Georgios Bartzokas facts for kids
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Bartzokas, while coaching Olympiacos Piraeus, in 2022
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| Olympiacos | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | June 11, 1965 Athens, Greece |
| High school | 1st Marousi |
| Listed height | 2.00 m (6 ft 6.74 in) |
| Listed weight | 90.9 kg (200 lb) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 1987 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1981–1992 |
| Coaching career | 1987–present |
| League | Greek Basketball League EuroLeague |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1981–1992 | Maroussi |
| As coach: | |
| Pefki | |
| Vrilissia Basket | |
| 2000–2004 | GS Kifissias |
| OFI Irakleio | |
| 2003–2006 | Maroussi (assistant) |
| 2006–2009 | Olympia Larissa |
| 2009–2010 | Maroussi |
| 2010–2012 | Panionios |
| 2012–2014 | Olympiacos |
| 2015–2016 | Lokomotiv Kuban |
| 2016–2017 | FC Barcelona |
| 2017–2019 | Khimki |
| 2020–present | Olympiacos |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As head coach:
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Georgios Bartzokas, also known as "Chess player," is a famous Greek basketball coach. He used to be a professional basketball player himself. Today, he is the head coach for Olympiacos, a top team in Greece and Europe.
Bartzokas has won many important titles as a coach. He led Olympiacos Piraeus to win the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2013. This is like a world championship for basketball clubs. He also helped Olympiacos win the EuroLeague championship in 2013. The EuroLeague is Europe's biggest club competition. Bartzokas has been named the EuroLeague Coach of the Year three times, in 2013, 2022, and 2023.
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Early Life and Playing Days
Georgios Bartzokas was born in Athens, Greece, on June 11, 1965. When he was young, he first played soccer. At age 12, in 1977, he started playing basketball. He joined the youth teams of the Greek club Maroussi Athens. He played there until 1981.
Becoming a Professional Player
In 1981, at 16, Bartzokas joined Maroussi's main team. He was a tall player, about 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) tall. He played as a power forward and center. He played in the Greek 2nd and 3rd Divisions until 1992. During his time with Maroussi, he was the team's top scorer and captain.
His playing career ended early, at 27, because of serious knee injuries. He tore ligaments in both of his knees. Before these injuries, big Greek clubs like AEK Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus wanted to sign him.
Coaching Career Highlights
Bartzokas started coaching in Greece in 1987, when he was 22. He was still playing basketball at the time. After he stopped playing, he became a head coach for several Greek clubs. He helped some of these teams get promoted to higher leagues.
Assistant Coach at Maroussi
In 2003, Bartzokas also became an assistant coach for Maroussi Athens. This was his old team. He worked under head coach Panagiotis Giannakis until 2006. With Maroussi, he helped the team reach the finals of the FIBA Europe League in 2004. They also made it to the Greek League finals and the Greek Cup finals in those years.
Leading Olympia Larissa
Before the 2006–07 season, Bartzokas became the head coach of Olympia Larissa. He led them to the playoffs of the Greek Basketball League for the first time ever. Olympia finished seventh in the league. Because of this success, Bartzokas was named the Greek League Coach of the Year in 2007. He led Olympia to the playoffs again the next year.
Success with Maroussi and Panionios
For the 2009–10 season, Bartzokas returned to Maroussi Athens as head coach. He guided Maroussi to the Top 16 stage of the EuroLeague. In Greece, Maroussi finished third in the Greek League. Bartzokas was again named the Greek League Best Coach for that season.
He then coached Panionios Athens from 2010 to 2012. In the 2011–12 season, Panionios finished third in the Greek League. Bartzokas earned his third Greek League Coach of the Year award in 2012.
Winning Big with Olympiacos
In June 2012, Bartzokas became the head coach of Olympiacos Piraeus. This was a huge step. With Olympiacos, he won the EuroLeague championship in 2013. This made him the first Greek coach to ever win the EuroLeague. After this big win, he was named the EuroLeague Coach of the Year for 2013.
He also led Olympiacos to win the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2013. This meant Olympiacos was the best club team in the world that year.
Coaching in Russia and Spain
On July 5, 2015, Bartzokas signed with the Russian team Lokomotiv Kuban. He led them to their first-ever EuroLeague Final Four in 2016. He was also named the VTB United League Coach of the Year for the 2015–16 season.
In July 2016, Bartzokas moved to Spain to coach FC Barcelona. He won the Catalan League championship with them in 2016. After one season, he left Barcelona.
