Ex-Italy boss Carlo Recalcati believes his former protégé at Montepaschi Siena, Simone Pianigiani, would be his ideal replacement as national team coach.

The 64-year-old Recalcati ended his eight-year reign with Italy last week, with the country's basketball federation expected to appoint a new coach next month.

"I think the number one coach in Italy, excluding (Ettore) Messina and (Sergio) Scariolo, is Simone Pianigiani," Recalcati said.

"He is the most successful coach, he is young, he knows what it is to coach young players. He is especially a very experienced coach and is used to winning."

Indeed he is.

Pianigiani replaced Recalcati at Siena before the 2006-07 campaign.

The 40-year-old has not only led the club to the last three Lega A titles but also helped turn the Siena club into one of the best teams in Europe.

There has been speculation that Jasmin Repesa may be made national team boss as he was very successful and popular at Fortitudo Bologna, where he coached Italy national team stars Marco Belinelli and Gianluca Basile.

Repesa also coached at Lottomatica Roma.

He stepped down from his position as Croatia coach after EuroBasket 2009.

"In any case, I believe that we need an Italian coach, without taking anything away from Repesa, who has proved his value," Recalcati said, before stressing the importance of having someone like Pianigiani.

"Italian players in the NBA play in teams that are not used to winning and if you don´t have that, it is difficult to have that when you return to play in Europe."

Belinelli and Bargnani both play for the Toronto Raptors, a team that missed out on the play-offs last year but is contending for a spot this season.

Danilo Gallinari is starting for the New York Knicks, one of the worst teams in the NBA.

Recalcati led Italy to EuroBasket 2003 bronze and Olympic silver the following year.

The Italians had hoped to challenge for the medals and at bare minimum earn a trip to the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament but struggled at EuroBasket 2007 after injuries ruled out two key players.

The team, Recalcati said, lacked leadership and was divided.

"In 2007, prior to the EuroBasket, the national team lost our undisputed leader (Giacomo) Galanda and the young leader Gallinari, who should have been the glue of the group, as it was this divided the team into two groups," Recalcati said.

Seven-footer Bargnani, a former number one pick in the NBA Draft, has made strides the past couple of seasons but has yet to become a great player.

He wasn't able to inspire Italy enough this summer in the Additional Qualifying Round for the EuroBasket with the Italians losing out to France.

"If Bargnani wants to become a great player, he should be able to go out on the court and play in any team regardless of what the coach asks him to do," Recalcati said.

"The great step that Andrea has to take is that he limits himself only thinking about the orders he is given."