Theodoros Zagorakis
Theodoros Zagorakis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Θεόδωρος Ζαγοράκης | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the European Parliament | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 25 May 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President of PAOK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 18 June 2007 – 26 January 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Nikolaos Vezyrtzis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Zisis Vryzas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Lydia, Kavala, Greece | 27 October 1971||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party |
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Profession | Politician | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Theodoros Zagorakis (
Club career
Kavala
Zagorakis was a
PAOK
In the 1992–93 season, Zagorakis left Kavala as a winter transfer to join PAOK, part of a string of star transfers made that season. He played for PAOK until December 1997, and also captained the squad in his last two seasons. He rarely missed a league derby and scored important goals, particularly in 1994–95 when he struck four, his best-ever tally.[2]
Leicester City
Zagorakis left for English club
AEK Athens
Zagorakis was disappointed with Leicester manager Martin O'Neill's reluctance to use him regularly and decided to return to Greece in 2000. He moved to AEK Athens, and played alongside fellow countrymen such as Michalis Kapsis, Vasilios Lakis, Demis Nikolaidis and Vasilios Tsiartas.[5] He formed an excellent duo in midfield with both Akis Zikos and Kostas Katsouranis, helping with his game in the defensive part and also in the organization of the offense, where he also competed at times as a captain. A goal with AEK was against Inter Milan at Giuseppe Meazza with a great shot[6] for the round of 16 of the UEFA Cup. With AEK, Zagorakis won the Greek Cup in 2002 against rivals Olympiacos.[7] Zagorakis, during his last season in AEK, has accepted a reduced pay-off which is reported to be £220,000."He showed he genuinely has the club's best interests at heart and is free to take up any of the great offers from teams abroad," said a club statement.[8] In the summer of 2004, having the best moment of his career at the Euro in Portugal and with AEK in a difficult administrative situation, he left the team.[9][10]
Bologna
On 14 July 2004, he left AEK Athens for
Return to PAOK
In 2005, Zagorakis arrived in Thessaloniki to sign a deal with
International career
Zagorakis received his first cap for Greece on 7 September 1994, against the Faroe Islands. He scored his first goal against Denmark in 2006 World Cup qualifying, in Athens, while earning his 101st cap. Numbering 120 caps, Zagorakis was Greece's all-time leader in international games played until 12 October 2012, when Giorgos Karagounis made his 121st appearance for the national team. He earned his 100th against Kazakhstan on 17 November 2004, and was the team's longest-serving captain.
Zagorakis played an important role in Greece's win in the
After 12 full playing years as the captain for Greece, Zagorakis announced his retirement from international football on 5 October 2006. More specifically, Greece captain was considering retiring after his team's European championship qualifier against
PAOK presidency
Following his retirement as a footballer, after many widespread rumours, it was announced that he was to become PAOK's new president, on 18 June 2007.
The club had been in dire financial straits for several years. Zagorakis undertook to sort out finances by attracting investors, increasing revenue and mobilising the club's fan base. In his unifying first statement he said: "The strength of PAOK lies in its supporters, its fans...I would have not made this decision" (to retire from playing and assume administration) "if i did not love my club. The situation for PAOK is very difficult and I will not try to hide its problems; instead I will do all I can to solve the pressing financial issues."
Soon he set about restructuring the club's debt and team, and recruited former teammate
On 15 December 2008, Zagorakis announced a major issue of new stock by the club, valued at €22.3 million. He appealed to small investors and stated that, although it is unlikely that the entire sum could be covered in a worldwide crisis environment, he felt confident that the expected influx of capital would enable
On 8 October 2009, Zagorakis surprised fans and press alike by announcing his decision to quit the presidency. In a short announcement on the club's official website, he cited that personal problems have led him to this decision. He was rapidly replaced by his close friend Zisis Vryzas.[17]
Nevertheless, he kept close contact with his former associates, and also frequently attended the club's home games alongside Vryzas. Zagorakis finally changed his mind and on 20 January he reprised his position as president, with Vryzas stepping down to assume the post of vice-president.[18]
In January 2012 Zagorakis resigned as president after the sale of Vieirinha for financial reasons provoked a supporters' protest.[19]
Style of play
Zagorakis was described by
Personal life
Zagorakis was featured on the cover of the Greek edition of FIFA 2001.[21]
Political career
Zagorakis is looking to kick-off a new career in politics by becoming a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). He was a New Democracy candidate for the European Parliament in the elections of 25 May 2014. He was elected as an MEP and became a member of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats). He was unveiled as one of the party's hopefuls by the Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras.[22]
In January 2020, a Committee of Professional Sports (with members placed by Sports Minister Lefteris Avgenakis) proposed the relegation of PAOK FC and Xanthi FC. Zagorakis stated that he could no longer be MEP for New Democracy after this. The party's leader and PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided his deletion.[23] Several MP's said that Zagorakis was elected in European Parliament to represent Greece, not PAOK.
