Itoudis ready for 2nd spell in Türkiye after glorious CSKA career

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ANKARA (AA) - Dimitris Itoudis's second spell as coach in Türkiye is set to begin, this time with Fenerbahce Beko, which have suffered an underwhelming EuroLeague season.

The 2017 EuroLeague champions recently parted ways with head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic, as the club failed to make it to the playoffs despite winning the Turkish league title.

Regarded as one of the most successful basketball head coaches in Europe, Itoudis started his coaching career in 1990 in Yugoslavia, before being appointed as an assistant coach of Zagreb's senior men's team.

In 1996, he became the manager of Greek team PAOK, and headed Greek club Philippos Thessaloniki from 1997 to 1999.

Itoudis also worked as assistant coach to Zeljko Obradovic at Panathinaikos. He has been a part of winning squads in several major trophies including five EuroLeague and 11 Greek League titles between 1999 and 2021.

The 51-year-old became Turkish club Banvit's head coach in 2013, and joined Russian team CSKA Moscow the following year.

Itoudis had a glorious career at CSKA Moscow, clinching two EuroLeague titles (2016 and 2019) along with six Russian league titles.

The Greek head coach received the EuroLeague Coach of the Year award for the 2015-2016 season.

Itoudi, who also heads the Greece men's national team, signed a three-year contract with Fenerbahce.