Alketas ("Alkis") Panagoulias (Greek: Αλκέτας Παναγούλιας) (born 30 May 1934) is a Greek, former association football player and manager. He managed the national teams of both Greece and the United States. He also manages several clubs, including Olympiacos, whom he managed to three Alpha Ethniki championships.
- Alketas started his football career as a player for Aris Thessaloniki F.C. [1] in Thessaloniki, Greece. After his University studies, he moved to the United States, where he attended more University in New York City. There he coached the Greek American Atlas (former "New York Greek Americans") to three consecutive U.S. Open Cup titles in 1967, 1968, and 1969. He returned to Athens, Greece as the assistant coach of the Greece national football team, under the famous Northern Ireland coach Billy Bingham, in 1972. In the next year, he became Head Coach of the Greek National Football team [2]. He coached the Greek team [2] from 1973–1981, including the first appearance of Greece in the Euro of 1980, in Italy. That remained the only time Greece had qualified for the Euro tournament until 2004, when they won the championship. He coached the famous Olympiacos C.F.P. [3] from 1981–1983, earning the championship title in 1982 and 1983. He returned to the United States to become the Head Coach of the United States men's national soccer team, Team America, based in Washington, DC, RFK Stadium, from 1983 - 1985. He served as Head coach of the United States Olympic Soccer team in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He subsequently returned to Athens, Greece to coach Olympiacos C.F.P., earning the championship title in 1987. He also coached Aris FC from 1987- 1990. He returned as Head Coach of the Greek National Football team in 1992 [2] and led the team to its first appearance in a World Cup in 1994.
Following his retirement from coaching, Panagoulias served as President of Aris Thessaloniki F.C. in 2002. During the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, he served as venue manager for the soccer events held in Athens. His biography, was published in Greece in November 2007.
[edit] Family
- Father of two: Daughter Despina and son John
[edit] Other information
- Elected member of the city council of Thessaloniki
- Was a candidate for the Greek Parliament
- Was a candidate for the European Parliament representing Greece
- Is a FIFA instructor
- National Faculty member of the US Academy of Sports
- Member of the USA Soccer Federation Hall of Fame
- Member of the USSF Coaches Council
- Now Resides in Virginia
[edit] External links
[edit] References