By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Considering options for the position of head coach, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv has placed Greek tactician Dimitris Itoudis on top of the list.
Insisting on reaching a deal and making a new approach, the Israeli club pursuing Itoudis is now met with a positive outlook by Itoudis, Arale Weisberg of Walla Sport reported on Wednesday.
For now, Stefanos Dedas remains the play-caller, moving through the 2024-25 installment of the BKT EuroCup and domestic competitions in Israel. If Itoudis is hired to replace him as the new head coach, he is a candidate to be assigned to an assistant role and reunite with the native of Trikala. The 42-year-old coach from Kilkis previously worked under Itoudis at CSKA and Fenerbahce Beko from 2022 to 2023.
Besides Itoudis, 63-year-old Sergio Scariolo is still in the picture, as noted by Weisberg. The Italian head coach is currently attached to the senior national team of Spain, preparing to guide the reigning EuroBasket champions in the next international window of FIBA.
In Group A of the EuroCup Regular Season, the Reds are tied for third. A 5-3 W-L tally trails leader Bahcesehir Koleji by 1.5 games. The next fixture on the 18-game schedule is against ratiopharm Ulm in Arena Samokov on November 28, following the international break.
A one-point deduction countering a 5-0 start in Israel’s Winner League limits the Tel Aviv outfit to nine points and sixth place in the standings. With one game in hand, the two-point distance from leaders Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv is a virtual tie.