Former Greek national team boss Ilias Zouros is to coach Georgia in summer’s FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers, after putting pen to paper on a deal with the GBF (Georgian Basketball Federation) on Thursday.
The contract signed by the two parties includes a clause for the renewal of their collaboration by an additional year in the event Georgia secure a berth at FIBA EuroBasket 2017.
Elias Zouros in today's presentation, with Georgian Basketball Federation President, Mr. Mikhail Gabrichidze pic.twitter.com/LmsmN5qwak
— GeorgiosDimitropulos (@DimitropulosOCT) February 18, 2016
Zouros assumed the reins of Greece prior to FIBA EuroBasket 2011 and despite a number of high-profile absences including the likes of Vasilis Spanoulis, he steered his native country to a sixth-place finish in the big event in Lithuania.
His stint as Greece head coach came to an end a year later, following the unsuccessful campaign at the 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela.
The 50-year-old Greek tactician had been unattached since spring 2015, following a four-month spell at Turkish side Tofas Bursa.
He had previously worked at Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes Istanbul, while he experienced some of the most successful moments of his career as the helm of the storied Zalgiris Kaunas, whom he led to a Lithuanian LKL League, Lithuanian Cup and BBL League treble in 2011.
Zouros was named coach of the year in the Eurocup in the 2009/10 season having led modest Greek side Panellinios to the Final Four of the competition.
He had started his coaching career at Olympiacos Piraeus in 2000 and after a brief spell in Lebanon where he was crowned FIBA Asia Champions Cup Champion with Hekmeh BC, he returned to Europe and worked at Aris Thessaloniki and Paris Levallois
By taking the reins of Georgia, Zouros also assumes the challenging task of succeeding Igor Kokoskov in the role, a man who was presented with the Georgian medal of Excellency for his services to sport in the country.
Kokoskov was at the helm of the Georgian national team for close to six years and led them to unprecedented success as they qualified to three successive EuroBasket tournaments, from 2011 through 2015.
The Serbian-born tactician and Georgia parted ways in the autumn and Kokoskov was named Slovenia head coach in December.
Right now however Zouros will be more concerned with the situation of star forward Toko [Tornike] Shengelia and whether he will be available in the summer.
Georgia’s top scorer at FIBA EuroBasket 2015 is scheduled to undergo meniscus surgery in the coming days and his club, Laboral Kutxa, will announce the duration of his lay-off following the operation.
Georgia were drawn in Group F of the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers and will do battle with Albania, Montenegro and Slovak Republic.
By FIBA Europe
