Dimitris Saravakos

Dimitris Saravakos

Dimitrios Saravakos in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Dimitrios Saravakos
Date of birth	26 July 1961
Place of birth	Athens, Greece
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Winger, Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Panathinaikos (Strategic Advisor)
Youth career
1977–1979	Panionios
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1979–1984	Panionios	132	(35)
1984–1994	Panathinaikos	252	(125)
1994–1996	AEK Athens	47	(21)
1997–1998	Panathinaikos	2	(0)
Total		433	(181)
National team
1982–1994	Greece	78	(22)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Dimitrios "Dimitris" Saravakos (Greek: Δημήτρης Σαραβάκος) (born 26 July 1961), nicknamed O Μικρός (The Kid) is a Greek former football player, considered to be one of the best Greek football players of all time. He started his career in Panionios and later he moved on to Panathinaikos FC, where Saravakos gained fame and matured as a footballer, evolving into a formidable right winger. After a rejection of a renewal contract offer by Panathinaikos, Saravakos moved to AEK Athens in 1994. He returned and concluded his career in Panathinaikos three years later.

Being a charismatic player he attracted a number of the biggest clubs in Europe. Yet in the early 1990s – prior to the implementation of the ECJ's Bosman ruling – when Juventus had offered him a contract, Panathinaikos' chairman Yiorgos Vardinogiannis rejected the transfer – Saravakos thus lost an opportunity to continue his successful career also in Serie A.

Saravakos won several Super League Championships (formerly, championships) and cups in Greece with Panathinaikos and AEK Athens. He also captained the Greek national team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and brought Panathinaikos to the semi finals of the European Cup in 1985.

Honours

Panathinaikos

• Greek Championship: 1986, 1990, 1991
• Greek Cup: 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994
• Greek Super Cup: 1988, 1993

AEK Athens

• Greek Cup: 1996
• Greek Super Cup: 1996

External links

• UEFA.com's article for Saravakos
• Dimitris Saravakos at National-Football-Teams.com