Georgios Mitsibonas
Encyclopedia
Georgios Mitsibonas was a famous Greek
football player during the 1980s and 1990s. He was born in 1962 in the village of Tsaritsani
in the prefecture of Larissa
. He started his football career as a centre forward in Ikonomos Tsaritsanis and in 1981 he signed with Larissa
where he played one year as a forward. In 1982 the coach of Larissa used him as a sweeper, and as a defender Mitsibonas made a great career. With Larissa he won a Greek football Cup
in 1985 and a Greek football Championship
in 1988. This championship was and still remains a huge success, as Larissa became the first and the only until now countryside based team to win the Greek championship. Mitsibonas is believed to be the best Larissa defender and one of the greatest Greek defenders in history. In 1989 he moved to PAOK and three years later he signed with the team of Olympiacos where he won a Greek football Cup
. In 1994 he returned to Larissa, but nothing was like before. Many good players had left the team and Larissa eventually in 1996 failed to remain in the first division. Then Mitsibonas moved to AE Tirnavos, a team in the Greek Third Division, in the city of Tirnavos, the second biggest of the Larissa Prefecture
after Larissa
.
On 13 September 1997 Mitsibonas was killed in a car crash near the village of Giannouli
outside Larissa
. He was only thirty five and left behind his wife and his two daughters. He left also of course a large career, 413 matches and 43 goals in the first Greek division (he played 344 matches and scored 38 goals with AEL) and 27 matches and one goal with the national team of Greece
. He was one of the biggest football players not only of Larissa, but also of Greek football.
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 during the 1980s and 1990s. He was born in 1962 in the village of Tsaritsani
Tsaritsani
Tsaritsani is a village and a shortlived community in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elassona, of which it is a municipal unit. It was created as a community in 2006, when it was separated from the municipality of...
in the prefecture of Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
. He started his football career as a centre forward in Ikonomos Tsaritsanis and in 1981 he signed with Larissa
AEL 1964
AEL 1964 F.C., fully the Athletic Union of Larissa 1964 , is a Greek association football club based in the city of Larissa, capital of Greece's Thessaly region. The club is also known, unofficially, as Larissa. It is the only FC outside the two big Greek cities, Athens and Thessaloniki, to have...
where he played one year as a forward. In 1982 the coach of Larissa used him as a sweeper, and as a defender Mitsibonas made a great career. With Larissa he won a Greek football Cup
Greek football Cup
The 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....
in 1985 and a Greek football Championship
Super League Greece
The 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...
in 1988. This championship was and still remains a huge success, as Larissa became the first and the only until now countryside based team to win the Greek championship. Mitsibonas is believed to be the best Larissa defender and one of the greatest Greek defenders in history. In 1989 he moved to PAOK and three years later he signed with the team of Olympiacos where he won a Greek football Cup
Greek football Cup
The 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....
. In 1994 he returned to Larissa, but nothing was like before. Many good players had left the team and Larissa eventually in 1996 failed to remain in the first division. Then Mitsibonas moved to AE Tirnavos, a team in the Greek Third Division, in the city of Tirnavos, the second biggest of the Larissa Prefecture
Larissa Prefecture
Larissa is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Thessaly. Its capital is the city of Larissa. -Geography:...
after Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
.
On 13 September 1997 Mitsibonas was killed in a car crash near the village of Giannouli
Giannouli
Giannouli is a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Larissa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 10,022 ....
outside Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
. He was only thirty five and left behind his wife and his two daughters. He left also of course a large career, 413 matches and 43 goals in the first Greek division (he played 344 matches and scored 38 goals with AEL) and 27 matches and one goal with the national team of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. He was one of the biggest football players not only of Larissa, but also of Greek football.