Alketas Panagoulias

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Alketas Panagoulias (left) with Phantis' own Lazarus Sismanis in Atlantic City, NJ (2002)

Alketas ("Alkis") Panagoulias (30 May 1934 - 18 June 2012) was a Greek football player and coach.

Panagoulias played his football for Aris Thessaloniki, in the 1950s, part of that time as captain of his team. After his University studies, he moved to the United States in the early 1960s, where he attended more University in New York and coached the New York Greek Americans to three consecutive US Open Cup titles in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

He returned to Greece as the assistant coach of the Greek National Football Team, under the famous Northern Ireland coach Billy Bingham, in 1972. The following year, he became head coach of the Greek team, leading Greece to the Euro 1980 finals, in Italy.

Panagoulias then coached Olympiakos from 1981 - 1983, earning the championship title in 1982 and 1983. He left in 1983 to take on the US national team (from 1983 until 1985).

Panagoulias returned to Greece to once more coach Olympiakos, earning the championship title in 1986 and 1987. Afterwards, he coached Aris from 1987 - 1990, returning to the Greek National Football Team in 1992.

Panagoulias led the team to its first appearance in a World Cup final in 1994, however, he soon afterwards was forced to resign after a despirited, dismal performance by the national team in the US, amid much criticism from his players - especially Stelios Manolas - for his handling of the entire situation.

Panagoulias later coached Iraklis Thessaloniki (1996 - 1998) and Aris (1998 - 1999).

He was later elected member of the city council of Thessaloniki and stood for the Greek Parliament under the banner of New Democracy.

Panagoulias died in Virginia, USA, on June 18, 2012.

References

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