Nikos Petzaropoulos

Nikos Petzaropulos (Greek: Νίκος Πετζαρόπουλος; 17 January 1927 – 29 March 1979) was a Greece international footballer who played as a goalkeeper, mainly for Panionios. He earned the nickname "Hero of Tampere", after a legendary performance with Greek Olympic team in a match that took place in the city of Tampere in Finland during the Summer Olympic Games in 1952.^[1]

Club career[]

Early years and distinction[]

Nikos Petzaropulos was born on 14 January 1927 in Kallithea where he began playing soccer for the local Keravnos at 1940. In 1943 he joined Panionios at the age of 16. He was discovered by the goalkeeping coach of the "red and blues", Giorgos Roussopoulos which he realized on the moment that Petzaropoulos is a rare talent. Soon enough, young Nikos established to first team and in 1948 he was called to the national team for the first time.

Every Sunday, he was giving a worth seeing performance with his exceptional reflexes, his ability to save the ball and his successive interceptions on penalty kicks making the supporters delirious. A characteristic is from an incident from a match at Karaiskaki Stadium against Olympiacos. Petzaropoulos shoots from the box, but due to the strong opposing wind, the ball reaches at the middle of the field. Andreas Mouratis of Olympiakos, which was renowned for his strong shots, unleashes a "thunder shot" sending the ball towards Panionios' goal post. On the 6-yard-line, watching that the ball is passing over him, Petzaropoulos jumps on the air, turns his body 180 degrees, stretches and punches the ball to safety, falling into the nets. The crowd was cheering him for his stunning save and Mouratis runs to him, helps him get up and kisses him.

Inter Milan[]

The magnificent performance, with the national team against Denmark on the 1952 Olympics, was not to be unnoticed. Inter Milan's coach, Alfredo Foni, who was on the stadium was impressed and he suggest him to sign a professional contract at the Italian club. In an age where Greek football's level was completely amateur and footballers had any income at all, the professionalism and the exceptionally high wage that was suggested by Inter made him impressed. After all, Petzaropoulos was not from a wealthy family and he barely made his living.

The dream of a professional career in a European top club made him depart for Milan in August 1952. He signed a professional contract with Inter and started training with the Italian club, hoping that the administration of Panionios would give him his freedom. However, the unexpected departure of his was negatively handled and they didn't give in to the financial exchanges that the Italians were offering. The desirable transfer never took place, even if he stayed almost one year in Italy.

In friendly matches with Inter, Petzaropoulos was also impressive. Indicative of the Italians' adulation for his figure, was an article of an Italian newspaper with a big picture, which was portrays Petzaropoulos on a stunning save, blocking the ball and literally being across the ground and little bit lower than the bar. The title of the article is "The flying goalkeeper" and the caption reads "Petzaropoulos can fly...".

Return to Panionios[]

Nikos Petzaropoulos returned to Greece, disappointed and embittered in 1953. As the press of that time describes, an impressive welcome was given to him on Larissa station and after a while he came back in action with Panionios. He didn't remind of the good old Petzaropoulos, the "flying goalkeeper" who was beloved by all Greeks and disappointed he retired from active football at the young age of 28.

The later years, Petzaropoulos was involved with coaching and after that he coached Panionios' Youth Team. His dream was to establish a goalkeeping school. In a short time before his death Petzaropoulos taught all his secrets to the young Antonis Manikas, which in a few years later praised his teacher after he saved 15 penalties in only 3 years and became an international footballer.

International career[]

Petzaropulos had a total of 11 games with Greece,^[2] and also played in 3 matches against Turkey as Greece All Star. He made his debut as an international on 28 November 1948 in a friendly match against Turkey, entering as a substitute in the second half with his team losing 1–2, and the score staying that way until the end of the match. During the period 1949-1952 Petzaropoulos played 8 matches which all of them were for Friendship Cup of Eastern Mediterranean against Egypt (1-3), Italy B (2-3,0-3), France B (0-1), Syria (8-0) and Turkey (1-2,3-1,1-0).^[3]

Afterwards he was part of Olympic team in 1952 Summer Olympics at Helsinki on Finland, where he made his greatest performance in Tampere. His last match with Greece was on 25 July 1952, after the elimination of the Olympic Tournament, against Great Britain in a 4–2 win.

Hero of Tampere[]

15 July 1952 was a landmark of his career. His 10th international game against the mighty Denmark at the city of Tampere for the Olympic Tournament of 1952 in Helsinki. At the presence of 7.000 people Petzaropoulos makes the greatest game of his career. Springing like a tiger, making a lot of saving interventions against the hammering shots of Dane footballers. Finally, the match ended in a 1–2 defeat for Greece, but Petzaropoulos was cheered by the crowd.

Petzaropoulos was called the "Hero of Tampere" from the Greek journalists who were constantly posting glowing articles dedicated to him. The international press was accordingly encomiastic. "The New Zamora was born" was the title of many European newspapers after the game, comparing him, with the greatest goalkeeper at the time.

Death[]

The curtain closed for Petzaropoulos at 27 March 1979. He died at 52 smitten by an incurable disease, failing to see his favourite team, Panionios, conquering the Greek Cup, after a few months. The sad news were top news all over the country and the sport press was showing long time features. He was mourned by all Greek football fans.

References[]

Sources[]

• Αλέκου Παπαδόπουλου, «ΝΙΚΟΣ ΠΕΝΤΖΑΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ: Ο ήρωας του Τάμπερε».

External links[]

• https://web.archive.org/web/20060716121921/http://www.pgss.gr/
• http://www.panionianea.gr/2012/12/afieroma-pentzaropoulos-panionios.html