He then coached Khimki Moscow Region in Russia from 2017 to 2019. He won the Gomelsky Cup with Khimki in 2017.
Return to Olympiacos and Continued Success
Bartzokas returned to Olympiacos Piraeus on January 10, 2020. The 2019–20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2021–22 season, Bartzokas led Olympiacos to win the Greek Cup and the Greek League championship. These were his first Greek national titles. He also guided Olympiacos to the EuroLeague Final Four in 2022. He was named the EuroLeague Coach of the Year again in 2022.
In the 2022–23 season, Bartzokas continued his winning streak. He won the Greek Super Cup, the Greek Cup, and the Greek League championship. He was named the Greek League Coach of the Year for 2023. Olympiacos also reached the EuroLeague Final in 2023. Bartzokas received his third EuroLeague Coach of the Year award in 2023.
He also won the Greek Super Cup in 2023 and the Greek Cup in 2024.
Coaching Record in EuroLeague
Here's a look at Georgios Bartzokas's coaching performance in the EuroLeague:
| Legend | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win-loss % | ||
Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the team played during the season. He also coached in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maroussi | 2009–10 | 16 | 6 | 10 | .375 | Eliminated in Top 16 stage |
| Olympiacos | ||||||
| 2012–13 | 31 | 22 | 9 | .710 | Won EuroLeague Championship | |
| 2013–14 | 29 | 20 | 9 | .690 | Eliminated in quarterfinals | |
| Lokomotiv Kuban | 2015–16 | 31 | 21 | 10 | .677 | Won in 3rd place game |
| Barcelona | 2016–17 | 30 | 12 | 18 | .400 | Eliminated in the regular season |
| Khimki | 2017–18 | 34 | 17 | 17 | .500 | Eliminated in quarterfinals |
| Olympiacos | 2019–20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | .500 | Eliminated in Regular Season |
| 2020–21 | 34 | 16 | 18 | .471 | Eliminated in Regular Season | |
| 2021–22 | 28 | 19 | 9 | .679 | 4th place | |
| 2022–23 | 34 | 24 | 10 | .706 | 2nd place | |
| 2023–24 | 34 | 27 | 15 | .643 | Won in 3rd place game | |
| Career | 278 | 187 | 130 | .585 | ||
Awards and Achievements
Georgios Bartzokas has earned many awards and honors throughout his coaching career.
Titles Won as Head Coach
- EuroLeague Champion: 2013 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
- FIBA Intercontinental Cup Champion: 2013 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
- Catalan League Champion: 2016 (with FC Barcelona)
- 3× Greek League Champion: 2022, 2023, 2025 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
- 3× Greek Cup Winner: 2022, 2023, 2024 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
- 3× Greek Super Cup Winner: 2022, 2023, 2024 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
- Gomelsky Cup Winner: 2017 (with Khimki Moscow Region)
Other Honors
- EuroLeague Final Finalist: 2023 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
- 6× EuroLeague Final Four Participation: 2013, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 (with Olympiacos Piraeus); 2016 (with Lokomotiv Kuban)
- 2× VTB United League Finalist: 2018, 2019 (with Khimki Moscow region)
- 3× Greek League Finalist: 2013, 2014, 2024 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
- 2× Greek Cup Finalist: 2013, 2025 (with Olympiacos Piraeus)
- Spanish Supercup Finalist: 2016 (with FC Barcelona)
Individual Awards
- 3× EuroLeague Coach of the Year: 2013, 2022, 2023
- Eurobasket News All-Europe Coach of the Year: 2013
- VTB United League Coach of the Year: 2016
- 4× Greek League Coach of the Year: 2007, 2010, 2012, 2023
- All-Greek Sport's Coach of the Year: 2013
Records and Milestones
- He holds the record for the most titles won as head coach for Olympiacos Piraeus.
- He has the most wins as head coach for Olympiacos Piraeus in the EuroLeague.
- He has led Olympiacos Piraeus to the most EuroLeague Final Four appearances.
- He has the most appearances as head coach for Olympiacos Piraeus in the EuroLeague.
- He has the most wins as head coach for Olympiacos Piraeus in the Greek League.
- He has the most appearances as head coach for Olympiacos Piraeus in the Greek League.
Honors as an Assistant Coach
- FIBA Europe League Finalist: 2004 (with Maroussi Athens)
- Greek League Finalist: 2004 (with Maroussi Athens)
- Greek Cup Finalist: 2006 (with Maroussi Athens)
See also
In Spanish: Georgios Bartzokas para niños
- List of EuroLeague-winning head coaches
