Panathinaikos will be hosting Real Madrid on Friday (January 25, 21.00) for THY Euroleague Top16 Game 5 and prior to the encounter’s tip-off it will be honoring Kostas Mourouzis; a man who from the end of the bench led the Greens to success in Europe and 6 titles inside of the border.
Mourouzis was born on May 1st 1935 and basketball won him over fast. From 1948 he competed for Tritonas and shortly was summoned to the Men’s national team, team with which he tallied 24 participations and 242 points. His fist game with his national squad’s jersey was recorded on July 24, 1955 for the Mediterranean Games and the encounter Greece Vs Italy, Mourouzis to chip in 6 points in the clash. It was that very same year that he enrolled to a Pharmaceutical College in Italy . He might have changed his country of residence but his love for the game remained the one to ultimately win him over. He competed for Gira Bologna , team with which he would be named top scorer of the Italian League for the year 1956.
He returned to Greece and Tritonas in 1959 as a player-coach. An injury however in a game versus Panellinios which kept him sidelined and hospitalized for six months forced him to resign from action in 1962. It failed though to keep him away from basketball courts. He steered his focus to coaching. In any event he had already tended to his future from back in the 1961 Eurobasket, Men’s national team captain at the time: In Belgrade where the tournament was hosted a FIBA school of coaches existed. He found out when the exams for the license were, went, aced them and gained his coaching permit.
This first step in his new career could happen nowhere else than in Tritonas’ team. He remained four years (1962-66), only to be signed on to Panathinaikos’ bench. The“fox of the benches” as he is referred to, remained with the clover from 1966 until 1974. Through this period of time Panathinaikos conquered 6 championships (1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974). At the same time the club’s name became known beyond the border, the team reaching all the way up to Cup holders’ Cup semis in 1969 and twice to the Champions Cup semifinals (1972, 1973). His stride continued in the Men’s national team (1973-74) where in 40 games he tallied 22 wins and 18 losses, in AEK (1975-76) and Olympiakos (1976-80).
We expect you all at the OAKA indoor arena for a warm round of applause for a man who has lived the greatest part of his life in a basketball court.
