One of the important figures of Greek football, Christos Zanteroglou, passed away on Saturday, March 4, at the age of 83. Zanteroglou had a great five-year career at Marton Bukovi's Olympiakos, winning two championships and a Cup.

A very dynamic defender and with enormous physical strength, he had been called a "marathon runner". He had played in consecutive games from April 1964 to September 1969, when he suffered a contusion in a match between Olympiakos and PAOK.

Undoubtedly, he was one of the leading Greek footballers of the 60s, but also of the 70s. He played 13 times for the Greek National Team, making his debut, while he was still a football player of Niki Volos. Born in Nea Ionia Volos, he transferred to Olympiakos Piraeus at the age of 25. He established himself immediately, while making an impressive record. From 1964 to 1969 he competed continuously in 165 matches of the First National Team (in a row)! In total, he played in 366 games for the first team and scored 14 goals with Niki Volos, Olympiakos Piraeus, Aegaleo and Atromitos. In September 1969, he suffered a contusion in Olympiakos' game against PAOK and then he was unable to continue his record.

He played for Olympiakos for five years, specifically from 1965 to 1970. He wore the red and white shirt 174 times in all competitions, playing in defense, while scoring six goals. With Olympiacos, he also participated in European competitions, facing teams such as Juventus, West Ham and CSKA Sofia. He won two Greek championships in 1966 and 1967 as a member of the legendary Bukovi team, and also a cup in 1968.

He had not lost a single game during this time, having played in a total of 164 games! He had competed in 13 matches with the Greek National Team. In fact, he had taken part in the huge victory over Eusebio's Portugal in "G. Karaiskakis" in 1968 with 4-2. He worked for many years as a coach up to the second national team. In recent years he suffered from Alzheimer's and lived in an institution.

Good morning Christos

Speaking to TAHYDROMOS in 2011, he said in an interview: "In my time you only heard the word football. Nothing else. No basketball or swimming or anything. I happened to have my forgiven brother Babis playing football and I learned a lot from that. You walk and they say: good morning, Christos. I hold this very high. Good morning is my greatest reward.

I started at 15 years old in Niki with coach Tsamtzis and teammates such as Tzinis, Kolovos and Karailiou. From there I also competed in the Youth National Team.

After Niki came Olympiacos with whom I played for five years. I even had a streak record as I didn't lose a game with consecutive innings.

In Niki I started as an attacker. The same thing happened with the Youth National Team, but in one game a defender was hit and I went and played in that position since then we didn't have any changes. From then on I liked this position and from the age of 18 I played as a defender".

Zanteroglou's great record

On April 1, 1964, Niki Volou played in Toumba in a postponed game without Christos Zanteroglou. The 24-year-old defender is a key member of the team and in the next game, on April 5, Niki Volou - AEK 2-2, he returns to the eleven. And this game is the beginning of the great record for Voliotis Christos  Zanteroglou!.

Keep score... He plays in the last five games of the season and in the play-off with Olympiakos Chalkidas. The following season he played in all 30 games of Niki and in the summer of 1965 he was acquired by Olympiacos. Immediately Marton Bukovi establishes him and plays in all 30 games of the season! The same thing happens in 1966-67. A total of 66 games without interruption.

In 1967, the teams became 18, so the competition was 34. But Christos is unstoppable! For two more seasons he plays 34 games.

Summer 1969 and if we counted correctly, he has 164 games, counting the barrage we mentioned. The question is how many games can he play continuously!

On September 21, 1969, Olympiacos won the premiere in Toumba. In the 71st minute, Zanteroglou suffered a contusion and left to be replaced by Nikos Sideris. The Voliotis defender is trying, but he cannot be ready for the derby with AEK. And on September 28, 1969, he watched a first-team match from the stands, for the first time since April 5, 1964!

For five and a half years he had not lost a match! 165 in a row! It is unlikely to repeat itself in history, especially with the different conditions in football.

Christos Zanteroglou had played for the first time in the Greek national team, while he was a football player of Nike on 12/2/64 in England, he played a second match again in 1964 at Leoforos and then transferred to Olympiakos Piraeus making another great record.

Zanteroglou in Niki and Olympiakos from April 1964 to September 1969 played 165 games without interruption, which is unlikely to be repeated in history, especially with the different conditions in football. Rest in peace  Christos...