Nikos Anastopoulos
Encyclopedia
Nikos Anastopoulos is a Greek
former football player, one of the most prolific strikers in the Greek league during the late 1970s and the 1980s. With 29 goals he is the all time highest scorer for the Greek national football team. Since retiring as a player he has become a football manager. In 404 games in the Greek championship division he scored 171 times.
Anastopoulos was born on 22 January 1958. He started his career at Dafni before transferring to Panionios with whom he debuted in the Alpha Ethniki in the 1977–1978 season. Thanks to Anastopoulos, Panionios won the Greek Cup in 1979 upsetting AEK 3–1. His debut in European competition was also impressive as he scored twice against Twente Enschede
of Holland and once against IFK Goteborg
in the Cup-winners' Cup
. His performance brought an immediate transfer offer from Twente as well as other Greek and foreign clubs. Finally, in 1980, he went to Olympiakos Piraeus.
As an Olympiakos player, Anastopoulos, also known as "Moustakias" (the moustachioed one), won top scorer honours in 1982–1983 season (29 goals), 1983–1984 season (18 goals), 1985–1986 season (19 goals) and 1986–1987 season (16 goals). His goal-scoring exploits in 1982–1983 won him the Bronze Boot as third scorer in all Europe.
In 1987
, Anastopoulos left Greece to play for Avellino
in Italy
. Though he performed well in the Italian Cup, he failed to score a single goal in Serie A
and returned to Greece when Avellino was relegated.
After coming close to signing with AEK
, Anastopoulos chose to return to Panionios. He later played for Olympiakos, Ionikos and closed out his career with Olympiakos (once more) after the 1993–1994 season.
scoring 29 goals – more than any other Greek international. He was a member of the Greek squad in the finals of Euro 1980 and scored the lone Greek goal of that competition with a brilliant header against Czechoslovakia
.
After his playing career was over, Anastopoulos coached a variety of clubs:
Kavala F.C.
OFI Crete
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
former football player, one of the most prolific strikers in the Greek league during the late 1970s and the 1980s. With 29 goals he is the all time highest scorer for the Greek national football team. Since retiring as a player he has become a football manager. In 404 games in the Greek championship division he scored 171 times.
Anastopoulos was born on 22 January 1958. He started his career at Dafni before transferring to Panionios with whom he debuted in the Alpha Ethniki in the 1977–1978 season. Thanks to Anastopoulos, Panionios won the Greek Cup in 1979 upsetting AEK 3–1. His debut in European competition was also impressive as he scored twice against Twente Enschede
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
of Holland and once against IFK Goteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
in the Cup-winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
. His performance brought an immediate transfer offer from Twente as well as other Greek and foreign clubs. Finally, in 1980, he went to Olympiakos Piraeus.
As an Olympiakos player, Anastopoulos, also known as "Moustakias" (the moustachioed one), won top scorer honours in 1982–1983 season (29 goals), 1983–1984 season (18 goals), 1985–1986 season (19 goals) and 1986–1987 season (16 goals). His goal-scoring exploits in 1982–1983 won him the Bronze Boot as third scorer in all Europe.
In 1987
Serie A 1987-88
The 1987/1988 Serie A season marked A.C. Milan's first Scudetto under the Silvio Berlusconi era and their first since the 1978/1979 season. S.S.C. Napoli, with a team including Diego Maradona, Ciro Ferrara and Careca were pre-season favourites. The championship went down to the last day of the...
, Anastopoulos left Greece to play for Avellino
U.S. Avellino
Associazione Sportiva Avellino 1912 , since summer 2010, is the new name of the Italian football club, based in Avellino, Campania. The club was founded in 1912 and its traditional colours are green and white...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Though he performed well in the Italian Cup, he failed to score a single goal in Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
and returned to Greece when Avellino was relegated.
After coming close to signing with 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...
, Anastopoulos chose to return to Panionios. He later played for Olympiakos, Ionikos and closed out his career with Olympiakos (once more) after the 1993–1994 season.
National team
During his playing career Anastopoulos was capped 74 times by the National Football Team of GreeceGreece 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...
scoring 29 goals – more than any other Greek international. He was a member of the Greek squad in the finals of Euro 1980 and scored the lone Greek goal of that competition with a brilliant header against Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
.
After his playing career was over, Anastopoulos coached a variety of clubs:
- PanelefsiniakosPanelefsiniakos F.C.Panelefsiniakos F.C. , the Panelefsiniakos Athletic Club, is a football club based in the city of Eleusina, Greece.-History:Panelefsiniakos was formed in 1928. The club has played in the top level of Greek football, the Alpha Ethniki, three times , but was relegated after each season...
(1995-96) - Panetolikos(1997-98)
- PAS GianninaPAS GianninaPAS Giannina , the Panepirotic Athletic Association Giannina, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Ioannina, the capital of Greece’s Epirus region.Following the 2010–11 season, PAS was promoted to Greece’s Super League division...
(1999, 2004,2006–07) - Panserraikos F.C.Panserraikos F.C.Panserraikos F.C. , the All-Serran Football Club, is the football club of Serres in Macedonia, Greece. Panserraikos was formed in 1964 when two local clubs, Iraklis and Apollon, merged. Their current home ground is Serres Municipal Stadium, built in 1926...
- PanachaikiPanachaikiPanachaiki, known officially as Panachaiki GE , the Pan-Achaean Athletic Union, is a Greek multisport club based in the city of Patras, Greece.- History :...
- Kallithea FCKallithea FCKallithea F.C. is a Greek professional football club based in Kallithea, currently competing in the Football League .-Background:...
- Kerkyra FCKerkyra FCKerkyra FC, also known as AO Kerkyra , the Athletic Club Kerkyra, is a Greek association football club based on the island of Kerkyra , Greece.-History:...
(2005) - ArisAris Thessaloniki F.C.Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
(2006) - Ionikos (2008)
- PAS GianninaPAS GianninaPAS Giannina , the Panepirotic Athletic Association Giannina, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Ioannina, the capital of Greece’s Epirus region.Following the 2010–11 season, PAS was promoted to Greece’s Super League division...
(2008) - Kavala FC (2009)
- PAS GianninaPAS GianninaPAS Giannina , the Panepirotic Athletic Association Giannina, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Ioannina, the capital of Greece’s Epirus region.Following the 2010–11 season, PAS was promoted to Greece’s Super League division...
(June 2010) - OFI CreteOFI CreteOFI , the Sportfriends Association Heraklion, is a Greek association football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Outside Greece, the club is generally known as OFI Crete F.C., however, the name Crete is not actually part of the club's official title.OFI is the club with most...
(September 2010)
As Player
Olympiacos F.C.-
- Greek Championship: 1980 , 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
- 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....
: 1990, 1992 - Greek Super CupGreek Super Cup-Official edition:-External links:*...
: 1992
As Coach
PAS GianninaPAS Giannina
PAS Giannina , the Panepirotic Athletic Association Giannina, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Ioannina, the capital of Greece’s Epirus region.Following the 2010–11 season, PAS was promoted to Greece’s Super League division...
-
- Greek Second DivisionBeta EthnikiFootball League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the...
: 2002
- Greek Second Division
Kavala F.C.
-
- Greek Second DivisionBeta EthnikiFootball League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the...
: 2009
- Greek Second Division
OFI Crete
OFI Crete
OFI , the Sportfriends Association Heraklion, is a Greek association football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Outside Greece, the club is generally known as OFI Crete F.C., however, the name Crete is not actually part of the club's official title.OFI is the club with most...
-
- Greek Second DivisionBeta EthnikiFootball League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the...
, third place: 2011
- Greek Second Division