Spain's new national basketball coach Sergio Scariolo gestures during a news conference in Madrid February 20, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

Italian Sergio Scariolo was presented as the new coach of the Spanish national team on Friday.

The former Real Madrid and Unicaja Malaga coach will share his position as coach with Russian club Khimki with that as coach of Spain.

He replaces Aito Garcia Reneses, who left the job after guiding Spain to the silver medal in the Beijing Olympic Games last summer.

"Sergio Scariolo is welcome at his new home. He is one of us and it is an honor to be able to count on a coach of his experience and characteristics," said Jose Luis Saez, the President of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB).

Meanwhile Scariolo admitted he had a difficult job to follow the work of Garcia Reneses and Pepu Hernandez, who led Spain to the 2006 World Championship.

"It is harder to stay at the top then it is to get there and ifwe are to do that, then we have to be the best. We are starting from scratch but with important memories," said Scariolo on the FEB website.

"The players we have got are all great professionals and we hope to be able to be up to the level and build our own history."

"Only a demagogue can promise to bring results. I am a man who loves the game and all I am going to do is promise that I will give my maximum dedication and effort."

"This is am important challenge in my life because the quality of the squad I have to work with is so high that it is a challenge for any coach," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2009)