Antonis Parayios

Antonis Parayios (Greek: Αντώνης Παραγυιός; born 15 August 1929) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a defender. His nickname was the "Little Lion" (Greek: "Λιονταράκι"), due to his fighting spirit. He is the oldest living veteran footballer of AEK Athens.[1]

Antonis Parayios
Personal information
Full name Antonios Parayios
Date of birth (1929-08-15) 15 August 1929
Place of birth Menetes, Karpathos, Greece
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1943–1948 Posidon Glyfada
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1948–1957 AEK Athens 8 (0)
International career
1950–1951 Greece 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Parayios started his football career in 1943 at Posidon Glyfada.[2] In 1948, at the age of 19 he was signed by AEK Athens. In his first season he won the Greek Cup, playing in the final 2–1 win at the extra time against Panathniakos at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium.[3][4] On 28 May 1950 he won his second cup in a row against Aris in a 4–0 win at the same stadium.[5][6] He won third the cup of his career on 24 June 1956 in the 2–1 victory over Olympiacos.[7][8] He reached 125 appearances in official matches with the double-headed eagle on his chest: 90 in the Athens Championship, 8 in the Panhellenic Championship and 27 in the Cup.[9] With AEK he won 3 Cups and an Athens FCA League in 1950. A serious knee injury forced him to end his career in 1957, at the age of only 28.[10]

International career

Parayios became an international with Greece, making 2 appearances in 1950 and 1951. He made his debut on 13 December 1950 in the 1–0 defeat against France B at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium.[11] His last international appearance was on 14 October 1951 in the friendly match against the same opponent at the Stade Vélodrome, where Greece lost again with the same score.[12]

Personal life

Parayios is married to Kyriaki, whose origin is from Asia Minor. He was one of the 23 veteran football players of AEK who were honored at the opening of the Agia Sophia Stadium.[13]

Honours

AEK Athens

References
  1. "Αντώνης Παραγυιός". football.aek.com.
  2. Dimellas, Manolis (20 November 2020). "Αντώνης Παραγιός, ο Καρπάθιος - θρύλος της ΑΕΚ". karpathiakanea.gr.
  3. "Greek Cup 1948/49". RSSSF.
  4. "ΚΥΠΕΛΛΟ 1949". aekfc.gr.
  5. "ΚΥΠΕΛΛΟ 1950". aekfc.gr.
  6. "Greek Cup 1949/50". RSSSF.
  7. "ΚΥΠΕΛΛΟ 1956". aekfc.gr.
  8. Γκόγκουλης, Ευάνθης. "OLD FOOTBALL - Κυπελλούχος με γκολάρα του Κανάκη". oldfootball.gr. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  9. "Αντώνης Παραγυιός: Ο μεγαλύτερος εν ζωή παλαίμαχος της ΑΕΚ έγινε 90 ετών". aek365.org.
  10. "Ο Αντώνης Παραγυιός θυμάται και δακρύζει για την ΑΕΚ!". aek-live.gr. 15 January 2014.
  11. "Greece Matches 1948–1950" (PDF). epo.gr.
  12. "Greece matches 1951–1955" (PDF). epo.gr.
  13. IEFIMERIDA.GR, NEWSROOM (29 September 2022). "ΑΕΚ: Η 23άδα των παικτών-θρύλων που θα παρελάσει στα εγκαίνια της «OPAP Arena»". iefimerida.gr.
  • "The History of AEK", Edition "G.Ch. Alexandris, Athens 1996
  • Greece's march through time, Papazisis Publications Athens 2001
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