Ainars Bagatskis appointed head coach of Portuguese basketball powerhouse Benfica

Latvian basketball specialist Ainars Bagatskis, who also serves as head coach of Ukraine's men's national team, has signed a two‑year contract to lead the Lisbon‑based club Benfica. The appointment was announced by the club on Thursday.

Bagatskis previously guided Polish club Śląsk Wrocław, achieving 18 wins in 28 league games and a fourth‑place finish before leaving in April. He also steered Romanian side Voluntari to the 2025 ENBL title and returned to coach Ukraine’s national squad after a stint with the Latvian men’s team (2010‑2017). Under his guidance, Benfica, a 31‑time Portuguese champion, will compete in the FIBA Champions League qualifiers after four consecutive domestic titles and a recent runner‑up finish in the national cup.

The move underlines Benfica’s ambition to strengthen its roster for European competition while highlighting Bagatskis’ extensive coaching résumé across Latvia, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Portugal.