Kostas Eleftherakis
Encyclopedia
Kostas Eleftherakis is a former Greek
association football midfielder. His nickname was "the deer" (to elafi).
He started his career playing for Fostiras. He later joined Panathinaikos
in 1968. At age 21 he played for Panathinaikos
at 1971 European Cup Final
in Wembley Stadium
against Ajax Amsterdam
. He scored 2 goals during that campaign to reach the final.
Following that game, Real Madrid and Everton expressed interest in acquiring him. Real Madrid would offer an inconceivable (for the time) 35 million drachmas for Kostas Eleftherakis. But Costas Aslanidis
(Secretary General of Athletics, appointed by the Greek military junta of 1967-1974
) would stand in the way. The same happened when Everton made an offer through Billy Bingham
who coached Greece
in the early 1970s.
He was invited to play for the World XI.
An injury he sustained in May of 1977 would force him to stay away from the game for six months. He would never regain his form completely after that. Three years (1980) later he retired from football, but not before he won another Greek league title with AEK in his penultimate season.
He played a total of 331 games in the Greek A Division – he scrored 90 goals (he played 308 games with Panathinaikos
, scoring 85 goals)
Eleftherakis made 34 appearances for the Greece national football team
from 1969 to 1977.
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....
association football midfielder. His nickname was "the deer" (to elafi).
He started his career playing for Fostiras. He later joined Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
in 1968. At age 21 he played for Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
at 1971 European Cup Final
1971 European Cup Final
The 1971 European Cup Final was a football match held at Wembley Stadium, London, on 2 June 1971, that saw Ajax of the Netherlands defeat Panathinaikos of Greece 2–0. An incredible comeback in the second leg of their semi-final against Red Star Belgrade meant Panathinaikos became the first Greek...
in Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
against Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
. He scored 2 goals during that campaign to reach the final.
Following that game, Real Madrid and Everton expressed interest in acquiring him. Real Madrid would offer an inconceivable (for the time) 35 million drachmas for Kostas Eleftherakis. But 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,...
(Secretary General of Athletics, appointed by the Greek military junta of 1967-1974
Greek military junta of 1967-1974
The Greek military junta of 1967–1974, alternatively "The Regime of the Colonels" , or in Greece "The Junta", and "The Seven Years" are terms used to refer to a series of right-wing military governments that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974...
) would stand in the way. The same happened when Everton made an offer through Billy Bingham
Billy Bingham
William Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former international footballer and football manager. He is currently a scout for English Football League Championship side Burnley....
who coached Greece
Greece 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...
in the early 1970s.
He was invited to play for the World XI.
An injury he sustained in May of 1977 would force him to stay away from the game for six months. He would never regain his form completely after that. Three years (1980) later he retired from football, but not before he won another Greek league title with AEK in his penultimate season.
He played a total of 331 games in the Greek A Division – he scrored 90 goals (he played 308 games with Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
, scoring 85 goals)
Eleftherakis made 34 appearances for the Greece national football team
Greece 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...
from 1969 to 1977.