Top five international sports stars to come out of Greece
When it comes to thinking about the geographical origins of some of the world’s leading sporting stars, it’s unlikely that Greece is top of your list of places to consider. This isn’t necessarily the case in other parts of the world: areas in Latin America are famous for footballers, for example, while the US is of course the historic home of NFL and other major sports.
But Greece certainly does have its fair share of sports stars. From athletes like Anna Korakaki to football stars like Theodoros Zagorakis, this Southern Mediterranean country has long since been a hive of sporting activity. This blog post will explore some of the stories of top Greek players, and look at just what made them so famous.
Anna Korakaki
Anyone who enjoys a bit of app-based sports betting from time to time will know that Greece is a hotbed for athletics. In fact, this is something that anyone with some knowledge of history will remember. The Olympics, of course, originated in Greece – and so in many ways, it’s fitting that the likes of Anna Korakaki, who is a top athlete, come from the nation.
Korakaki is a shooter who started competing properly when she was 8 years old. She first made a splash in the 2004 Olympics when she managed to secure a gold medal for her home nation, and she later went on to join the Orion shooting club, which is based in the Greek city of Thessaloniki. In March 2020, she managed to secure another fantastic achievement by becoming the first ever woman Olympian in the relay to bear the Olympic Torch.
Theodoros Zagorakis - The Underdog That Beat The Sportsbooks
When it comes to Greek football, meanwhile, few are as well known as Theodoros Zagorakis. Zagorakis has managed to secure achievements all across Europe as well as in his home country. The midfielder was part of the team that took Leicester City in the UK to victory in the League Cup back in the year 2000, for example.
But he was also able to take his national side to victory, beating odds of up to 80 to 1 set by big online casinos and sports betting companies such as bet365. He was captain in 2004 when Greece - against all odds - did far better than expected at the Euro championships – and for that achievement, he was even able to take home the prestigious Player of the Tournament title, which was awarded to him by UEFA.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Ask anyone outside the world of basketball if they know of Giannis Antetokounmpo and it’s not clear whether they’d say yes. But within the world of basketball, this player is a star. He was born in Athens, but has since gone on to have a major career in the US as a top player for the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the National Basketball Association (or NBA for short). He has been given the prestigious designation of Most Valuable Player in the NBA on two occasions now – so he is clearly on the up.
Katerina Stefanidi
Returning to the athletics theme means looking at the life and achievements of Katerina Stefanidi, who is a pole vaulter from Greece known for securing bags of medals. Back in the 2016 Olympics, she managed to secure a gold medal after she made a jump of 4.85 metres. This came after a mixed bag of performances in the years running up to the achievement: she managed, for example, to score highly in the European Outdoor and Diamond Leagues in the latter half of the decade.
Traianos Dellas
Finally, it’s important to note that the world of Greek football isn’t just limited to the likes of Zagorakis – even if he is indeed one of the world’s best-known Greek players. Competitors like Traianos Dellas are also top class, and deserve some space of their own to have their achievements remembered.
This player, who was active in the early 2000s, managed to score 53 caps – making him a hero for many Greek football fans. He, like Zagorakis, played across Europe as well as for the national team: he has had stints at teams like Sheffield United in the UK, and Perugia and Roma in Italy. He was also one of the contributors to Greece’s amazing showing at the 2004 Euros.
It’s clearly wise, then, to not write off Greece when it comes to sports of all varieties – including athletics, football and more. With sports stars like Katerina Stefanidi, Traianos Dellas and Giannis Antetokounmpo coming out of the country, it has been well established that Greece is just as much in the top flight of international sports as many other countries are.
The Joker and The Odds Beater - The Greek National Team 2004
UEFA Euro 2004 was won by Greece - will we ever forget? The guys on that miracle team took Europe by storm after winning in the final against a Portuguese team which included stars such as; Luis Figo and a very young Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sports Betting: The Odds Were Not in Their Favour
The team was one of the least tipped to take home the trophy. Overcoming odds 80 to 1 on online betting sites such as Ladbrokes, bet365 and bwin. They turned the game in their favour beating a side that was clear favourites with world class footballers at their disposal. This just shows that team spirit, great teamplay and the will to win can be just as important as honed skills and superstars in your roster.
