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Daniel Batista

Daniel Batista is a former football forward whose career in Greece spanned the 1987 through 2001 seasons.

Batista was born on September 9, 1964, in the Cabo Verde islands off the coast of Africa and came to Greece as a European, having acquired first Portuguese and later Dutch citizenship. Batista's uncle, Noni Lima, already had a successful career in Greece at Panionios.

Batista played for Ethnikos Piraeus from 1987 until 1989 when he moved to AEK. At AEK, Batista established himself as one of the better forwards of the Greek league, earning himself the nickname "the Gulitt of Greece".

After the 1992 season, Batista made the jump to Olympiakos at a time when the Piraeus club was rebuilding through acquiring much AEK talent (Refik Sabanadzovic, Alekos Alexandris and coach Dusan Bajevic).

He returned to AEK in 1995 and stayed there until the end of the 1999 season when he transferred to Aris Thessaloniki.

Batista retired after the 2001 season. Having acquired Greek citizenship, Batista played for the National Football Team of Greece - the first black man to do so.

After his playing days were over, Batista coached Diagoras Rhodes.

See Also