By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
CSKA Moscow officially announced that Dimitris Itoudis has extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2023. Itoudis’ contract was expiring this summer and there have been a lot of rumors about the intentions of the club, however just hours before the start of the VTB United League semifinals against Zenit St. Petersburg, there’s a definite answer for his future.
Considering his success with CSKA Moscow, the extension of his contract seems like a no-brainer. Itoudis has led CSKA Moscow to two EuroLeague trophies in 2016 and 2019, while also winning five VTB United League titles.
“I will say this from the bottom of my heart: it is a great honor for me that Norilsk Nickel, Andrei Vatutin, and CSKA club entrusted me to lead the team for another two years, I sincerely thank you for this opportunity”, said Itoudis. “It’s my duty to defend CSKA’s legacy. In this job, we all continue to develop and I feel that I am becoming the best possible coach and person. This is due to cooperation with the management, players, staff, all club employees. I promise that I will continue to work hard, bring new ideas, and put in a lot of effort”.
The Greek coach is the most successful coach of his country at the continental club level and the most decorated student of the legendary Zeljko Obradovic. Itoudis was his assistant in Panathinaikos from 1999 to 2012, working practically during the last seasons of their collaboration as associated head coach. During his tenure in Panathinaikos, the club has won five EuroLeague championships (2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011), 11 Greek League titles (2000, 2001, 2003–2011), and 7 Greek Cups (2003, 2005–2009, 2012).
He is the coach of CSKA Moscow since the summer of 2014 and his latest deal makes him the longest-tenured non-Russian coach in CSKA’s history. He has registered an amazing record of 375 wins in 455 official games with CSKA, an 82,4% success rate.