The news of Nikos Antoniadis’ death has spread sadness in Greek volleyball. At the age of 74 he breathed his last and impoverished Greek volleyball.

He was an important member of the national team for many years, he was the first Greek to go abroad and, for many, the leading offensive player in the history of sport in our country.

The corresponding announcement of EOPE in detail: “Another great loss for Greek Volleyball as Nikos Antoniadis ‘passed away’ today, Sunday 9th October.

Two days after the loss of Dimitris Gaidatzis, a former teammate of his died, spreading grief throughout the volleyball world.

At the age of 74, the great glory of Greek volleyball – and for many the leading striker of all time – and the first Greek athlete to go abroad (from Herakles to Racing Paris) lost the great ‘battle’.

Nikos Antoniadis was the leading Greek volleyball player of that time, he started volleyball at Thessaloniki 6th High School with the late teacher Xenophon Kalogeropoulos to become captain of Heracles and the national team.

He was a member of the “Blue-White” team from 1967 to 1978 and made more than 200 appearances. In France he won three championships in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

He left behind his wife and two children. 37-year-old Alexander and 31-year-old Aristoteli. Graduated from EASA (formerly TEFAA) and INSEP (Higher Coaching of France) and from the Universities of Nanterre, René De Cartes, Saint Denis and Geneva in Sociology.

He was a lecturer in sports pedagogy and sports psychology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He had written books as a resource for the university.

The Hellenic Volleyball Federation Board of Directors sends its condolences to the family of the deceased.”