Vangelis Margaritis

Evangelos "Vangelis" Margaritis (alternate spellings: Evaggelos, Vaggelis; ; born December 5, 1982) is a Greek basketball coach and executive and former professional basketball player. He is currently the player development coach of PAOK Thessaloniki, where he spent most of his playing career and served as team captain.

During his playing career, Margaritis primarily played at the power forward position, while also being used as a center. He is 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) tall. He made 423 official appearances for PAOK, the most by any player in the history of the club's basketball team. He subsequently played for Ionikos Nikaias, EAP, Keravnos Aigio, Peristeri, KAOD and Ikaroi Serron before joining PAOK in 2012. He renewed again in June 2015, this time through the 2017–18 season, and signed another two-year extension in June 2018. On June 23, 2023, he renewed his contract for another season, which became his 11th season overall with PAOK.

During the 2023–24 season, Margaritis established new club records for longevity. On April 21, 2024, he made his 293rd Greek League appearance for PAOK, surpassing Giannis Politis as the club's all-time leader in league appearances. Shortly afterwards, he also surpassed Nikos Boudouris' previous record of 421 appearances across all competitions. He finished his PAOK playing career with 423 official appearances, an all-time club record.

Assistant general manager (2025–2026) Following the change in PAOK's ownership in late 2025, the club reorganised its sporting department. On December 5, 2025, former PAOK player Nikos Boudouris was appointed General Manager, with Margaritis becoming Assistant General Manager. Michalis Giannakidis continued as Team Manager.

During the second half of the 2025–26 season, however, Margaritis' responsibilities gradually shifted away from a purely front-office role and towards player development and the coaching staff.

Player development coach (2026–present) By March 2026, Margaritis was already working directly with PAOK players on their individual development. His work was particularly associated with Nigerian center Clifford Omoruyi, who had joined PAOK midway through his first professional season.

After Omoruyi scored a then season-high 17 points against Mykonos on March 25, 2026, head coach Pantelis Boutskos revealed that PAOK had established a programme of individual training sessions with Margaritis aimed at gradually developing Omoruyi's game.

Margaritis' increased involvement with the coaching staff formed part of the wider restructuring of PAOK's sporting department following the March 2026 agreement with Andrea Trinchieri. In April, reports stated that Trinchieri had identified Margaritis' ability to work on the individual development of players and that his role had consequently moved closer to the team and coaching staff. The improvement shown by Omoruyi during this period was specifically linked to the individual work he had been carrying out with Margaritis.

The transition occurred while Margaritis was formally serving as Assistant General Manager, and PAOK did not announce a specific date on which the title was changed. By the latter part of the 2025–26 season, however, his primary duties were focused on individual player development as a member of the team's coaching staff.

Margaritis remained with PAOK following the May 2026 changes to the club's sporting and administrative structure and continued in the player-development role ahead of the 2026–27 season. PAOK currently lists him as its Players Development Coach, responsible for the individual development and improvement of the team's players.

Awards and accomplishments

Professional career Greek League All-Star: 2008 2× Greek Second Division champion: 2009, 2011