Pari Pantazopoulos
Encyclopedia
Paraskevas "Pari" Pantazopoulos (Greek
: Παρασκευάς Πανταζόπουλος) (born September 17, 1988 in Athens
) is a Greek
-born American
soccer player currently playing for Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer
.
and began playing football at the age of four. He played for the Athens youth team Vrilisia F.C. for four years before his family moved to the United States
in 1998. In Chicago
, he played with the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program where he was recognized by the Chicago Magic, one of America's top boys' sides.
Pantazopoulos played in the Chicago Magic's starting XI and reached the US Youth Soccer National Championships final in Florida where they lost 1-0 to California's Arsenal F.C. With the US ODP 1988's, he competed against the Brazil
ian team in Lloret de Mar
, Spain
in 2006.
Pantazopoulos was a regular with Prospect High School
's starting XI. During his high school career with the Prospect Knights, he tallied 51 goals, earning an Illinois All-State team selection over his four-year high school career.
side F.C. Koln
, but declined the offer in favour of remaining with his high school team. In 2006, he signed with ASIL Lysi
, a second division team in Cyprus
. In 2007, Pantazopoulos signed with Greek third division
side A.P.S. Zakynthos. After two seasons in Zakynthos
, Pantazopoulos signed a one-year contract with fellow Greek third division
side Korinthos F.C.
. He spent the first half of the season with Korinthos and the second half with Aspropyrgos Enosis
.
In January 2011, Pantazopoulos returned to the United States
and won an open tryout, earning a trial with Major League Soccer
outfit Chicago Fire, the club he has supported since his childhood.
Chicago officially signed him to a contract on April 4, 2011.
Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
: Παρασκευάς Πανταζόπουλος) (born September 17, 1988 in 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...
) is a Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player currently playing for Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth and high school
Pantazopoulos was born in AthensAthens
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...
and began playing football at the age of four. He played for the Athens youth team Vrilisia F.C. for four years before his family moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1998. In Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, he played with the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program where he was recognized by the Chicago Magic, one of America's top boys' sides.
Pantazopoulos played in the Chicago Magic's starting XI and reached the US Youth Soccer National Championships final in Florida where they lost 1-0 to California's Arsenal F.C. With the US ODP 1988's, he competed against the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian team in Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar
Lloret de Mar is a Mediterranean coastal town in Catalonia and one of the most popular holiday resorts on the Costa Brava. It is 40 kilometres from Girona and 75 kilometres from Barcelona and therefore easily accessible...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 2006.
Pantazopoulos was a regular with Prospect High School
Prospect High School (Illinois)
Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school located in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 214, which also includes Buffalo Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, John Hersey...
's starting XI. During his high school career with the Prospect Knights, he tallied 51 goals, earning an Illinois All-State team selection over his four-year high school career.
Professional
During Pantazopoulos' senior high school season, he was offered a trial by German first divisionFußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
side F.C. Koln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
, but declined the offer in favour of remaining with his high school team. In 2006, he signed with ASIL Lysi
ASIL Lysi
ASIL Lysi is a football team currently playing in the Cypriot Third Division after many seasons in the Cypriot Second Division.The team was established in the town of Lysi, Famagusta....
, a second division team in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. In 2007, Pantazopoulos signed with Greek third division
Gamma Ethniki
Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional...
side A.P.S. Zakynthos. After two seasons in Zakynthos
Zakynthos
Zakynthos , also Zante, the other form often used in English and in Italian , is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It covers an area of ...
, Pantazopoulos signed a one-year contract with fellow Greek third division
Gamma Ethniki
Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional...
side Korinthos F.C.
Korinthos F.C.
Korinthos F.C. or Korinthos P.A.S. is a Greek professional football club based in Corinth, currently participating in Gamma Ethniki.-History:...
. He spent the first half of the season with Korinthos and the second half with Aspropyrgos Enosis
Aspropyrgos Enosis
Aspropyrgos Enosis is a Greek football club, based in Aspropyrgos.In 2009, it was promoted to Football League 2 ....
.
In January 2011, Pantazopoulos returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and won an open tryout, earning a trial with Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
outfit Chicago Fire, the club he has supported since his childhood.
Chicago officially signed him to a contract on April 4, 2011.