Kleanthis Maropoulos
Encyclopedia
Kleanthis Maropoulos (1919–1991) was a star football
player for AEK Athens FC
and Greece during the 1930s and 1940s. Arguably the finest Greek
football player of his period, he was affectionately known as the "Blonde Eagle of AEK".
Born in 1919 to Greek
parents in Tuzla
, near Istanbul
, Maropoulos came to Greece
with his family at age 3 during the population exchanges after the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
. Having settled in Kalamata
, at age 12 he joined the local football club Prasina Poulia
, the Green Birds. When his parents moved to Kalogreza in the Athens
area, he signed for Ethnikos Kalogreza. In 1934, he was spotted by AEK
who placed him in their youth team. In 1936, he was promoted to the first team. Led by Maropoulos, alongside players like Tryfon Tzanetis
and Kostas Negrepontis
, AEK won their first two Greek Championships in 1939 and 1940 - the first domestic double by a Greek
club. Unfortunately, the glory years of AEK and Maropoulos were interrupted by World War II
, but he did continue his career after the war, playing until the late 1940s. He is credited with scoring 253 goals, 97 of which he attained prior to the war.
Maropoulos was capped 10 times by Greece. He subsequently managed the Greek National Football Team in the early 1960s before retiring from football to manage his sporting goods stores.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player for AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
and Greece during the 1930s and 1940s. Arguably the finest Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
football player of his period, he was affectionately known as the "Blonde Eagle of AEK".
Born in 1919 to Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
parents in Tuzla
Tuzla (district)
Tuzla is a small town, a suburb of Istanbul, Turkey on the Asian side of the city beyond Kartal and Pendik. Tuzla is on a headland on the coast of the Marmara Sea, at the eastern limit of the city. The mayor is Şadi Yazıcı .-History:...
, near Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Maropoulos came to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
with his family at age 3 during the population exchanges after the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...
. Having settled in Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
, at age 12 he joined the local football club Prasina Poulia
Prasina Poulia
Prassina Poulia Football Athletic Club is one of the oldest football clubs in Kalamata, Greece, being founded in 1938. Its colors are green and white and its name literally means "green birds".-History:...
, the Green Birds. When his parents moved to Kalogreza in the Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
area, he signed for Ethnikos Kalogreza. In 1934, he was spotted by AEK
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
who placed him in their youth team. In 1936, he was promoted to the first team. Led by Maropoulos, alongside players like Tryfon Tzanetis
Tryfon Tzanetis
Tryfon Tzanetis was a Greek football player and coach. Born in 1918 in Izmir, he was a best known as a forward for AEK Athens FC during the 1930s and 1940s, partnering Kleanthis Maropoulos in AEK's front line...
and Kostas Negrepontis
Kostas Negrepontis
Konstantinos Negrepontis was a Greek football forward of the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Constantinople in 1897, he started his football career in Turkey, playing for the Pera-based Pera Club. He also played in France and Fenerbahçe S.K. for a time before eventually settling in Greece to play for...
, AEK won their first two Greek Championships in 1939 and 1940 - the first domestic double by a Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
club. Unfortunately, the glory years of AEK and Maropoulos were interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but he did continue his career after the war, playing until the late 1940s. He is credited with scoring 253 goals, 97 of which he attained prior to the war.
Maropoulos was capped 10 times by Greece. He subsequently managed the Greek National Football Team in the early 1960s before retiring from football to manage his sporting goods stores.
Honours
AEKAEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
- 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...
: 1939, 1940 - 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....
: 1939, 1949, 1950