Giorgos Koudas
Encyclopedia
Giorgos Koudas is a retired attacking football midfielder. Nicknamed Μεγαλέξανδρος (Alexander the Great) of Greek football, he is considered one of the best Greeks ever to play the game, and the last of a marvelous generation, including Mimis Domazos
, Thomas Mavros
and others.
Koudas was a virtuoso of the ball, but possessed great speed and tactical awareness as well. Although he started his career as a right winger, it was the arrival of manager Les Shannon
that brought him to the attacking midfielder role, from which he would later establish his legend.
It was something he later regretted, stating that "I did not fully understand the love that the people had for me at that time. I was young, born into a poor family, and I was thrilled by the prospect of moving to a better life Athens and earning so much money."
At that time, football in Greece was not fully professional, and thus contracts were signed on very loose terms. Once Koudas and his family had agreed to move to Piraeus, it simply was up to PAOK to agree to the transfer, which is still a subject of debate as to how the decision was taken. To this day, it is unclear whether the player was truly "abducted" from PAOK - as was said at the time in Thessaloniki - or if it was a legitimate transfer, that was shrouded as an illegitimate approach to the player and his family, to avoid public outrage. Nevertheless, on 16 August 1966 Koudas made his debut with Olympiakos in a friendly match.
Less than a year later, however, the Greek Junta came to power, and Costas Aslanidis
was appointed as General Secretary of Sports.
Through his various public opinion "pacification" initiatives, he largely controlled transfers between big clubs. After Koudas was drafted for military service in 1966-1968, he was forced to return to PAOK, which virtually forbade him to play for Olympiakos, apart from training and friendly matches. This bizarrre order was owing mostly to the extreme public outrage in northern Greece, that accompanied the Koudas transfer, but also due to the intervention of the PAOK president Giogros Pantelakis.
Despite Koudas' return to Thessaloniki, the circumstances of the transfer spawned a fierce animosity towards Olympiakos, which continues to this day, often presented in parallel to the social and economical rivalry between Athens and Thessaloniki.
talents like Damanakis, Iosifidis, Terzanidis, Apostolidis
, Gounaris, Sarafis
, Dimopoulos
and others. During that period, he celebrated the winning of two Greek
Cups, in 1972 and 1974, and one Greek
Championship, in 1976. He finally retired in 1984, at age 38.
Koudas holds the record for the most appearances with PAOK, appearing in 607 matches, 504 of which in the Greek 1st Division, spanning almost 21 seasons.
, scoring 4 goals, between 1967-1982.
He also appeared in UEFA Euro 1980 in Italy, along with PAOK teammates Konstantinos Iosifidis
, Christos Terzanidis
, Ioannis Damanakis
and Ioannis Gounaris
.
Mimis Domazos
Dimitris "Mimis" Domazos , is a retired Greek footballer born in Ambelokipi, Athens. His nickname is "The General".Mimis Domazos is considered by many to be the best footballer that Greece has ever produced...
, Thomas Mavros
Thomas Mavros
Thomas Mavros is a retired Greek international football player who played as a striker. He is regarded as one of the best players to play club football in Greece having scored a record number of goals there....
and others.
Koudas was a virtuoso of the ball, but possessed great speed and tactical awareness as well. Although he started his career as a right winger, it was the arrival of manager Les Shannon
Les Shannon
Leslie "Les" Shannon was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Shannon was born in Liverpool; a centre-forward, he started his playing career with his hometown club of Liverpool in November 1944...
that brought him to the attacking midfielder role, from which he would later establish his legend.
PAOK FC
Koudas was brought to PAOK in 1958 as a youngster, joining the club's academy. In 1963, at age 17, he made his debut for the 1st team. In the 3 years to follow Koudas amazed crowds at Toumba stadium with his elaborate dribbling, crossing and speedy runs on the flanks. His performances impressed not only fans but other clubs as well, making both Olympiakos and Panathinaikos interested in acquiring him.The transfer to Olympiakos
After much courting by Olympiakos, it was made public in June 1966 that Koudas had agreed on a contract with the Piraeus club.It was something he later regretted, stating that "I did not fully understand the love that the people had for me at that time. I was young, born into a poor family, and I was thrilled by the prospect of moving to a better life Athens and earning so much money."
