Maroussi names Bartzokas head coach

Maroussi Costa Coffee has named former player and assistant coach Giorgos Bartzokas will return to run the team as it looks to qualify for the Euroleague for the first time. Bartzokas, 44, arrives from Olympia Larissa, where he was the head coach for the past three seasons and led that club to its first two Greek playoff appearances. Before that he was an assistant to Panagiotis Giannakis at Maroussi from 2003 to 2006, taking part as the club reached the Greek League and FIBA Europe League finals in 2004 and the Greek Cup final in 2006. He replaces Soulis Markopoulos, who left Maroussi for the same position at PAOK Thessaloniki.

"It is s big honor to return to Maroussi, a club that has its own special place in Greek basketball, especially in the contemporary era," Bartzokas said. "I feel very happy to meet again and work together with people we know each other, not only as partners, but also as friends and we built a strong relationship. Now we have to work hard and have a very competitive team to fight in the Euroleague qualifying round."