Vasilis Spanoulis welcomed by thousands of Aris fans at Thessaloniki airport

On the evening of 14 June 2026 the new head coach of Greek basketball club Aris Thessaloniki, Vasilis Spanoulis, landed at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki. Roughly 3,000‑5,000 supporters gathered at the airport customs area, greeting him with chants, songs, smoke bombs and a club scarf placed around his neck. The fan‑led reception, described as an “unprecedented celebration”, highlighted the high expectations placed on Spanoulis to restore the team to former glory.

Club officials, including general manager Nikos Zisis, club president Richard Siao and manager Miško Raznovic, escorted Spanoulis to a waiting van and later announced an official press presentation for 15 June at the Alexandria arena. In his first interview Spanoulis emphasized a long‑term vision, stating: “This fantastic welcome is not only for me but for the start of Aris’ vision,” and pledged to build a sustainable team rather than a short‑lived project. He has signed a three‑year contract to lead the club.

The event underscores the strong fan culture surrounding Aris and marks the beginning of a new coaching era for the historic Greek basketball side.