Theodoros Zagorakis

Theodoros Zagorakis (Θεόδωρος Ζαγοράκης ; born 27 October 1971) is a Greek politician and former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

He started his career with Kavala in 1988, the club that also produced Zisis Vryzas, with whom he became close friends.

He was an important part of helping the team get into the Beta Ethniki.

In the 1992–93 season, Zagorakis left Kavala as a winter transfer to join PAOK, part of a string of star transfers made that season.

He rarely missed a league derby and scored important goals, particularly in 1994–95 when he struck four, his best-ever tally.

Zagorakis received his first cap for Greece on 7 September 1994, against the Faroe Islands.

He played for PAOK until December 1997, and also captained the squad in his last two seasons.

Zagorakis left for English club Leicester City the following winter and signed for Martin O'Neill's side in 1998.

While in England, he took part in two consecutive League Cup finals at Wembley Stadium, losing the first against Tottenham Hotspur in 1999 and defeating Tranmere Rovers in the second, though he was an unused substitute in the latter.

Zagorakis will always be fondly known by Leicester fans for his sheer determination in midfield and also his goalkeeping cameo against Crystal Palace, in a 3–3 draw, where he went in goal after Pegguy Arphexad and then Tim Flowers went off injured.

Zagorakis was disappointed with Leicester manager Martin O'Neill's reluctance to use him regularly and decided to return to Greece in 2000.

He moved to AEK Athens, and played alongside fellow countrymen such as Michalis Kapsis, Vasilios Lakis, Demis Nikolaidis and Vasilios Tsiartas.

He formed an excellent duo in midfield with both Akis Zikos and Kostas Katsouranis, helping with his game in the defensive part and also in the organization of the offense, where he also competed at times as a captain.

A goal with AEK was against Inter Milan at Giuseppe Meazza with a great shot for the round of 16 of the UEFA Cup.

With AEK, Zagorakis won the Greek Cup in 2002 against rivals Olympiacos.

Zagorakis, during his last season in AEK, has accepted a reduced pay-off which is reported to be £220,000."He showed he genuinely has the club's best interests at heart and is free to take up any of the great offers from teams abroad," said a club statement.

He was the captain of Greece that won UEFA Euro 2004, and was also captain and later president of PAOK.

He was named the Greek Male Athlete of the Year in 2004.

In the summer of 2004, having the best moment of his career at the Euro in Portugal and with AEK in a difficult administrative situation, he left the team.

On 14 July 2004, he left AEK Athens for Bologna, signing a two-year contract worth €1.5 million per year.

Zagorakis–who was voted player of the tournament in Portugal–was released by AEK Athens and joined Bologna on a Bosman free transfer.

"Zagorakis is our Greek Baggio", Bologna owner Giuseppe Gazzoni Frascara told the newspaper.

In 2004–05, Zagorakis was a regular feature in the squad, but the team found itself relegated to Serie B after a play-out series against Parma.

In the following summer, he was released from the team as they couldn't afford his payroll under the new conditions.

He earned his 100th against Kazakhstan on 17 November 2004, and was the team's longest-serving captain.

Zagorakis played an important role in Greece's win in the 2004 European Championships, and was named the Player of the Tournament by UEFA and consequently he was in the Team of the Tournament.

FIFA named Zagorakis as a contender for the 2004 FIFA World Player of the Year award (he finished in 17th place alongside Spain's and Real Madrid's legend, Raúl), as well as UEFA named him for the 2004 Ballon d'Or award (he finished in fifth place), behind the likes of Ronaldinho (third place) and Thierry Henry (fourth place).

In 2005, Zagorakis arrived in Thessaloniki to sign a deal with PAOK.

The midfielder was released by Bologna following the Italian team's relegation from Serie A, and rejoined one of his old clubs.

Zagorakis eventually signed a two-year contract with PAOK for €700,000 a year.

When Zagorakis landed at Makedonia Airport in Thessaloniki, 7,000 supporters were there to welcome him back.

His return however coincided with a turbulent period, with the club many financial and administrative problems.

He scored his first goal against Denmark in 2006 World Cup qualifying, in Athens, while earning his 101st cap.

He holds the record of most consecutive matches (57) (except one in 2006 because of injury) of the national team (due to either injury or not selection) since his first cap in a period of 12 years.

After 12 full playing years as the captain for Greece, Zagorakis announced his retirement from international football on 5 October 2006.

On 28 May 2007, after the fifth Greek Super League All-Star Game, Zagorakis announced his retirement from professional football.

Numbering 120 caps, Zagorakis was Greece's all-time leader in international games played until 12 October 2012, when Giorgos Karagounis made his 121st appearance for the national team.

He was elected as a Greek MEP at the May 2014 European Parliament election.

He was also the president of the HFF from March to September 2021.

Zagorakis was a central midfielder who could also play on the right side of midfield.