At the age of 78, Mr Yannis Ioannidis breathed his last, with Greek basketball in mourning as “Xanthos” had a great career, especially as a coach in the country’s top teams.
One of them, Mr Olympicwhich he led to five titles and two Euroleague Final Fours, playing the role of reformer for the Piraeus team.
The champions of Greece, shortly after the news of his death, sent their own message, in which they stand by his excellent career, while closing in a touching way by stating: ““And when the moment comes for you to leave the port, we will love you for life, Ioannidis Giannis…”, Olympiacos’ friends sang to him. Now, we will love you forever coach».
The message of KAE Olympiacos:
“The “red and white” family is mourning a huge loss. Giannis Ioannidis, the reformer of Olympiacos basketball, is no longer with us. The great coach, who was adored by the friends of our team as few as any and has left an indelible mark on Greek basketball, breathed his last today (04/10) at the age of 78.
“Xanthos”, as he was called, was born in Thessaloniki on February 26, 1945 and his great weakness (after his daughter) was the orange ball. He started as a player at Aris, but very quickly realized that coaching suited him better. He started his professional career in 1978 from Aris, with whom he worked great in the 80s! With the Thessaloniki team he won twelve Greek championships (1979, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990), five Greek Cups (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) and led them to three consecutive final fours Euroleague (1988, 1989, 1990).
In 1991, he said the big “yes” to Olympiakos’ proposal, moved to “Limani” and began to “build” the empire of the “red and whites”! With our team, he won four Greek championships (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) and a Greek Cup (1994), while he led them to two final fours (1994, 1995).
With AEK, on ​​whose bench he “sat” from 1996 to 1998, he did not manage to celebrate a title, however, in 1998 he “reached” them as the final four of the Euroleague. He was also the coach of Larissa (immediately after his first term at Aris) and the national team. After his second term at Olympiakos (1999-2000), he left coaching and became involved in politics.
From the elections of 2004, until the elections of January 2015, he held the position of deputy in Electoral District 1 of Thessaloniki with the New Democracy party. After the 2007 elections, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Minister of Culture, responsible for Sports, a position he held until October 7, 2009. After his re-election in 2009, he exercised the duties of the Department of Political Responsibility for Sports of the New Republic. In the new coalition government of ND, PASOK and DIMAR, which was formed after the elections of June 17, 2012, he was again placed in the position of Deputy Minister of Sports, until June 2013.
“And when the moment comes for you to leave the port, we will love you for life, Ioannidis Yannis…”, Olympiacos’ friends sang to him. Now, we will love you forever coach.
Nice trip…».
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
