NEWS

Dragan Raca puts pen to paper

Michael Lozidis (left) and Dragan Raca (right)

22/04/04

Dragan Raca, the influential head coach of EKA AEL, has signed a new one year contract with the Cyprus Champions.

Although he is a native of the former Yugoslavia, Dragan Raca has made Cyprus his home since 1990 and has had a huge impact on basketball in the country.

After playing under legendary coach Dusan Ivkovic, Raca moved to Cyprus where he played for 8 teams in a 12-year career. He retired from playing in 2002 and is the Cypriot league’s all-time leading scorer.

Raca also suited up for the Cypriot national team after gaining naturalisation. He represented Cyprus during the Preliminary Round of the 2003 European Championship, averaging a team high 15.4ppg.

In 2002 he was appointed head coach of EKA AEL and despite managing young and inexperienced players he led AEL to a great run in Europe which ended with his team being crowned FIBA Regional Challenge Cup Champions with an unbeaten record.

In his rookie year as a coach Dragan Raca also led AEL to its first domestic Championship after 15 years. For those achievements he was subsequently voted “Coach of the Year” in Cyprus.

In 2004 success on the European level continued with AEL progressing to the final 16 of the FIBA Europe League. In domestic competitions AEL made the treble after winning the Championship, the Cup and the Super Cup.

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