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Kavala | 1988–89 | Beta Ethniki | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 9 | 2 | ||
1989–90 | Gamma Ethniki | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 40 | 2 | |||
1990–91 | Beta Ethniki | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 0 | |||
1991–92 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 33 | 2 | ||||
1992–93 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 8 | 0 | ||||
Total | 114 | 6 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 118 | 6 | ||||
PAOK | 1992–93 | Alpha Ethniki | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |
1993–94 | 30 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | – | 35 | 1 | ||||
1994–95 | 31 | 4 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 35 | 4 | ||||
1995–96 | 27 | 0 | 7 | 1 | – | – | 34 | 1 | ||||
1996–97 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 35 | 2 | ||||
1997–98 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 6 | 3 | 23 | 5 | |||
Total | 155 | 10 | 22 | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | 183 | 15 | |||
Leicester City | 1997–98 | Premier League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
1998–99 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
1999–2000
|
17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||
Total | 50 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 3 | ||
AEK | 2000–01 | Alpha Ethniki | 23 | 1 | 5 | 0 | – | 7 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
2001–02 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 1 | – | 10 | 4 | 45 | 8 | |||
2002–03 | 25 | 0 | 7 | 1 | – | 11 | 1 | 43 | 2 | |||
2003–04 | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |||
Total | 101 | 4 | 26 | 2 | – | 36 | 5 | 163 | 11 | |||
Bologna
|
2004–05 | Serie A | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 34 | 0 | ||
PAOK | 2005–06 | Alpha Ethniki | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
2006–07
|
Super League | 23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 27 | 0 | |||
Total | 45 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | 54 | 0 | |||
Career total | 497 | 23 | 64 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 47 | 8 | 621 | 35 |
International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Greece | 1994 | 4 | 0 |
1995 | 11 | 0 | |
1996 | 9 | 0 | |
1997 | 9 | 0 | |
1998 | 4 | 0 | |
1999 | 13 | 0 | |
2000 | 5 | 0 | |
2001 | 9 | 0 | |
2002 | 10 | 0 | |
2003 | 10 | 0 | |
2004 | 16 | 0 | |
2005 | 11 | 1 | |
2006 | 8 | 2 | |
2007 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 120 | 3 |
- Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zagorakis goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 February 2005 | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece | Denmark | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers |
2 | 21 January 2006 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh , Saudi Arabia |
South Korea | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
3 | 25 January 2006 | King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
Honours
Leicester City
- 1999–2000
AEK Athens
- 2001–02
Greece[20]
Individual
- UEFA Euro 2004: Player of the tournament[25]
- UEFA Euro 2004: Team of the Tournament[20]
- UEFA Euro 2004 Final: Man of the Match
- Greek Male Athlete of the Year: 2004
- PAOK MVP of the Season: 1996–1997
See also
References
- ^ "EPO - Hellenic Football Federation". www.epo.gr.
- ^ "Greece Soccer Team - EURO 2004 Champions - Theodoros Zagorakis - by La Cancha-News On World Cup 2006 - "World's Leading Soccer Magazine!"". lacancha.com.
- ^ "Leicester triumph at Wembley". BBC. 27 February 2000. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ "Sport: Football – Coventry rocked by five high Tranmere". BBC. 14 September 1999. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ "Και τυπικά παίκτης της ΑΕΚ ο Ζαγοράκης". In.gr.
- ^ "Inter-AEK ZAGORAKIS!" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "27/4/2002: Το κύπελλο της ΑΕΚ επί του Ολυμπιακού με υπογραφή Ίβιτς". 27 April 2020.
- ^ "Zagorakis leaves AEK Athens". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Θοδωρής Ζαγοράκης". kitrinomavro.gr.
- ^ "Zagorakis release alerts Europe". UEFA.com. 14 July 2004.
- ^ "Zagorakis signs for Bologna". www.rediff.com. 17 July 2004.
- ^ "Zagorakis joins Bologna". theworldgame.sbs.com.au.
- ^ "PAOK recall for Zagorakis". www.uefa.com. 20 July 2005.
- ^ "Zagorakis retirement on hold after Euro call-up". 2 October 2006.
- ^ "Ελλάδα-Ισπανία 2-3". 23 August 2007.
- ^ "Ζαγοράκης: "Μόνος επενδυτής ο κόσμος"". naftemporiki.gr. 15 December 2008.
- ^ Νίκος Τοσκίτσης – Πάρης Τσελεπίδης (8 October 2009). "Παραιτήθηκε ο Ζαγοράκης". sport24.gr.
- ^ "Vryzas replaces Zagorakis at PAOK". neoskosmos.com.
- ^ "PAOK president Zagorakis resigns to appease angry fans". Reuters UK.
- ^ a b c "Theodoros Zagorakis – UEFA Profile". UEFA. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ "FIFA & Pro: Τα εξώφυλλα που μας σημάδεψαν". m.popaganda.gr.
- ^ "Leicester City hero Theo Zagarakis looking to make his mark in Europe once again". Leicester Mercury. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015.
- ^ "Διαγραφή Ζαγοράκη από την ευρωομάδα της ΝΔ με απόφαση Μητσοτάκη". Διαγραφή Ζαγοράκη από την ευρωομάδα της ΝΔ με απόφαση Μητσοτάκη.
- ^ "Theodoros Zagorakis - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010.
- ^ "Football - Euro 2004 - Greece - Zagorakis named top player". BBC Sport.
External links
- Theodoros Zagorakis at FIFA (archived)
- Theodoros Zagorakis at UEFA
- Theodoros Zagorakis at Premier League
- Theodoros Zagorakis at 11v11.com
- Theodoros Zagorakis at BDFutbol
- Theodoros Zagorakis at EU-Football.info
- Theodoros Zagorakis at FBref.com
- Theodoros Zagorakis at FootballDatabase.eu
- Theodoros Zagorakis at L'Équipe (in French)
- Theodoros Zagorakis at kicker (in German)
- Official website (in Greek and English)
- Personal profile of Theodoros Zagorakis in the European Parliament's database of members
- FootballDatabase profile and stats