Timeless Spanoulis irreplaceable for Olympiacos

Vassilis Spanoulis, who recently became the final member of the EuroLeague All-Decade Team, has long been a star of the European game with his ability to produce the goods in the decisive moments.

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The fact that Spanoulis has won three EuroLeague titles immediately gives an indication of his sheer quality. Incredibly, Spanoulis is both the leading scorer (4239 points) and assist maker (1516 assists) in EuroLeague history, statistics which make a serious case for the legendary 37-year-old guard to be considered the greatest player to have ever graced the competition. Spanoulis won the 2009 EuroLeague competition with Panathinaikos before subsequently claiming back-to-back titles as an Olympiacos player in 2012 and 2013.

Spanoulis averaged 11.3 points, 4.6 assists and 1.2 rebounds during the 2019/2020 regular season for Olympiacos, receiving a serious injury in February.

As expected, Spanoulis was eventually included in the All-Decade Team by the EuroLeague, joining fellow Greeks Dimitris Diamantidis and Giorgos Printezis in the side: “Sometimes, things don’t go to plan, but you have to stay with it, work hard and find a way to come back and be successful,” said the three-time European champion when reacting to the news. “I’ve always had great coaches and teammates. The most important thing is that we had great chemistry. When you have good chemistry, good people and hard workers, your job becomes easier.”

Here is a list of Spanoulis’ main collective and personal achievements as a professional player:

3-time EuroLeague winner (2009, 2012, 2013)

3-time EuroLeague Final Four MVP (2009, 2012, 2013)

2013 EuroLeague MVP

2005 EuroBasket winner

2006 FIBA World Cup silver medalist

7-time Greek champion (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016)

4-time Greek Cup winner (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011)

2013 FIBA Intercontinental Cup winner

3-time Basket League MVP (2012, 2015, 2016)

3-time Basket League final MVP (2012, 2015, 2016)

3-time All-EuroLeague First Team member (2012, 2013, 2015)

4-time All-EuroLeague Second Team member (2006, 2009, 2011, 2014)

The majority of his awards have been won since transferring to Olympiacos from Panathinaikos. At times, Spanoulis can disappear for certain segments of matches, but he always delivers at the crucial time when the game is on the line. In 2015, for example, Spanoulis came up trumps for Olympiacos in the memorable EuroLeague semi-final against CSKA Moscow, scoring 11 points in the final three minutes after initially missing his maiden 11 attempts.

In pictures, let’s take a look at some of his key moments with the Erythrolefki:

Spanoulis registers 16 points and seven assists on his EuroLeague debut for Olympiacos, with his team defeating Real Madrid 82-66 in Piraeus.

Spanoulis claims his maiden EuroLeague championship with Olympiacos in 2012.

In the decisive quarter-final against Efes in the subsequent 2012/2013 season, Spanoulis tallies 19 points and five assists to take Olympiacos to the Final Four in London.

Two continental titles in a row with the Thrylos.

Spanoulis puts the dagger through Panathinaikos’ heart in the 2013/2014 season with a stunning late winner at home, much to the joy of the passionate fans.

The Greek guard plays a major part in Olympiacos defeating Barcelona and qualifying for the Final Four of the 2014/2015 EuroLeague season.

Two years later, in the 2016/2017 campaign, Spanoulis helps Olympiacos recover against Anadolu Efes and make a grand return to the Final Four in Turkey.

Another victory for Spanoulis and Olympiacos against CSKA in the semi-final.

On January 2, 2020, Spanoulis officially becomes the leading scorer in EuroLeague history in a loss to Fenerbahce in Piraeus.

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