By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dimitris Itoudis is officially the new coach of Hapoel Tel Aviv with the club welcoming him via social media.
Per Eurohoops sources, the Greek coach signed a record deal of 4,6M euros, one million for the rest for the season and 1,8 per year for the next two with the goal of bringing the team to the EuroLeague.
Stefanos Dedas remains to the team as his top assistant, working with Itoudis again like it happened in CSKA and Fenerbahce.
The money involved in the deal are unprecedented, especially for the EuroCup, however they totally make sense considering Itoudis’ achievements.
In the top-tier level of Euroleague Basketball, Itoudis coached Fenerbahce Beko from the top of the 2022-23 season until being dismissed early in the 2023-24 campaign.
His previous run at CSKA between 2014 and 2022 was highlighted by the championship expeditions in 2016 and 2019. Working under Zeljko Obradovic at Panathinaikos from 1999 to 2012, the successful combination resulted in five EuroLeague championships.
Itoudis is also the president of the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board.