Nick Efthimiou
Encyclopedia
Nicholas "Nixo" Efthimiou is a retired South African-Greek—American football (soccer) player who played professional soccer for 10 years,seven years with the Dallas Sidekicks
.Efthimiou was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to Athens, Greece when he was 10 years old. His Greek parents then moved to Dallas Texas where he attended Richardson High School.Efthimiou helped lead the Richardson Eagles to the 1st and only UIL State championship where he was honored on the All district,All region,All State and All State Tournament team.
, Efthimiou lead his team as a sophomore transfer to the 1st A.C.C. championship in the schools history beating North Carolina State University
.
Efthimiou was recruited by Men’s Head Coach Anson Dorrance
and received a scholarship to University of North Carolina
in 1987 after transferring from University of North Texas
. Anson Dorrance
has one of the most successful coaching records in the history of athletics. The NCAA has recognized Dorrance as the Men's Soccer Coach of the Year in 1987. Under the leadership of Anson Dorrance
, Efthimiou and his teammates also lead the Tar Heels to schools 1st men's 1st division Final Four NCAA tournament as favorites to win the national championship. The Tarheels got a beating and lost to Clemson University, the eventual 1987 N.C.A.A national champions,4-1.
and F.C. Dallas
of the Lone Star Soccer Alliance
. The Dallas Sidekicks
selected Efthimiou in the fourth round of the 1990 Major Indoor Soccer League draft. The Sidekicks released him during the pre-season training camp. He had other trials with the Sidekicks in 1991 and 1992, before signing with the team in 1993 in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. Efthimiou scored one goal for the team in 1994, the year it won a championship. In 1998 the Sidekicks moved to the Premier Soccer Alliance. Efthimiou, was one of a handful of players to win 2 or more championships. Efthimiou won 2 championships with The Dallas Sidekicks
, one in 1993 in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
, and the second in 1998 in Premier Soccer Alliance. He played until the year 1999 when he had to retire due to health reasons.Efthimiou almost died in a rollover accident in 2009. He was hospitalized in a coma for 2 months. He broke his neck,ankle,foot,all his ribs,collapsed ling,pneumonia.
Efthimiou is an artist living in Dallas, Texas
. Efthimiou donates his profits to The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States
, and also other various charities.
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
.Efthimiou was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to Athens, Greece when he was 10 years old. His Greek parents then moved to Dallas Texas where he attended Richardson High School.Efthimiou helped lead the Richardson Eagles to the 1st and only UIL State championship where he was honored on the All district,All region,All State and All State Tournament team.
College
A standout midfielder at University of North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
, Efthimiou lead his team as a sophomore transfer to the 1st A.C.C. championship in the schools history beating North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
.
Efthimiou was recruited by Men’s Head Coach Anson Dorrance
Anson Dorrance
Anson Dorrance is the head coach of the women's soccer program at the University of North Carolina. He has one of the most successful coaching records in the history of athletics. Under Dorrance's leadership, the Tar Heels have won 20 of the 28 NCAA Women's Soccer Championships...
and received a scholarship to University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
in 1987 after transferring from University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
. Anson Dorrance
Anson Dorrance
Anson Dorrance is the head coach of the women's soccer program at the University of North Carolina. He has one of the most successful coaching records in the history of athletics. Under Dorrance's leadership, the Tar Heels have won 20 of the 28 NCAA Women's Soccer Championships...
has one of the most successful coaching records in the history of athletics. The NCAA has recognized Dorrance as the Men's Soccer Coach of the Year in 1987. Under the leadership of Anson Dorrance
Anson Dorrance
Anson Dorrance is the head coach of the women's soccer program at the University of North Carolina. He has one of the most successful coaching records in the history of athletics. Under Dorrance's leadership, the Tar Heels have won 20 of the 28 NCAA Women's Soccer Championships...
, Efthimiou and his teammates also lead the Tar Heels to schools 1st men's 1st division Final Four NCAA tournament as favorites to win the national championship. The Tarheels got a beating and lost to Clemson University, the eventual 1987 N.C.A.A national champions,4-1.
Professional
After college, Efthimiou played for the Austin ThunderAustin Thunder
The Austin Thunder was an American soccer club based in Austin, Texas that was a member of the Lone Star Soccer Alliance.-Year-by-year:...
and F.C. Dallas
Dallas Inter
The Dallas Express was an American soccer club based in Dallas, Texas that was a member of the Lone Star Soccer Alliance.The team began its existence as the Dallas Mean Green, a local, unaffiliated team which competed at the amateur level. In 1984, it won the National Amateur Cup. In 1987, The...
of the Lone Star Soccer Alliance
Lone Star Soccer Alliance
Lone Star Soccer Alliance was a soccer league that existed from 1987 to 1992. While the majority of the teams came from Texas, some also came from Oklahoma and Kansas.-History:...
. The Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
selected Efthimiou in the fourth round of the 1990 Major Indoor Soccer League draft. The Sidekicks released him during the pre-season training camp. He had other trials with the Sidekicks in 1991 and 1992, before signing with the team in 1993 in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. Efthimiou scored one goal for the team in 1994, the year it won a championship. In 1998 the Sidekicks moved to the Premier Soccer Alliance. Efthimiou, was one of a handful of players to win 2 or more championships. Efthimiou won 2 championships with The Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
, one in 1993 in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
, and the second in 1998 in Premier Soccer Alliance. He played until the year 1999 when he had to retire due to health reasons.Efthimiou almost died in a rollover accident in 2009. He was hospitalized in a coma for 2 months. He broke his neck,ankle,foot,all his ribs,collapsed ling,pneumonia.
Efthimiou is an artist living in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Efthimiou donates his profits to The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and also other various charities.