Dimitris Itoudis reportedly considering leaving Greece's bench / News - Basketnews.com

Even though his contract with the Greek federation expires in 2024, Dimitris Itoudis is set to leave his post earlier.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Greece's World Cup campaign amounted to 15th place, the worst result the country has ever recorded in the tournament. It was also marked by the most absences the squad has ever had to face in an international tournament, as eight players were unavailable.

Greece / Schedule

Lithuania Greece92-67 Greece Montenegro69-73

According to gazzetta.gr's Antonis Kalkavouras, a coaching change is imminent. Dimitris Itoudis is reportedly thinking about skipping the third year of his contract with the Greek Basketball Federation in order to devote himself to the high demands and increased pressure that Fenerbahce's head coaching position entails.

Following the team's elimination from the World Cup, Itoudis pointed out that he has a contract until the 2024 Olympics.

"I have been asked to help and will help from any position," he told the media on September 3. "I'm currently the head coach and it's a great honor. As soon as the tournament is over, let us sit down. We have a deal that ends at the Olympics and that's all we know."

Itoudis asked reporters whether they think he doesn't want to be on Greece's bench.

'I'm not taking a break in the winter, just like now I came in with a high fever."

Given that there's no FIBA window to be held this November and Greece's next game is scheduled for February 23, 2024 (against the Czech Republic for the 2025 EuroBasket qualifiers), the Greek federation willexplore the possibility of hosting one of the four pre-Olympic tournaments to be held in early July 2024, so that the national team can play at home and have an increased chance of qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games.

At the same time, the Greek federation will have to find a new coach, since Itoudis is expected to step down soon. The 52-year-old tactician will meet with Vangelis Liolios, the federation's president to discuss the contract termination. Itoudis thinks that his obligations as Greece's coach have kept him away from Fenerbahce's training camp and thus might put him in an unfavorable position in his full-time job.

Since Fenerbahce will be participating in theNikos Galis International Tournament that will be held in Rhodes from September 15 through 17, the meet-up with Liolios could take place as early as next week.

Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.