Aito to lead Spain at Olympics

MADRID (Olympics) -- Spain have agreed terms with veteran boss Aito Garcia Reneses to coach the national team this summer at the Beijing Games.

The 61-year-old, who stepped down from DKV Joventut Badalona last week after five years at the club, will take over from Pepu Hernandez.

Hernandez led Spain to gold at the 2006 FIBA World Championship and silver at last year's EuroBasket in Madrid but was sacked on June 3.

The Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) said in a statement on Saturday morning: "The Spanish Basketball Federation and Aito Garcia Reneses have reached an agreement which will be signed in the next few hours for the Madrid-born coach to guide the national team in the Olympic Games in Beijing in August."

Aito was a huge hit in his stint at DKV, where he coached Spain international Rudy Fernandez and Alex Mumbru (before his move to Real Madrid) and emerging star Ricky Rubio.

The team captured the EuroCup three years ago, and this year won the Copa del Rey and the ULEB Cup

Before joining the Badalona club, he coached the likes of Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro at Barcelona.

Earlier in his coaching career, Aito guided the Spanish junior team. He steered them to the bronze medal at the European Championship in 1979.

Credit: FIBA. Click here for further information.