Moncho Monsalve has died, one of the great historical figures of Spanish basketball. His passing at the age of 81 has caused a wave of recognition in the sports world.
Born in Medina del Campo, he was part of Real Madrid between 1963 and 1967, in a foundational stage for the white club. During those years he won three European Cups, three Leagues and three Spanish Cups, becoming part of a generation that marked an era in continental basketball. He was also an international with Spain in 61 matches.
His career as a player ended early due to knee problems, but it gave way to an even more extensive career on the sidelines. That's where the dimension began for which many consider him a reference in Spanish basketball.
A life on the sidelines
Monsalve began his coaching career in 1972 and coached Spanish and foreign teams for decades. He worked, among others, for clubs such as Barcelona, Zaragoza, Murcia, Málaga, or Cantabria Lobos, in addition to coaching 177 games in the ACB, according to figures recalled in the tributes published this Tuesday.
But his mark was not only in the clubs. He also coached national teams such as Morocco, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil. With the latter, he achieved one of the most cited milestones of his career as a coach: the gold medal at the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship and qualification for the 2010 World Cup.
Hall of Fame
In 2024, Moncho Monsalve entered the Spanish Basketball Hall of Fame driven by the Spanish Basketball Federation. His entry into the Hall of Fame consolidated a legacy built first as a player and then as a coach and disseminator of the game.
Before, he had also received the Raimundo Saporta Award for his career, another of the recognitions associated with a career of several decades dedicated to basketball. For many, he was not only a coach, but a master of the game.
His death thus leaves the farewell of a figure linked to a good part of the history of Spanish basketball: from Real Madrid's first European Cups to the international development of Spanish benches.