By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko announced the departure of Dimitris Itoudis on Wednesday.
Itoudis, 53, was set to be released from his contract with the Istanbul outfit, Eurohoops sources confirmed a few hours before the decision became official.
The Greek tactician inked a three-year deal with Fenerbahce in 2022. He had two more years left on the contract. Dropping the last four games led his side to a 6-7 W-L tally in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 8-3 in the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi. The most recent setback, losing the domestic matchup against Istanbul rival Anadolu Efes, prompted the front office to change the head coach.
Ending eight years with CSKA, Itoudis left his previous side with one year remaining on his contract following the conclusion of the 2021-22 season and with all Russian teams ruled out of continental and international competitions, including the EuroLeague. The long spell was highlighted by the EuroLeague championships in 2016 and 2019.
Working under legendary Zeljko Obradovic at Panathinaikos between 1999 and 2012, Itoudis boosting his resume led to taking over Banvit in 2013. After one year in Turkiye, he moved to CSKA in 2014 and from there went to Fenerbahce.
SDNA revealed Fener’s decision to cut ties with the Greek tactician.
At the top of the 2023-24 campaign at the club level and reacting to the uninspiring performance of Greece’s senior national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the Hellenic Basketball Federation parted ways with Itoudis. He was later succeeded by Vassilis Spanoulis.