Takis Loukanidis
One of the longest lasting transfer serials in the history of Greek football was Panathinaikos' acquiring of Takis Loukanidis from the team of Doxa Drama. Doxa Drama was probably the best regional team in Greece for many decades. At the end of the 50s - beginning of 60s Doxa Drama had coincidentally recruited some of the greatest talents of those times. First in the row was Takis Loukanidis, born in Paranesti, a village in the broader area of Drama on September 25 1937, who played with AEK Komotini and Doxa Drama. He was claimed by all Greek football teams, by some Italian teams, by Fenerbahce and also by some Cypriot teams. Finally, Antonis Mantzevelakis brought him to Panathinaikos, via the Cypriot APOEL. Takis Loukanidis made his debut on the 28th of March, 1962 at the game with ΑΕΚ (score:3-2 in favour of PAO), while on the following game he scored his first goal with PAO. It was on the April 1 and PAO beat Proodeftiki 5-0.
Loukanidis sat out most of the 1967 season due to the dispute of six Panathinaikos players with their coach, Stjepan Bobek. He returned later in the year.
Takis Loukanidis ended his career with Aris Thessaloniki. He was capped 23 times by the National Football Team of Greece, scoring 3 goals.