Thanasis Bebis
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Athanasios Bebis | ||
Date of birth | 26 June 1928 | ||
Place of birth | Votanikos, Greece | ||
Date of death | 23 July 2017[1] | (aged 89)||
Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1943–1945 | Prasina Poulia | ||
1945 | Enosi Agiou Andrea | ||
1945–1947 |
Akratitos | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1947–1948 | Fostiras | ||
1948–1953 | Olympiacos | ||
1953–1954 |
Akratitos | ||
1954–1963 | Olympiacos | ||
1963–1965 | Vyzas Megara | ||
1965–1966 | Argonaftis Piraeus | ||
International career | |||
1950–1959 | Greece | 17 | (1) |
1952–1960 | Greece Olympic | 2 | (0) |
Managerial career | |||
1968–1969 | Vyzas Megara | ||
1969 | Olympiacos (caretaker) | ||
1969–1970 | Vyzas Megara | ||
1983 | Olympiacos (caretaker) | ||
1984 | Olympiacos (caretaker) | ||
1985 | Olympiacos (caretaker) | ||
1987 | Korinthos | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Thanasis Bebis (Greek: Θανάσης Μπέμπης; 26 June 1928 – 23 July 2017) was a Greek professional footballer who played as a midfielder.[2] He is deeply connected to Olympiacos, where he spent most of his career and won 24 titles. He made 17 appearances for the Greece national team scoring one goal. He was given the nickname "Pinocchio" as he deceived the opposite defences with his dribbling skills and moves with the ball.
Club career
Bebis was born on 26 June 1928 in
In 1948 he transferred to
Bebis was transferred at Vyzas Megara in the 1963-64 season, without, achieving the goal of promotion to the First Division. He retired after a 2-year spell at Argonaftis Piraeus.[citation needed]
International career
Bebis wore Greece's jersey 17 times from 1950 to 1959, starting with the match with Egypt in 17 February for the Friendship Cup of Eastern Mediterranean playing in the 2nd half. He was part of the insurgency that occurred in November 1953 in the representative team where the players refused to play in matches against Israel. As Bebis later said: "In order to prepare with the National team, we had lost our day jobs. We were promised, if I recall correctly, 800–1000 drachmas. They did not give them to us and we reacted not by leaving the team, but by going to another hotel alone, away from those in charge. We did not do it for the money. It was a glory and an honor to play for the National team. Pricks ruled the Federation and our reaction was aimed at them." Finally, after assurances, the team of Kostas Negrepontis normally participated in the match for the qualifying round of the 1954 World Cup and won with a goal by Bebis in the 52nd minute. The last international appearance with Greece took place on 15 November 1959 in an away defeat with 4-0 by Yugoslavia for the pre-Olympic tournament of 1960.[1] He also competed in the men's tournament at the 1952 Summer Olympics.[3]
Style of play
He was short, slender, incredibly active, he usually dribbled with his head held high, he was usually referred to as a classic "number 10". Initially, he played as an
Managerial career
After his playing days were over Bebis returned as a coach to Olympiacos for 4 occasions, as a caretaker manager. Specifically, from 10 May to 15 June 1969 he managed 6 victories, from 3 May to 17 February 1980 he recorded 1 win and 2 draws which included a lost cup final. On 27 November 1983 the victory came with 5-0 against Egaleo, while from 18 March to 6 May 1984 he achieved 5 wins and 1 draw. Finally, Bebis recorded 3 wins and 2 draws from 5 May to 16 June 1985, completing his spell with a total of 16 wins, 5 draws and no defeats. In addition, he worked as a coach in Vyzas Megara in the seasons 1968–69, 1969–70 and in Korinthos for 2 matches of the 1987–88 season.[1]
Death
"Pinocchio" died at the age of 89 and took with him another huge part of the romantic era of Greek football. The moment he kneels and kisses the flag of Olympiacos will forever be engraved in the memory of his fans. Mimis Domazos, legendary figure of the rival Panathinaikos posted on the social media "From a young age I admired and respected him. I remember when we played opponents in the last games of his career. Have a good trip Thanasis. "' Domazos, like many non-Olympians, recognized even after his death the value of that great player who "left" on 23 July 2017. [1]
Honours
Olympiacos
- Panhellenic Championship: 1950–51, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59
- Greek Cup: 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63
- Piraeus FCA Championship: 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
- Balkans Cup: 1963
Individual
- Panhellenic Championship top scorer: 1950–51
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Ανδρουλάκης, Μάνος (25 July 2017). "Μια καριέρα γεμάτη τίτλους και ντρίμπλες. Ο Θανάσης Μπέμπης θα είναι για πάντα ο θρύλος του Ολυμπιακού". sport-retro.gr. Retrieved 10 March 2020. (in Greek)
- ^ "Thanasis Bebis". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Thanasis Bembis Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2018.