Takis Ikonomopoulos
Encyclopedia
Panagiotis "Takis" Ikonomopoulos is a former football (soccer)
goalkeeper from Greece
.
In 1964, a month after coach Stjepan Bobek
arrived at Panathinaikos
, Takis Ikonomopoulos was transferred to Panathinaikos from Proodeftiki
. He was nicknamed "The Bird" after his impressive flings and had a glorious career wearing the colors of PAO
.
While playing for Panathinaikos
, he managed to keep the opponents from scoring for 1,088 minutes (in a span of 13 consecutive games - a record for Greece which he still holds!). He kept a clean slate from 17 January 1965 until 9 May 1965 - when he was finally beaten. Takis Ikonomopoulos' places him in spot number 19 in the World's Top Division Goalkeepers of all time with the longest Time without conceding a Goal (the second highest for Greece, ranking at world spot 38 is Vasilis Konstantinou
of Panathinaikos who went 988' without giving up a goal 30 December 1979 - 16 March 1980).
He played for Panathinaikos
at 1971 European Cup Final
.
Ikonomopoulos had set up a gym at home and used to put extra hours of training there. One of the boys who used to hang out and watch the bird train was Giannis Kyrastas
.
Besides Proodeftiki and Panathinaikos, Ikonomopoulos also played for Apollon Athens and Panachaiki
.
After retiring as a football player, he went on to work with Panathinaikos as a goalkeeping coach.
In 2002, Takis Ikonomopoulos became responsible for coaching Panathinaikos' first team during the four last matches of the season -- after coach Sergio Markarian
had been barred from entering any stadium for 40 days following an incident with Olympiakos Piraeus FC.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper from Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
In 1964, a month after coach Stjepan Bobek
Stjepan Bobek
Stjepan Bobek was a football striker from Yugoslavia, and later a football manager. An ethnic Croat, Bobek started playing at a very young age and had spells with several clubs in Zagreb but is mainly remembered for his time at the Serbian side Partizan Belgrade, where he moved to following the...
arrived at 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...
, Takis Ikonomopoulos was transferred to Panathinaikos from Proodeftiki
Proodeftiki FC
Proodeftiki FC is an historical Greek sports club based at Korydallos. The club was established in 1927.Today it has a football club playing in the Greek Fourth Division, and basketball and volleyball teams playing at regional tournaments....
. He was nicknamed "The Bird" after his impressive flings and had a glorious career wearing the colors of PAO
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...
.
While playing 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...
, he managed to keep the opponents from scoring for 1,088 minutes (in a span of 13 consecutive games - a record for Greece which he still holds!). He kept a clean slate from 17 January 1965 until 9 May 1965 - when he was finally beaten. Takis Ikonomopoulos' places him in spot number 19 in the World's Top Division Goalkeepers of all time with the longest Time without conceding a Goal (the second highest for Greece, ranking at world spot 38 is Vasilis Konstantinou
Vasilis Konstantinou
Vasilis Konstantinou was a Greek football goalkeeper whose career spanned three decades: the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.Konstantinou was born in 1947 and played for Panathinaikos' youth team before becoming Takis Oikonomopoulos' backup and understudy...
of Panathinaikos who went 988' without giving up a goal 30 December 1979 - 16 March 1980).
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...
.
Ikonomopoulos had set up a gym at home and used to put extra hours of training there. One of the boys who used to hang out and watch the bird train was Giannis Kyrastas
Ioannis Kyrastas
Ioannis Kyrastas was a Greek footballer and football manager.- Club career :Kyrastas was born in Piraeus and started his career in Olympiacos, where he played his first game in 10 December 1972 against Kavala...
.
Besides Proodeftiki and Panathinaikos, Ikonomopoulos also played for Apollon Athens and Panachaiki
Panachaiki
Panachaiki, known officially as Panachaiki GE , the Pan-Achaean Athletic Union, is a Greek multisport club based in the city of Patras, Greece.- History :...
.
After retiring as a football player, he went on to work with Panathinaikos as a goalkeeping coach.
In 2002, Takis Ikonomopoulos became responsible for coaching Panathinaikos' first team during the four last matches of the season -- after coach Sergio Markarian
Sergio Markarián
Sergio Apraham Markarián is a Uruguayan-Armenian football coach. Currently, he is the head coach of the national football team of Peru.-Early life:...
had been barred from entering any stadium for 40 days following an incident with Olympiakos Piraeus FC.