Greek soccer legend and former South Melbourne star Kostas Nestoridis dies

·

The Greek soccer legend Kostas Nestoridis has died at the age of 93.

Well known as one of the best strikers at AEK Athens and in Greek football, Nestoridis died in Athens on Tuesday, December 12.

Born in Drama, Northern Greece on March 15, 1930, Nestoridis was the youngest of three children who came from a Pontian background.

In 1955, he played for Panionios FC. Although he had been offered a contract with two major Greek football teams, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, he rejected their offers to play for AEK, which links back to his refugee origins.

He signed the contract with AEK in 1957, where he played eight seasons with them. In his career, he achieved winning a Greek Championship playing for Greece’s national team, and winning the Greek Cup in 1964 for AEK.

Just over 10 years later, in 1966, Nestoridis moved to Australia in search for a better life and a more complete professional rehabilitation. He then signed a contract as a player-coach for South Melbourne Hellas.

Nestoridis was a key player in the South Melbourne team that won the league in 1966 and is still regarded by many as one of the best players to wear the Hellas shirt.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Latest News

Alex Papps marks 20 years on Play School

A special exhibition celebrating 60 years of the iconic children’s television program Play School has opened in Melbourne.

Parthenon Marbles advocate inspires Oakleigh Grammar’s Year 12 students

Oakleigh Grammar was honoured to host respected Greek Australian community leader, Emanuel Comino.

Balance the Scales: What it will actually take to end gendered violence

Each year, International Women’s Day gives us a theme. This year, the United Nations has called on us to “Balance the Scales.”

It’s International Women’s Day, but let’s hear from the men fighting patriarchy

Encouragingly, there is also a growing group of men within the community who are choosing a different path.

‘Back yourself’: Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson on a life in law and breaking barriers

Raised between Queensland and Sydney, she learned from a young age what it meant to stand slightly outside the mainstream.

You May Also Like

Sydney hosts world’s first celebration of International Greek Language Day

Sydney made global history on Monday, February 9, becoming the first city in the world to officially celebrate World Greek Language Day.

House of 18th century Souliote chief Lambros Tzavelas opens as museum

Lambros Tzavelas was a hero of the Balkan wars and a leading figure in the Souliote resistance against Ottoman rule in the late 18th century.

Australia bushfires: Dozens of houses destroyed or damaged

Scores of blazes burned across the state and neighbouring Queensland on Tuesday as temperatures climbed as high as 40C (104F) in some areas. Authorities said...