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Takis Loukanidis (Greek: Τάκης Λουκανίδης, 25 September 1937 – 11 January 2018) was a Greek footballer of the 1950s–60s.

Career

Born in Paranesti, a village in the broader area of Drama, Loukanidis' father was killed by Bulgarian armed forces and soon after he was placed in an orphanage at age 10.[1] He began playing football with the youth side of AEK Komotini, and joined the senior team of Doxa Drama F.C. in 1955.[1]

He soon attracted the interest of major clubs in Greece and abroad, including Juventus FC[2] Finally, Antonis Mantzevelakis brought him to Panathinaikos via APOEL in Cyprus. Takis Loukanidis made his debut on 28 March 1962 against AEK Athens (score: 2-3). In the following match, on 1 April 1962, he scored his first goal with Panathinaikos, helping them beat Proodeftiki 5–0.[3] He ended his career at Aris Thessaloniki, where he won the Greek Cup in 1970.

Loukanidis made 23 appearances and scored three goals for the Greece national team from 1958 to 1967. He made his debut in a 1-7 1960 European Nations' Cup qualifying defeat to France on 1 October 1958.[4]

Death

Loukanidis died on 11 January 2018 in Athens due to a myocardial infarction.[5] He was 80.

Panathinaikos released a statement on their official website, paying tribute:

It is a sad day for the Panathinaikos family, as Takis (Neotakis) Loukanidis, one of the club’s legendary figures, passed away in his 81st year. Takis Loukanidis, perhaps one of Greece’s leading footballers of all time, remains a symbol for the history of Panathinaikos and Greek football in general. In his great career, alongside Panathinaikos, Loukanidis wore the shirt of Doxa Dramas and Aris Thessaloniki and of course the national team. Loukanidis won the respect and recognition of both players and fans.[6][7]

Honours

Doxa Dramas

  • Greek Cup: 1958 (runner-up), 1959 (runner-up)

Panathinaikos

Aris

References

  1. ^ a b Kolokotsios, Lambros (10 May 2009). Αθλητικοί Φάκελοι (Λουκανίδης) [Sporting Capsules (Loukanidis)] (in Greek). Evrytania News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011.
  2. ^ "Τάκης Λουκανίδης: Ο άνθρωπος που ζούσε πάντα μέσα στον θάνατο (Pics & vid) | Gazzetta".
  3. ^ "PLAYER: Takis Loukanidis". Eu-football.info. 25 September 1937. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  4. ^ Mastrogiannopoulos, Alexander (25 September 2004). "Greece - International Matches 1948-1960". RSSSF.
  5. ^ "Πέθανε ο "αήττητος" Τάκης Λουκανίδης! (Pics & vid) | Gazzetta".
  6. ^ O σπουδαίος άνθρωπος και αθλητής, Τάκης Λουκανίδης που έμαθε να επιβιώνει στα δύσκολα
  7. ^ Πανελλήνια συγκίνηση στο τελευταίο αντίο στον Λουκανίδη
  • Loukanidis, Takis; Patsis, Haris S.; Patsis, Haris Tzo (2004). Εγώ, ο Τάκης Λουκανίδης [I, Takis Loukanidis]. Center for European Publications. p. 304. ISBN 978-960-7988-55-3.

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