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Interview with V.Alexandris - Jun. 13, 2005 - by Serafim Karaiskakis

One of the most successful Greek coaches and probably the MVP coach of the year Vangelis Alexandris is talking in Eurobasket about his career,Olimpia and his dreams.



It was a very difficult year for the team,won the promotion from nowhere and forced to build an A1 team in a short period.The beginning was bad, the coach left and then you came.The team made some transfers and started playing well. You made big wins (like against Pao), which was in your opinion the key game who helped you remain in A1?



Despite that we made 9 wins, some against big opponents(Panathinaikos,Marrousi,Olympiakos) ,I think that the key game for us was the away win in Amaliada against Ionikos, if we had lost that game we knew that it would be very hard to stay in A1.



Its the fourth time you are working in the county, first was with GS Larisa after Apollon Patras,Irakleio and now in Olimpia Larisa.Your opinion about the basketball in county? And what do you think about your last teams (GS,Apollon,Irakleio) ?



I think that in specific cities, which have tradition in basketball, is becoming good job from all the people who are around the teams and the fans also. The courts are full, and if local people have motives and want to help they can achieve great things. For example you see in Europe teams like Benetton Trevizo and Pau Orthez who have principal roles in their leagues and are also from the county.



About GS Larisa: It’s a team with tradition from the 80-90, they have many fans and people who support it.



About Apollon Patras: They have the best attitude, all they love the team and that helps everybody around.

Mr.Karapanos is doing a great job all these years, putting a lot of money and trying the best for his team.The fans of Apollon are unique.



About Irakleio: I feel sorry to see that after the retirement of M.Papakaliatis who was the inspirer of the team they are not producing good results. Despite that they unite with Ofi they are still in A2 and not in A1 where they belong.


It is good or bad thing the existence of two teams in A1 from Larisa?



Its very good, the city is big, all love basketball, and there is no hate between the two teams. We will be rivals for only two times in the year and all the other time we will cooperate.


Which is the target of your team in the new season?


We are making a program for the next 5 years and we have also outagonistic targets. We want after 2 years to be self-sustained. We organize our substructure, so in 5 years to compete for the championship.Generally for next year we want to gain a better position from the one we had this season.



How many transfers Olimpia will do?



We started our programming from the game against Makedonikos.We renew the contracts of Lappas,Harismidis,Vukadinov,Jonzen and we are waiting the answers of Grant and Nakic. I don’t know yet about Papakostas and Papavasiliou but I will decide soon. We are going to promote to the first team 3 players from the junior team.Our transfers will not be many. There is no rush.


There are rumors about the transfer of Nikos Argiropoulos in your team, a player which you know very well from Apollon.How close is to sign?



I know Nikos from the past, I believed in him in Patra and he justified me, he made a big career in Apollon. We are interesting about him but everything depends from the demands that may have.



You have won two European titles, you made very good job in all the teams you worked for, do you feel wronged because it was a period for you without having a team? Did you have any other offers before signing with Olimpia?


Yes I thought I deserved something, but there were some elements I don’t want to say. I was disappointed, despite that I had one offer.
After a while came the offer from Olimpia, the people from the team persuade me because they have dreams and they are ambitious. I am happy to be here and I have a vision about the team.



Which game you remember most from your career?



Always I say the last one, I don’t want to see back.I prefer to watch forward. The win against Panathinaikos this season is similar to the win of David against Goliath.



You worked in the both teams from Larisa,in the three big teams from Thessaloniki, in Irakleio and in Maroussi.Did you ever consider working one day for the Greek NT?



I served the Greek NT for 13 years as a player, I would like to serve it again this time from the bench but till now I did not have the offer. Its something I want to do in the future, it’s in my dreams.




Who do you think is the most talented young player in A1?



There are a lot,talent exists inGreece.Vasiliadis,Vasilopoulos,Georgalis,Perperoglou,Bourousis are some of my favourites,I don’t want to miss someone.


Your predictions about the play-offs?



I think that easy or not Panathinaikos will win finally the championship.I thought he was unbeatable in Greece but the games with Panionios showed that has weaknesses.
The games against Aek will be tough.


Thank you for the interview.