Dušan "Duda" Ivković: Legendary former PAOK, AEK and Olympiacos BC coach passed away

Dušan "Duda" Ivković passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning in a Belgrade hospital, with the first information from the Serbian media reporting that he had collected fluid in his lungs.

He was aged 77.

Duda was known as one of the most influential coaches in European and world basketball, having won numerous titles in his 46 years active.

The Serbian coach began his career with the youth squad of  Radnički Belgrade, before moving to Partizan in 1978 and winning the Yugoslavian championship in 1979.

Since, he had coached Aris, PAOK, Panionios, Olympiacos (winning the EuroLeague title twice in 1997, 2012) and AEK Athens in Greece, as well as CSKA and Dynamo Moscow.

He ended his career in Anadolu Efes in 2016 after two seasons with the Turkish club.

As a head coach for the Yugoslavian selection, “Duda” has led the squad to several gold medals, including at the 1989 and 1991 EuroBasket and at the 1990 FIBA World Cup.

He coached the Serbian national selection as well, winning gold at the 1995 EuroBasket and silver in the 2009 edition.

CLUB HIGHLIGHTS:

• Yugoslav League champion with Partizan Belgrade (1979)
• FIBA Korać Cup champion with Partizan Belgrade (1979)
• Yugoslav Cup winner with Partizan Belgrade (1979)
• Greek League champion with PAOK Thessaloniki (1992)
• 2-time Greek League champion with Olympiacos (1997 and 2012)
• Saporta Cup champion with AEK (2000)
• 2-time Greek Cup winner with Olympiacos (1997 and 2011)
• 2-time Greek Cup winner with AEK (2000 and 2001)
• 2-time Euroleague champion with Olympiacos (1997 and 2012)
• 3-time Russian League champion with CSKA Moscow (2003, 2004 and 2005)
• Russian Cup winner with CSKA Moscow (2005)
• EuroCup champion with Dynamo Moscow (2006)
• Turkish Cup winner with Anadolu Efes (2015)
• Turkish President's Cup winner with Anadolu Efes (2015)

READ MORE: The new Antetokounmpo: Tender photo of Giannis with his two children.