Dimitris Saravakos

Dimitris Saravakos

Dimitris Saravakos in 2009
Personal information
Full name Dimitris Saravakos
Date of birth (1961-07-26) 26 July 1961
Place of birth Athens, Greece
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Winger, Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Panathinaikos (Strategic Advisor)
Youth career
1976–1977 Panionios
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1984 Panionios 132 (35)
1984–1994 Panathinaikos 252 (125)
1994–1996 AEK Athens 47 (21)
1997–1998 Panathinaikos 2 (0)
Total 433 (181)
National team
1982–1994 Greece 78 (22)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Dimitris Saravakos (Greek: Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος) (born 26 July 1961), nicknamed O Μικρός (The Kid) is a Greek former football player, widely considered to be one of the greatest Greek footballers of all time and a Panathinaikos F.C icon.[1][2][3]

He started his career in Panionios at the age of 16 quickly establishing himself as one of the most talented players in the league and at 23 he was transferred to Panathinaikos FC, where Saravakos gained international fame and became an absolute idol among the fans. In 1994 he moved to AEK Athens where he had two highly successful seasons. He returned and concluded his career in Panathinaikos in 1997.[4]

Being one of the most charismatic players in Europe he attracted a number of offers from the biggest European clubs. Yet in the early 1990s – prior to the implementation of the ECJ's Bosman ruling – when Juventus and Fiorentina had offered him a contract, Panathinaikos' chairman Yiorgos Vardinogiannis rejected the transfers – Saravakos thus lost an opportunity to continue his successful career in Serie A.

Saravakos was arguably the biggest star of Greek football in the 1980s until mid 1990s achieving memorable milestones.[5] He lead Panathinaikos in 3 championships, 6 cups, 2 Super Cups and numerous European triumphs most notably leading the "greens" in the Semifinals of the Champions Cup in 1985, in the UEFA cup quarterfinals in 1988 (where Saravakos lead in scoring) and in the UEFA champions league quarterfinals in 1992. In 1994 his immense presence and creativity on the field helped AEK advance to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in its history.[6]

Saravakos is the fourth scorer of all time with 22 goals for the Greek national team and in 1994 he captained Greece to its first World Cup in its history.

He is the leading scorer in history with 16 goals in the Derby of the eternal enemies against Olympiacos F.C.[7] He kept the record for the best Greek scorer in UEFA games, scoring 25 goals, before he was overpassed from Demis Nikolaidis.

In 1987 and in 1991 Saravakos was among the top 30 European footballers candidate for the Ballon d'Or.[8]

Since 2013 he serves as Strategic Adviser for Panathinaikos a position created especially for him.

Honours

Panionios F.C.

Greek Cup: 1979

Panathinaikos

AEK Athens

References

  1. ↑ "Top-10: Οι μεγαλύτεροι Έλληνες ποδοσφαιριστές". Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  2. ↑ "Ο παντοτινός Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος". Contra.gr. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  3. ↑ Γιαννούλης, Χρήστος. "Ο τεράστιος "μικρός", Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος (vids+pics)". Leoforos.gr. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  4. ↑ "Ο παντοτινός Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος". Contra.gr. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  5. ↑ "Ο παντοτινός Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος". Contra.gr. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  6. ↑ "Ο παντοτινός Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος". Contra.gr. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  7. ↑ "Ο παντοτινός Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος". Contra.gr. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  8. ↑ "Ο παντοτινός Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος". Contra.gr. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Nikos Anastopoulos		 Greece captain
1989-1994 		Succeeded by
Stratos Apostolakis


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