Sakis Zarzopoulos

Sakis Zarzopoulos
Personal information
Full name Αthanasios Zarzopoulos
Date of birth (1949-12-15) 15 December 1949
Place of birth Serres, Greece
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1969–1973 Panserraikos 81 (11)
1973–1977 AEK Athens 69 (11)
1977–1978 OFI 32 (2)
1978–1979 Panserraikos 11 (0)
Total 193 (24)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sakis Zarzopoulos (Greek: Σάκης Ζαρζόπουλος; born 15 December 1949) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Zarzopoulos began football at a professional level in 1969 at his hometown club, Panserraikos, where he was quickly established as a key player in their defense. He competed in all positions of defense, as he possessed both the strength and agility required for a centre-back, as well as the technical ability and speed required for the positions of side backs, while his physical and technical skills gave him the opportunity to score several times. In the summer of 1973, he attracted the interest of both Olympiacos and AEK Athens. In the end, AEK managed to sign him, including in their offer the acquisition of his teammate, Spyros Stefanidis, as well.[1][2]

In the yellow-blacks he was used as the solution to cover any defensive gap that appeared in the squad. On 29 October 1973, he scored a brace that helped AEK get the victory by 1–2 over Ethnikos Piraeus at Karaiskakis Stadium. He was a part of the squad that reached to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1977.[3]

On 3 August 1977 Zarzopoulos moved to OFI,[4] where he played for a season, before returning to Panserraikos. In the summer of 1979, after the relegation of the club to the second division, he ended his career.[5]

Managerial career

After the end of his career as a footballer, he became involved in coaching, usually working in teams in the local division of Serres, with the last club of his career being Visaltikos Nigritas.

Honours

Panserraikos

References

  1. ^ "Σπ. Στεφανίδης: "Εμείς είχαμε παράγοντες που αγαπούσαν τον Πανσερραϊκό"". ertnews.gr. 9 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Πανσερραικός- 50 χρόνια ζωής". sertharros.gr.
  3. ^ "Όταν η ΑΕΚ ήταν… ΑΕΚάρα! Η πορεία μέχρι τα ημιτελικά του Κυπέλλου UEFA". 16 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Ο ΟΦΗ πήρε Ζαρζόπουλο και Λιόλιο". Athletic Echo (in Greek). 4 August 1977. p. 1.
  5. ^ "Θανάσης Ζαρζόπουλος". aekpedia.com.