Του Γιάννη Ράμμα/ irammas@eurohoops.net
The Greek teams have written their own history in the Euroleague. Panathinaikos and Olympiacos have won the trophy 6+3 times since 1996 until today. Greek coaches are part of this legacy and you won’t find more successful than the two who will face each other in the 2023 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague quarterfinals.
Olympiacos will play against Fenerbahce on the floor and Giorgos Bartzokas will meet Dimitris Itoudis on the benches in a duel that no one asked for, but everyone wanted.
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS
Giorgos Bartzokas is in his fourth year in his second stint with Olympiakos (2012-14, 2019-present) and eleventh in his Euroleague career, in which he has coached five teams with a total record of 173-132 (56.7%).
- 2009-10 Maroussi | Top 16
- 2012-13 Olympiacos | 🏆
- 2013-14 Olympiacos | Playoffs
- 2015-16 Lokomotiv Kuban | 3rd place
- 2016-17 Barcelona | Regular season
- 2017-18 Khimki | Playoffs
- 2018-19 Khimki | Regular season
- 2019-20 Olympiacos | Season interrupted due to COVID
- 2020-21 Olympiacos | Regular season
- 2021-22 Olympiacos | 4th place
- 2022-23 Olympiacos | Playoffs (so far)
He is the first Greek coach to win the Euroleague back in 2013, leading Olympiakos’ to the second of their back-to-back triumphs (2012, 2013). This also happens to be the last time the “Red and Whites” were at the top of the league. The 58-year-old Athenian will try to add to their shared history. After all, he has reached the Final Four the most times in his career with Olympiacos, in 2013 and last year (4th place), while the third place with Lokomotiv Kuban came in between, back in 2016.
Although strict at times, he likes to give freedom to his players, many of whom remember him long after their collaboration. Malcolm Delaney, who played under him at Lokomotiv, remains the most telling example. Sasha Vezenkov could have already surpassed him, since under his guidance (Barcelona 2016-17, Olympiacos 2020-present) he is playing the best basketball of his career and being the favorite for the Season MVP award. However, actions precede statements in this stage of the season.
DIMITRIS ITOUDIS
Dimitris Itoudis is a special case of a coach. Being the “other half” of Zeljko Obradovic in the golden era of Panathinaikos (1999-2012). the conquests of the Euroleague in 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011 are mentioned as sidenotes since he was an assistant. He made sure to balance the bill when he took charge of a team in Europe’s top club competition. His record (209-79, 72.6%) says it all and the results are even better.
- 2014-15 CSKA Moscow | 3rd place
- 2015-16 CSKA Moscow | 🏆
- 2016-17 CSKA Moscow | 3rd place
- 2017-18 CSKA Moscow | 4th place
- 2018-19 CSKA Moscow | 🏆
- 2019-20 CSKA Moscow | Season interrupted due to COVID
- 2020-21 CSKA Moscow | 4th place
- 2021-22 CSKA Moscow | Russian teams banned due to war with Ukraine
- 2022-23 Fenerbahce | Playoffs (so far)
He is the only Greek coach with more than one EuroLeague trophy under his belt, in 2016 and 2019. He had six Final Four participation in seven (complete) seasons, all on the bench of CSKA Moscow. The 53-year-old mastermind from Trikala Imathias is the most successful Greek coach.
Although a fanatical perfectionist, he will allow himself to deviate when the situation calls for it, and usually, the result will be what he wanted in the first place: Success. It is this hard work that has helped him make good players even better and keep his teams always in the lead. Corey Higgins (CSKA Moscow 2015-19, Barcelona 2019-present) already had two years in Europe before he was selected by him in 2015 and became who he is today, while Jonathan Motley (Fenerbahce 2022-present) needed even less time to cope with the demanding level of the Euroleague.