The end of an era
By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After 22 years of an outstanding basketball career, the Greek legend Vassilis Spanoulis decided to complete his journey and retire.
Spanoulis has collected a huge amount of trophies and accolades including the three EuroLeague titles (2009, 2012, 2013). He was the Final Four MVP through all three of those runs and won the EuroLeague season MVP during the latest.
He was also named to the 2010-20 All-Decade Team of the competition and is the current all-time leader in three stat categories – points (4455), assists (1607), and PIR (4183).
He won the Greek League seven times along with four Greek Cups and many individual honors. With the Greek national team, Spanoulis won three medals in major events – gold in the 2005 EuroBasket, silver in the 2006 FIBA World Cup, and bronze in the 2009 EuroBasket.
Spanoulis bid farewell to the fans, colleagues, teammates, and opponents via social media.
“A while ago I announced to the presidents that it was time to close the biggest chapter of my life and I thanked them for what we have achieved together. It was a difficult decision but it was not sad. Basketball gave me a unique journey full of intense moments and great emotions. It gave me everything and I gave it everything. Olympiacosproved to be my destiny and my most beautiful port. I leave proud of what was greatly conquered but also of what was lost after a hard battle. Above all, I leave full, because I lived longer than I dreamed. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who has been by my side all these years, the presidents, the coaches, the teammates and the opponents, but above all I want to thank all the fans for their love. It was this love that gave me the strength to try harder every day and this love will be my guide forever. THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. VASSILIS SPANOULIS, A CHILD WHO DREAMED TO PLAY BASKETBALL…” Spanoulis wrote via Instagram.
