Giorgos Gasparis

Giorgos Gasparis (; 1913–19 February 1977) was a Greek professional footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Gasparis started football in 1927 at Ethnikos Kaisariani and in 1930 he moved to Apollon Athens. In 1936 AEK Athens wanted to sign him, but since Apollon weren't intending in giving him. Thus, he moved to AEK Piraeus for a season and in 1937 he joined AEK Athens. He played at the club until 1950, where he retired from playing at the age of 37. During his 14-year presence in the club, he was a key player in the defense of the team helping them win 2 consecutive Panhellenic Championships, 3 Greek Cups and 4 Athens FCA League, including the first domestic double by a Greek club in 1939.

International career Gasparis played with Greece 5 times. His debut took place in the matches for the 5th Balkan Cup in Sofia in June 1935 against Bulgaria and Romania. He also played in a friendly against Egypt in Cairo on 19 June 1936 and in both qualification matches for the 1938 FIFA World Cup. against Palestine.

Managerial career After completing his football career, Gasparis became a manager and served on the bench of several clubs. He worked at Ethnikos Asteras fron 1951 to 1954 and then for Esperos Kallitheas. On 2 September 1968 he was hired as the assistant of Branko Stanković at AEK Athens until 4 August 1970, when he became the manager of Greece U21. In 1973 he also worked as an assistant manager of Billy Bingham in Greece.

Personal life Gasparis died on 19 February 1977 after struggling with a long term illness.

Honours

AEK Athens Panhellenic Championship: 1938–39, 1939–40 Greek Cup: 1938–39, 1948–49, 1949–50 Athens FCA League: 1940, 1946, 1947, 1950