of the year for two years in a row. More honor came at the weekend, when Iisalo was also chosen as the Champions League coach of the year.
Even in Finland, Iisalo should be recognized when, for example, the selection of the coach of the year is considered. Last year, Iisalo was fourth in the sports editor’s association’s vote for coach of the year (you will switch to another service). Those who led the Lions to the Olympic victory and the world championship reached the front Jukka JalonenOlympic champion in skiing Iivo Niskanen coach Olli Ohtonen and European pole vault champion Wilma Murron coach Jarno Koivunen.
When looking at the current sports year, Iisalo should currently be the clear number one name for coach of the year. Jukka Jalonen can of course lead the Lions to the world championship and Jarno Koivunen coaches Wilma Murro to the World Cup medals, but Iisalo’s selection would have its own reasons.
Basketball is one of the biggest sports in the world. Succeeding in the tough competition of the sport in Europe’s top leagues is already an achievement worth raising your hat to. When you do it while still consistently exceeding expectations, it is a place of great recognition.
I hope this is also understood in Finland.