Euroleague Basketball expresses its condolences to the Italian basketball family upon learning of the death of Franco Casalini, a continental champion with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, who passed away on Thursday at age 70.
Casalini worked for Olimpia Milan for 18 years, most of them as the team's assistant coach, from 1977 to 1987. When Dan Peterson stepped down as head coach, Casalini helped Molan to successfully defend the EuroLeague title, downing Maccabi Tel Aviv 90-84. He also lifted the Intercontinental Cup trophy with Milan in 1988, and added an Italian League title in 1989. Casalini went on to coach Libertas Forli and Virtus Roma before briefly returning to Milan, reaching the 1998 Saporta Cup final. Casalini also coached SAV Vacallo, which he led to back-to-back Swiss Cup titles in 1999 and 2000.
