Greek football said goodbye to Nestorides

The AEK family, and not just all of Greek football, is mourning the death of Kostas Nestoridis on Tuesday morning (12/12), with several Super League teams, including Panathinaikos, PAOK and Aris, as well as EPO making announcements with Super League news on social media .

Panathinaikos’ announcement states:

“PAE Panathinaikos expresses its deepest condolences on the loss of one of the leading footballers in the history of Greek football, Kostas Nestoridis, who passed away at the age of 93.

The deceased played for almost 30 years, wearing the jerseys of Panioni, AEK, Hella Melbourne, Byzantium Megaron and Ayantas Salamina, but also honored the national team jersey, leaving his mark on Greek football.”

PAOK joins in mourning the death of Kostas Nestoridis and expressed its condolences to his family with a message on social media.

“PAE PAOK expresses its sadness at the loss of the great Kostas Nestoridis. His value and unparalleled ethos have already placed him in the pantheon of football greats. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones…”

At the same time, Aris noted in an official announcement:

“PAE ARIS expresses its sincere condolences to the AEK family on the loss of Kostas Nestoridis, who passed away today.

The deceased was one of the greatest figures in Greek football and left a strong mark on the history of the sport. Heartfelt condolences to his family. May he have a good heaven.

Super League also made an announcement highlighting the following:

“Together, the Super League football family expresses its deep sadness and extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the late Kostas Nestoridis.”

Of course, the EPO also made an announcement that Kostas Nestoridis honored the national band with his presence. In its announcement, the EPO states:

“One of the greats of Greek football, the legendary Kostas Nestoridis, has died at the age of 93. The President of the Hellenic Football Association, Panagiotis Baltakos, the Executive Secretary Iakovos Philippoussis and the members of the Executive Committee extend their sincere condolences to the family and his loved ones.

“Nestoras” was an iconic player for AEK and Greek football in the 1950s and 1960s, which has been symbolically captured as his photo is one of four that adorn the pillars of their new group of stadiums.

Attacker with great technical training, what the commentators of his time called “virtuosos”. Fast, excellent dribbler and above all a great goalscorer.

Originally from Pontius, he was born in Drama on March 15, 1930 and moved to Athens during the German occupation. He started playing football in Moschato Greece, continued his career at Panionios and from 1955 at AEK, where he played in official games two years later due to the regulations of the time.

His great decade at AEK followed, as from 1957 to 1966 he scored 228 goals in all competitions with the Union and was the top scorer in the Greek League for five years in a row, from 1959 to 1963. He scored many goals with direct corner kicks, he scored a five-point shot and a frame and 12 (!) hat tricks. In 1963 he celebrated the championship with AEK, while he also worked as a coach for his favorite team in the 1983/84 season.

Kostas Nestoridis has an important role in the Greek national team. At a time when there were few national team games, he played 17 times for the national team in eleven years and scored three goals. His debut came in 1951 in a match against France in Marseille under coach Antonis Miyakis and the last was the friendly match against Ethiopia at the New Philadelphia stadium under coach Tryphon Tzaneti (1962), a game in which he scored one of the three goals with the National.

Greek football sends him off with emotion as one of the greatest footballers it has ever produced. Rest in peace”.

For his part, Volos wrote in a related announcement:

“PAE Volos expresses its sadness over the death of veteran footballer and AEK legend Kostas Nestoridis and extends its heartfelt condolences to his family. Rest in peace”.