TEHRAN – Italian coach Marco Ramondino and Slovenian Rado Trifunovic have been nominated to lead Iran national basketball team.

Iran basketball federation parted company with Turkish coach Hakan Demir following poor results in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Team Melli, under his tutelage, also failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.   

Demir took charge of Iran team as Saeid Armaghani’s replacement on a one-year deal in last year’s May but the federation didn’t extend his contract.

Ramondino, 42, has most recently worked as head coach in Italian club Italia sperimentale. He has previously headed Italy U18 and U20 teams as well as his homeland clubs Scandone Avellino, Jesi Academy, B.blù Bologna and Veroli Basket.

Trifunovic, 51, has also currently served as the assistant coach of Turkish side Fenerbahçe Beko. He also led Slovenian men's national team from 2017 to 2020.