Wikipedia

Charis Markopoulos

Charalampis "Charis" Markopoulos (alternate spellings: Charalabis, Haralampis, Haralabis, Haris) (Greek: Χαραλάμπης "Χάρης" Μαρκόπουλος; born January 20, 1982) is a Greek former professional basketball player and coach. He is the current head coach of Greek Elite League club Iraklis.[1]

Charis Markopoulos
Iraklis
PositionHead coach
LeagueGreek Elite League
Personal information
Born (1982-01-20) January 20, 1982 (age 42)
Thessaloniki, Greece
NationalityGreek
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
Playing career1999–2005
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
Coaching career2005–present
Career history
As player:
1999–2002Iraklis Thessaloniki
2002–2003Makedonikos Neapoli
2003–2004P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki
2004–2005Xanthi
As coach:
2005–2006P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki (assistant)
2006–2007Iraklis Thessaloniki
2008–2009Aris Thessaloniki (assistant)
2009–2014P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki (assistant)
2014–2016Koroivos Amaliada
2016–2017Doxa Lefkada
2017–2022Beijing Ducks (assistant)
2022–2023Promitheas Patra (assistant)
2024–Iraklis
Career highlights and awards
As a player:
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Greece
AST World Under-18 Tournament
Silver medal – second place 2000 Mannheim Under-18
FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Croatia Under-18

Early life and youth career

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Markopoulos began playing the sport of basketball with the youth system of Iraklis Thessaloniki, in Greece. He was considered to be one of the most talented youth players of his generation in Europe,[2][3][4] and was considered by some basketball analysts to possibly be the next Nikos Galis.[5][6] With Iraklis' Under-18 junior club, along with his teammate Lazaros Papadopoulos, Markopoulos won the Greek Under-18 Championship, during the 1997–98 season.

Markopoulos also won the bronze medal with Greece, at the 2000 FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket. He also won the silver medal with Greece at the 2000 AST World Under-18 Tournament, where he was named the MVP of the tournament, after leading Greece to a win over Team USA, in the tournament's semifinals. After that, Markopoulos was recruited to play college basketball in the NCAA Division I, by the University of North Carolina.[7] However, Markopoulos opted instead to stay in Greece.

Professional career

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Markopoulos played professional club basketball with the Greek top-tier level Greek Basket League clubs Iraklis Thessaloniki, Makedonikos Neapolis, and PAOK Thessaloniki. He also played in the European 2nd-tier level FIBA Saporta Cup competition, during the 1999–00 season, and in the European top-tier level, FIBA SuproLeague competition, during the 2000–01 season, as a member of Iraklis.

Markopoulos' basketball playing career ended prematurely, due to complications from Guillain–Barré syndrome,[8] that he suffered while he played with Iraklis. At age 19, due to the illness, Markopoulos became paralyzed, during a flight from Thessaloniki to Luleå, on 7 February 2001.[9] Markopoulos eventually recovered the ability to move, and was able to play basketball again.[10] However after that, his playing career was greatly negatively affected, and he was no longer the same level of player that he had been previously. At the age of 23, he retired from playing professional basketball, after competing with Xanthi, in the Greek 2nd Division, during the 2004–05 season.[11]

National team career

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Markopoulos was a member of the junior national teams of Greece. With Greece's Under-18 junior national team, he won the bronze medal at the 2000 FIBA Under-18 EuroBasket. He averaged 13.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game at the tournament.[12]

He also won the silver medal at the 2000 Albert Schweitzer World Under-18 Tournament, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team,[13] and was also named the MVP of the tournament.[14] In the AST's semifinals, Markopoulos led Greece to a win over Team USA.

Coaching career

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After he retired from playing professional club basketball, Markopoulos became a professional basketball coach. He became the head coach of the Greek Basket League club Koroivos Amaliadas in 2014.[15][16] In 2016, he became the head coach of the Greek club Doxa Lefkadas.

Personal life

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Markopoulos' father, Soulis, is a former professional basketball player and coach.[17] His father was inducted into the Greek League Hall of Fame, as a coach, in 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "Επιστρέφει στον ΗΡΑΚΛΗ ο Χάρης Μαρκόπουλος". iraklis-bc.gr (in Greek). 27 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  2. ^ ΧΑΡΗΣ ΜΑΡΚΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ: ΤΟ ΜΕΓΑΛΥΤΕΡΟ ΤΑΛΕΝΤΟ ΤΗΣ ΓΕΝΙΑΣ ΤΟΥ (in Greek).
  3. ^ Χάρης Μαρκόπουλος (in Greek).
  4. ^ «Η μαύρη νύχτα στο Βόρειο Πόλο και ο νικητής Χάρης Μαρκόπουλος…»(in Greek).
  5. ^ Η εξομολόγηση του Χάρη (in Greek).
  6. ^ Χάρης Μαρκόπουλος: Η μεγάλη περιπέτεια, που άρχισε στη Σουηδία… (in Greek).
  7. ^ HARIS MARKOPOULOS From Matt Blair for HH:
  8. ^ HARIS MARKOPOULOS.
  9. ^ sdna.gr Η εξομολόγηση του Χάρη (in Greek).
  10. ^ Καλύτερα ο Χάρης Μαρκόπουλος (in Greek).
  11. ^ "Former Canada captain de Guzman savouring life in New York Red Bulls front office". Yahoo Sports. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  12. ^ Charalambis MARKOPOULOS (GRE) participated in 1 FIBA / FIBA Zones events.
  13. ^ Μισάν Νικαγκμπάτσε, ο Άιβερσον του Ολυμπιακού! (in Greek).
  14. ^ HARIS MARKOPOULOS From Matt Blair for HH:
  15. ^ Charis Markopoulos agreed terms with Korivos Amaliadas.
  16. ^ Charis Markopoulos renews with Korivos Amaliadas.
  17. ^ The first match up: Soulis Vs Charis Markopoulos.
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