AS Monaco president Alekszej Fedoricsev, in an interview with Eurohoops, explained the club’s unprecedented run — reaching the EuroLeague playoffs four seasons in a row — as the result of a focus on “culture and planning,” rather than entering a budget race. “Our rise has never been about spending money — it’s all about culture and a clear plan,” the businessman emphasized.
According to him, in each of the four campaigns, the Monegasques went through a full five-game playoff series, twice reaching the Final Four. The secret, he says, is “fighting for every step forward, because nothing comes easy.”
“Reaching the Final Four is not just about sacrifice — it’s a fight. Only when you’ve truly fought for something do you understand its real value,” he said. The club president believes it’s precisely this mentality that helps Monaco remain consistent: over four consecutive EuroLeague seasons, the club has always made the playoffs and twice progressed to the final stage.
“Yes, it’s painful to fall short of the ultimate goal. But this defeat won’t break us — it will only strengthen our hunger to become even better,” he added, referring to the EuroLeague final in Abu Dhabi this past May.
Fedoricsev stressed that AS Monaco is one of the few EuroLeague teams to have achieved such high-level results without dramatically increasing its budget. According to the president, the key tool for maintaining competitiveness has been proactive contract management during the season itself.
“We expected the market to become more difficult, especially with the EuroLeague expanding to 20 teams. That’s why we acted early, renewing contracts with our key players. I’m proud that so many of them chose loyalty to the club,” Fedoricsev noted.
Alekszej Fedoricsev revealed that AS Monaco’s wage budget will increase by only around 10% in the upcoming season. The key to staying competitive, he explained, lies in early contract renewals, with many of the club’s top players having, in his words, “chosen loyalty.”
A central element of the club’s long-term plans is the construction of a new arena — a multifunctional complex designed to serve as the “anchor of the business model”, generating revenue and jobs, and matching the “elite level of performance we deliver on the court.” According to him, the future of European basketball requires not only top-level play, but also infrastructure that can compete with the finest sports venues in the world.
“The new venue will generate income, deliver powerful experiences, and form the foundation of our entire business model. It will be a home for our fans, a magnet for our partners, and a clear symbol of our ambition. We’re not building a conventional arena — we’re creating a unique place that stands out and serves broader purposes,” said the Monaco president.
In the interview, Alekszej Fedoricsev also mentioned the Skweek platform, highlighting it as an integral part of the club’s overall strategy. According to him, the project has shown impressive growth, increasing its business by more than 400% in just two years since launch. However, he stressed that sustainability depends on collective commitment from clubs and leagues:
“Otherwise, outsiders profit — and that’s bad business.”
Fedoricsev reminded readers that AS Monaco only entered the EuroLeague in 2021, yet has already reached the Final Four twice. Most recently, the team fell just one step short of the title in Abu Dhabi this past May. According to him, the new phase for the Monegasques begins with a moderate budget and an ambitious infrastructure project, proving that a stable, long-term strategy can compete even with the capital-driven newcomers from Dubai and Tel Aviv.