At that time, football in Greece was not fully professional, and thus contracts were signed on very loose terms. Once Koudas and his family had agreed to move to Piraeus, it simply was up to PAOK to agree to the transfer, which is still a subject of debate as to how the decision was taken. To this day, it is unclear whether the player was truly "abducted" from PAOK - as was said at the time in Thessaloniki - or if it was a legitimate transfer, that was shrouded as an illegitimate approach to the player and his family, to avoid public outrage. Nevertheless, on 16 August 1966 Koudas made his debut with Olympiakos in a friendly match.
Less than a year later, however, the Greek Junta came to power, and Costas Aslanidis
Costas Aslanidis
Costas Aslanidis was a Lieutenant Colonel and the Secretary General of Athletics during the rule of the Greek military junta of 1967-1974.Aslanidis was a controversial figure throughout his tenure as Secretary General. On January 30, 1968, in a speech at the Alexandrion Melathron of Thessaloniki,...
was appointed as General Secretary of Sports.
Through his various public opinion "pacification" initiatives, he largely controlled transfers between big clubs. After Koudas was drafted for military service in 1966-1968, he was forced to return to PAOK, which virtually forbade him to play for Olympiakos, apart from training and friendly matches. This bizarrre order was owing mostly to the extreme public outrage in northern Greece, that accompanied the Koudas transfer, but also due to the intervention of the PAOK president Giogros Pantelakis.
Despite Koudas' return to Thessaloniki, the circumstances of the transfer spawned a fierce animosity towards Olympiakos, which continues to this day, often presented in parallel to the social and economical rivalry between Athens and Thessaloniki.
Return to PAOK FC
Thus, Koudas rejoined PAOK in 1968, where he would spend the rest of his career. He gradually became the leader and captain of the legendary 70's squad created by Pantelakis, built on young GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
talents like Damanakis, Iosifidis, Terzanidis, Apostolidis
Koulis Apostolidis
Kyriakos "Koulis" or “Kirk” Apostolidis is a former Greek footballer. He began his career in the North American Soccer League and finished it with PAOK Thessaloniki FC in Greece. Apostolidis lead the NASL in goals in 1971 and later earned six caps with the Greek national team...
, Gounaris, Sarafis
Stavros Sarafis
Stavros Sarafis is a retired football player, who spent his entire career in PAOK FC of Thessaloniki, playing as a forward. He is one of the club's most famous players and also the all-time top scorer....
, Dimopoulos
Christos Dimopoulos
Christos Dimopoulos is a retired Greek footballer who played for PAOK and Panathinaikos. His nickname was "Fonias" of Greek football....
and others. During that period, he celebrated the winning of two Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Cups, in 1972 and 1974, and one Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Championship, in 1976. He finally retired in 1984, at age 38.
Koudas holds the record for the most appearances with PAOK, appearing in 607 matches, 504 of which in the Greek 1st Division, spanning almost 21 seasons.
National team
Koudas made 43 appearances for the National team of GreeceGreece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
, scoring 4 goals, between 1967-1982.
He also appeared in UEFA Euro 1980 in Italy, along with PAOK teammates Konstantinos Iosifidis
Konstantinos Iosifidis
Konstantinos Iosifidis is a retired Greek footballer.Iosifidis spent his entire career from 1971 to 1985 in PAOK FC, playing as a left back...
, Christos Terzanidis
Christos Terzanidis
Christos Terzanidis is a retired Greek footballer.During his career he played for PAOK FC and Panathinaikos FC.He was a significant member...
, Ioannis Damanakis
Ioannis Damanakis
Ioannis Damanakis is a retired Greek footballer.He started his career at Chania, and after 6 years he was transferred to PAOK FC. He played 242 league games for PAOK, winning the Alpha Ethniki championship in 1985...
and Ioannis Gounaris
Ioannis Gounaris
Ioannis Gounaris is a retired Greek footballer.-Career:Gounaris was a right back who played for PAOK FC and Olympiacos FC in the 1970s and 80's. He earned 27 caps for the Greek National team, and participated in EURO 1980.Gounaris was a fullback far ahead of his time...
.
Honours
PAOK Thessaloniki FCPAOK FC
P.A.O.K. F.C. is a Greek association football club based in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is the largest supported football club in Macedonia.PAOK FC is the football department of Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans , a multi-sport club. Since its formation in 1926 the football club...
- Greek ChampionshipSuper League GreeceThe Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
: 1976 - Greek CupGreek football CupThe Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
: 1972, 1974