Kostas Eleftherakis

Kostas Eleftherakis (; born 18 July 1950) is a Greek former international football player who played as a midfielder. His nickname was "the Deer" .

Early life Eleftherakis was born in Tavros. He came from a working-class family. His parents were named Giorgos and Pinelopi, and his father worked at the Athens Gas Company. He also had another brother, Nikolas, who was killed at a young age. He began his football career at his local club, Fostiras, for which he signed a contract at the age of 12. The fee for his signature was a bottle of milk and a piece of baklava.

Club career In 1964, Eleftherakis made his professional debut in the second division, where he scored a brace over Atromitos. He initially played as a right winger, but was later established as a midfielder. His performances attracted the interest of the major Greek clubs. After the final, Real Madrid and Everton expressed interest in acquiring him. Real Madrid offered an inconceivable for the time fee of 35 million drachmas for Eleftherakis. However, the Secretary General of Athletics, appointed by the regime of the time, Costas Aslanidis stood in the way. The same happened when Everton made an offer through Billy Bingham who coached Greece in the early 1970s. During his spell at Panathinaikos was called to play for the World XI. An injury he sustained in May 1977 in a match against Ethnikos Piraeus left him out of football for six months. He never regained his form completely after that. In 1980 he came in a dispute with the managerement of the club, which resulted in his departure. He played there for a season, not managing to established himself in the roster. where retired as a footballer.

International career Shortly afterwards, he was called up to Greece U19 by the manager Lakis Petropoulos.

Eleftherakis made 34 appearances for the Greece national football team from 1969 to 1977.

Honours

Panathinaikos Alpha Ethniki: 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1976–77 Greek Cup: 1968–69, 1976–77 Greater Greece Cup: 1970