Greek football mourns: “Gone” is Nikos Sarganis

Poorer Greek football, as it lost one of its greatest legends. THE Nikos Sarganis passed away in the early hours of Sunday, in his 70sin a private hospital in Athens (“Erikos Dunan”), where he was hospitalized with rapidly deteriorating health after a battle with cancer.

THE Nikos Sarganis was born on January 13, 1954 and was considered by many to be the best Greek goalkeeper.

It was shown by Elysianbecame famous through the Kastoria with which he won the Cup by defeating Iraklis 5-2 in the final in 1980.

His great career in the “eternals” followed. Initially in Olympicfrom 1980 to 1985, where he celebrated three championships (1981, 1982, 1983) and a Cup (1981) and then in Panathinaikosfrom 1985 to 1990, with two more championships (1986, 1990) and three Cups (1986, 1988, 1989). In fact, in the final of 1988 he put his stamp, as in the final against Olympiakos he saved two penalties and hit one.

At the age of 36, in 1990, he moved to Athenian and proved that it remains in excellent condition. Byron’s team finished sixth in the league, reached the Cup final losing to Panathinaikos, while in the 1991/92 season they shone in the first round of the Cup Winners’ Cup, where Athenaikos held the “red devils” to 0-0 in both 90 minutes, but down 2-0 in overtime.

He has been a member since 1980 National teamwith which he counted 58 appearances. He made his debut on 15 October 1980 in a 1-0 victory over Denmark in the 1982 World Cup qualifiers, where the Danish press called him a “phantom” for his… flights with the blinds down. A nickname that followed him for the rest of his career.

After his retirement from active action, Nikos Sarganis pursued a coaching career, as he held a diploma of football coach A’ and goalkeeper trainer in the training team of UEFA. In the parliamentary elections of May and June 2023, he was placed in tenth place on the State ballot of PASOK-KINAL.

He himself had spoken in one of his last interviews about the love and respect he managed to gain from both “eternals”. “It is not easy to separate these two groups. They loved me in both clubs and I respected them, that’s why I’m walking around right now and there’s total respect on my face».

“This dream, this journey, because it ended with the best omens for me, I want to leave it where it is placed. I’ve never said I want to get back on the field and there’s never been a game I’ve said I wish I could play again. I don’t regret anything, God gave me everything generously, but I also proved to him that I deserved it“, he had declared.