Valérie Garnier, former selector of the French female basketball team, was disembarked from her Fenerbahçe coach after having failed to win the Euroleague, the Turkish club announced on Tuesday. “We separated from our coach Valérie Garnier, who led our women’s team (…) from 2017 to 2019 and from 2023 to 2025”, “Fener” wrote in a press release. The verdict is steep.
According to the Turkish press, the Frenchwoman paid the price for the heavy defeat on Friday in the Euroligue semi-finals against the USK Prague (91-71) while the leaders of the Turkish club dreamed of a hat-trick after the titles of 2023 and 2024. This defeat also arrived a few days after elimination in the semi-finals of the Turkey Cup which has not already gone well in the eyes of the leaders.
The former international player, 60, will be replaced by Miguel Mendez, current coach of the Spanish Women’s Basketball team, said Fenerbahçe.
Thanks to our Başantrenör Valerie Garnier!
Between 2017-2019 and 2023-25, our way to our Fenerbahçe Opet Women’s Basketball Team, Valerie Garnier, our chief coach.
1 European Championship, 2 FIBA Super Cups during his time,… pic.twitter.com/8fSsNj3jsP
– Fenerbahçe opet (@fbkadinbasket) April 15, 2025
The timing is however amazing. As of this Wednesday, the Istanbul club begins the playoffs of the Turkish championship with a new staff but still with tricolor players like Gabby Williams, Badiane Marième
Valérie Garnier has won several trophies with the Stambouliote club. Last year, his players had signed a spectacular quintuplely by winning the Euroligue, the European Super Cup, the Turkish Championship, the Turkey Cup and the President’s Cup.