Theodoros Zagorakis
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| Theodoros Zagorakis | ||
 Zagorakis celebrating after captaining Greece to a successful Euro 2004 campaign |
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Theodoros Zagorakis (Θεόδωρος Ζαγοράκης) |
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| Date of birth | October 27, 1971 | |
| Place of birth | Kavala, Greece | |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | |
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1988–1992 1993–1997 1998–2000 2000–2004 2004–2005 2005–2007 |
Kavala PAOK Leicester City AEK Athens Bologna PAOK Total |
114 (6) 155 (10) 50 (3) 101 (4) 32 (0) 45 (0) 452 (23) |
| National team | ||
| 1994–2006 | Greece | 119 (3) |
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1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Theodoros "Thodoris" Zagorakis (Greek: Θεόδωρος "Θοδωρής" Ζαγοράκης) (born October 27, 1971 in Kavala) is a retired Greek footballer and was the captain of the Greece national football team that won the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship.He is the current President of PAOK Thessaloniki F.C., Greece.
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[edit] Club Career
A gritty but stylish defensive midfielder, Zagorakis started his career with Kavala FC and soon attracted the attention of the big teams in the Greek league for his combative and dominant play in the midfield. Eventually he fulfilled his dream of playing for PAOK Thessaloniki F.C. (as he was a fan of the team from early age) in the winter transfer window of the 1992-93 season. He stayed with PAOK until December 1997 becoming captain and the team's most valuable asset with his excellent play and thus attracting a lot of attention from foreign clubs something not easy for a Greek player at the time. Already a fans' icon his departure was strongly felt among clubs loyal with his last match in PAOK's shirt (away against Skoda Xanthi).
In a twist of irony as he came in one, Zagorakis left in another winter transfer window to Leicester City. While in England, he took part in two consecutive League Cup finals at Wembley Stadium, losing the first against Tottenham Hotspur in 1999 and defeating Tranmere Rovers in 2000 in the second. Nevertheless he was disappointed with Martin O'Neill's reluctance to use him regularly and as he didn't enjoy life in England also - finding it difficult to settle in the cold and cloudy weather of the country, after only two seasons he decided to return to Greece.
Zagorakis first tried to cut a deal with PAOK but the team's coach at the time Dusan Bajevic declined having him on the team. AEK Athens proved to be his next football destination and being sided with a handful of good players, he helped them win the Greek Cup in 2002. On July 14, 2004, due to the long going and rapidly growing team's economic problems and in the middle of the frenzy that his performances caused in the stunning national team's win in Euro 2004 he left AEK Athens for Bologna signing a two year contract worth of 1.5m euros per year.
In Serie A Zagorakis was a regular feature in the team's squad but the team - having been in decline long before his arrival - that very same season found itself relegated to Serie B after a breathtaking play out series against fellow strugglers Parma FC. In the following summer he was released from the team as they couldn't afford his payroll under the new conditions.
Zagorakis eventually signed a 2-year contract with PAOK F.C. in a highly emotional move as Shakhtar Donetsk was hot in his pursuit offering almost 2m euros a year. Surprisingly enough he chose PAOK instead, a team that not only was highly in debt and therefore underachieving but also could offer him a contract of just 650,000 euros a year. When Zagorakis landed at Makedonia Airport in Thessaloniki, 7000 supporters were there to welcome him back. May 28, 2007, after the fifth Greek Superleague All-Star Game, Zagorakis announced his retirement from professional football.
[edit] International Career
Zagorakis received his first cap on September 7, 1994, against the Faroe Islands. He scored his first goal against Denmark in 2006 World Cup qualifying, in Athens, while earning his 101st cap. Zagorakis is currently Greece's all-time leader in caps with 120, earning his 100th against Kazakhstan on November 17, 2004. He played an important role in Greece's triumph in the 2004 European Championships, and was named the Player of the Tournament by UEFA. Recognition from the footballing world did not stop there: as a result of his remarkable year as captain of the Greek national team, FIFA named Zagorakis as a contender for the 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year award (he finished in 17th place). He holds the record of not missing a match (except one in 2006 because of injury) of the national team (due to either injury or not selection) since his first cap in a period of 12 years.
After fourteen full playing years as the Greek team's leader, Zagorakis announced his retirement from international football on October 5th 2006.
On August 22, 2007, Zagorakis played for the last time with the Greek national football team in a special friendly match against Spain in Toumba Stadium, Salonica. He played for about 15 minutes and was then replaced by Giannis Goumas.
[edit] President of PAOK
On 18th June 2007, Zagorakis became the president of PAOK Thessaloniki FC. In his unifying first statement he supports that: "the leading factor as far as the PAOK power is concerned is its supporters, its fans (...), I would have not made this decision (to retire as a football player and to take over PAOK as president) if i did not love my team. The situation for PAOK is very difficult and I will not try to hide its problems, in contrast to that I will try to solve all the financial issues with all my strength - If I do not succeed in a month's deadline (18th July 2007) I will quit".
[edit] Honours
- Greek Cup: 2002
Individual
- European Championship 2004: UEFA Player of the tournament
- European Championship 2004: UEFA Team of the Tournament Member
[edit] Trivia
- Zagorakis goes by nickname Theo, which was given to him by Leicester fans.
- He preferred wearing number 7 in his shirt for both the Greece national football team and the clubs he has played.
- He featured on the cover of the Greek edition of FIFA 2001.
- His body naturally produces high levels of testosterone, which were suspected to have been caused by performance enhancing drugs. It has long been proven that it is indeed a natural but rare phenomenon, although it has caused him inconvenience with regard to doping tests.
- It is commonly said that he bears a resemblance to Australian actor Hugh Jackman.
[edit] External links
- Theodoros Zagorakis web site (in English)
- FootballDatabase provides Theodoros Zagorakis's profile and stats
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