Thomas Mavros

Thomas Mavros

Mavros in 2012
Personal information
Full name Thomas Mavros
Date of birth (1954-05-31) 31 May 1954
Place of birth Kallithea, Greece
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Striker
Youth career
1970 Panionios
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1976 Panionios 135 (35)
1976–1987 AEK Athens 277 (174)
1987–1991 Panionios 89 (51)
Total 501 (260)
National team
1972–1984 Greece 36 (11)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Thomas Mavros (Greek: Θωμάς Μαύρος) (born on 31 May 1954 in Kallithea, Greece) is a retired Greek international football player who played as a striker. He is regarded as one of the best players to play club football in Greece having scored a record number of 260 goals in Alpha Ethniki.

Club career

Panionios

Having grown up in Nea Smyrni, Mavros joined Panionios' youth ranks and soon made his way to the first team. He soon managed to become the youngest player ever to score in the Greek Super League. He was also capped by the Greek national football team at a very young age whilst playing for one of the less glamorous Greek clubs. He made his debut in continental competitions on 16 September 1971 against Atlético Madrid. His appearance made him the then youngest player of a Greek football club to have ever played in a European competition.

AEK Athens

In 1975, AEK Athens' president Loukas Barlos wanted to sign the young striker but Panionios board refused to trade his team's best player. It was then revealed that when Mavros signed his contract with Panionios he was still underage, thus making the contract invalid. Panionios still blocked the transfer leading to a litigation between the two sides which lasted for the entire 1975-76 season. During this time, Mavros was unable to play for either side. After the dispute was resolved Mavros was finally transferred to AEK Athens in 1976. He immediately became an integral part of the team helping them reach the UEFA Cup 1976-77 semi-finals, winning two championships: (1977-78 and 1978-79) and two cups (1978, 1983). He also managed to become Greek Superleague's Top Goalscorer three times (1978 with 22 goals, 1979 with 31 goals, 1985 with 27 goals). In 1979, he was also second goalscorer in Europe, three goals behind AZ's Kees Kist.He, as a striker and Bajevic, as a creator were the club's best scoring couple and one of the best in Europe. The AEK Athens fans loved him because he was one of the few players who stayed with the club after Barlos left and because of his tendency to score against rivals Olympiacos F.C.. They called him by the nickname "The God" and whenever he scored the whole stadium chanted "Who, who, who? Mavros the God" (Greek: "Ποιος, ποιος, ποιος; ο Μαύρος ο Θεός"). On 22/6/84 Mavros had the honour to be called to join World's XI alongside his countryman Vassilis Hatzipanagis and other legends like Franz Beckenbauer, Ruud Krol, Johan Neeskens, Peter Shilton, Kevin Keegan, Mario Kempes, Hugo Sanchez and Felix Magath.[1] 20.000 Greek fans were in the Giants Stadium to watch World's XI playing against New York Cosmos in a 3-1 win. In fact, according to his statement, in the game, Beckenbauer told him "At last, you came.", meaning the constant interest of his team, New York Cosmos for Mavros.[2]

Back to Panionios

In 1987, AEK Athens' manager Nikos Alefantos asked the club's president Andreas Zafiropoulos not to renew Mavros' contract as he thought the player was too old to play for a team of that level. Zafiropoulos agreed and Mavros was released from the club and returned to his former club, Panionios. With Panionios he finished top scorer in Greek Superleague once (1990 with 22 goals) and, until his retirement in 1991, scored a total of 51 goals in 89 matches surpassing his former teammate at AEK Athens Mimis Papaioannou as the Greek Super League's all-time top goalscorer. A notable moment was when during a match against AEK Athens in Nikos Goumas Stadium on 28 October 1989 he scored against them but the AEK Athens fans chanted his name as if he had just scored for AEK Athens showing how much they loved and respected him.

International career

He had a total of 36 appearances with Greece scoring 11 goals in the period of 1972-1984. His most notable moment was his appearance in UEFA Euro 1980.

Records

Statistics

Club

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Greece League Greek Cup Europe Total
1970-71 Panionios Alpha Ethniki 2421000252
1971-72 2333100264
1972-73 2992000319
1973-74 301021003211
1974-75 291142003313
1975-76 00000000
1976-77 AEK Athens 3018201034221
1977-78 332242414125
1978-79 333163424336
1979-80 271421203115
1980-81 22921002410
1981-82 301732003319
1982-83 321910203519
1983-84 211321202514
1984-85 292721003128
1985-86 1741010194
1986-87 30000030
1987-88 Panionios 291642003318
1988-89 221210002312
1989-90 332232003624
1990-91 51000051
Career total 5012604519256571285

Last updated: 2009-08-31
Source: Thomas Mavros at National-Football-Teams.com

International

National team Season Apps Goals
 Greece 1972 01 00
1973 01 00
1974 02 00
1975 01 01
1976 01 00
1977 05 00
1978 08 06
1979 02 00
1980 06 01
1981 03 02
1982 04 01
1984 02 00
Total 36 11

Source: Thomas Mavros at National-Football-Teams.com

Thomas Mavros: International goals
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1975-06-04 Toumba Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece  Malta 1–0 4–0 1976 UEQ
2 1978-04-05 Poznań, Poland  Poland 5–2 5–2 Friendly
3 1978-10-11 Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, Athens, Greece  Finland 4–0 8–1 1980 UEQ
4 1978-10-11 Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, Athens, Greece  Finland 5–0 8–1 1980 UEQ
5 1978-10-11 Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, Athens, Greece  Finland 7–1 8–1 1980 UEQ
6 1978-10-28 Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece  Hungary 4–0 4–1 1980 UEQ
7 1978-11-15 Gradski Stadium, Skopje, SFR Yugoslavia  Yugoslavia 0–1 4–1 1980 Balkan Cup
8 1980-02-27 Parc des Princes, Paris, France  France 1–1 5–1 Friendly
9 1981-03-11 Stade Municipal, Rumelange, Luxembourg, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 0–2 0–2 1982 WCQ
10 1981-11-29 Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece  Yugoslavia 1–0 1–2 1982 WCQ
11 1982-10-27 Makario Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus  Cyprus 0–1 1–1 Friendly

Honours

AEK Athens
1978, 1979
1978, 1983
Individual
1978, 1979, 1985, 1990

References

  1. http://www.newsit.gr/default.php?pname=Article&art_id=120880&catid=1
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