Kleanthis Maropoulos

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Born in Tuzla, Asia Minor, in 1919, Kleanthis Maropoulos was arguably the best player of his period (late pre-WW II - early post WW II era) known affectionately as the "Blond Eagle of AEK". Led by Maropoulos, alongside players like Tzanetis and Negrepontis, AEK won their first two championships in 1939 and 1940. Unfortunately, the glory years of AEK and Maropoulos were interrupted by the Second World War. Maropoulos continued his career after the war and played until the late 1940's. He was capped 10 times by Greece. He subsequently managed the Greek National Team in the early 1960's before retiring altogether from football to manage his sporting goods stores. He died in 1991.