View source for Kostas Nestoridis

[[Image:Kostas-Nestoridis.jpg|thumb|250px|Kostas Nestoridis]]
[[Image:Kostas_Nestoridis_GR_WDE.jpg|thumb|250px|In a 1960 appearance with the Greek National team against West Germany.]]Born in [[Drama]], eastern [[Macedonia]], [[Greece]], of [[Pontus|Pontian]] heritage on [[March 15]], [[1930]], '''Kostas Nestoridis''' is still widely regarded as one of the best forwards Greece has ever produced.

Nestoridis moved with his family to [[Kallithea]], [[Athens]] at a very early age. His football career officially started at [[Panionios FC|Panionios]] where he played until [[1955]]. Prior to that he played for local club Ellas [[Moschato]] under an assumed name.
He began his illustrious career at [[AEK FC|AEK]] in [[1957]], having sat out the [[1956]] season, as [[Panionios FC|Panionios]] refused to negotiate his transfer to "Enosis".

'''''Kapetan Nestoras''''' started paying dividends almost immediately by winning top scorer honours in Greece for five consecutive seasons from 1958 - 1963 (the last regional championship played and the first four national competitions). Over all, he scored 224 goals in 250 matches for [[AEK FC|AEK]]. He played for them until [[1966]] at which point he joined newly-promoted [[Vyzas Megara FC]] for one year before retiring.

He took a "sabbatical" from the [[Football A Division|Greek League]] in [[1965]] to play for South Melbourne Hellas where, at age 35, he won top scorer honours yet again, helping the club to the Victoria state league title. 

He debuted for the Greek [[National Football Team]] in [[1951]] and won 17 caps for his country, scoring 3 goals.

After his playing career was over, Nestoridis coached several clubs including [[Paniliakos FC]], [[Kallithea FC|Kallithea]] and AEK ([[1982]] and [[1983]]).

He died on [[December 12]], [[2023]], at the age of 93.

There is a book currently being written on the history of Greek-Australian soccer teams. It is a collection of mini-histories of some 100 past and present soccer clubs with Nestoridis featured in the history of the South Melbourne Hellas Soccer Club. Nestoridis won the [[1966]] Victorian State League championship for South Melbourne Hellas with his goalscoring exploits. He was a magnificent footballer with silky skills who troubled many defenders in [[1966]]. He is still considered as the best Greek forward in a one-on-one situation with a keeper and frequently scored directly from corner kicks.

==Scoring record==
Nestoridis won top scoring honours 5 years in succession:

*[[1959 Football Championship|1959]] - 21 goals
*[[1960 Football Championship|1960]] - 33 goals
*[[1961 Football Championship|1961]] - 27 goals
*[[1962 Football Championship|1962]] - 29 goals
*[[1963 Football Championship|1963]] - 23 goals

== See also ==
* [[Football: All Time Scorers]]
* [[Football Top Scorers (pre-1960)]]
* [[Football A Division Top Scorers]]

[[Category: 1930 births|Nestoridis, Kostas]]
[[Category: 2023 deaths|Nestoridis, Kostas]]
[[Category:Football Players|Nestoridis, Kostas]]
[[Category:Football Coaches|Nestoridis, Kostas]]