Overview

• The Council of Ministers approved the Gran Cruz de la Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo for Scariolo on September 9 at the proposal of Sports Minister Pilar Alegría.
• The government cited his 15 years leading Spain and his role in building a model of success from grassroots to elite, with Alegría calling the award a crowning touch to an impeccable trajectory.
• Scariolo is Spain’s most decorated national-team coach with eight major medals, including World Cup gold in 2019, EuroBasket titles in 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2022, plus Olympic silver in 2012 and bronze in 2016.
• He left the national team after Spain’s EuroBasket 2025 exit and now turns full-time to coaching Real Madrid for the 2025–26 season, a move the club highlighted while congratulating him.
• Spanish outlets report he is the first non‑naturalized foreign recipient of the Gran Cruz, a distinction traditionally reserved for leading Spanish athletes.