Panajot Pano

Panajot Thoma Pano (; 7 March 1939 – 19 January 2010) was an Albanian football player. He started his career as a goalkeeper in the 17 Nëntori Tirana youth academy, but later became the most prolific centre-forward of their arch-rivals, Partizani Tirana. During his eighteen-year career he played 24 matches as part of the Albania national team and was awarded the Albanian UEFA Jubilee Award.

Due to his skills and abilities, Pano earned the nickname "The little Puskás" by sports commentators.

Early life Panajot Pano (Panayiotis Thomas Panou) was born in Durrës, to ethnic Greek parents Thoma and Vasilika Pano who came from Lefterhor, Delvinë, Albania. He developed a passion for the sport when he was around 4–5 years old.

On 12 December 1958, Pano was called for the military service and eventually signed for Partizani Tirana.

Pano finished 1961 season as top scorer (with 14 goals) as Partizani Tirana won the championship. For his performances Pano earned the Albanian Sportsperson of the Year award. Two years later, he was part of the team that played in the Spartakiad tournament, an official championship of communist countries army clubs. Pano scored four goals during the tournament, including a memorable hat-trick in the 3–1 win over Vorwärts B. Partizani eventually reached the final and was subsequently defeated by XI CSKA/SKA. He didn't play in the second leg which saw Tirana crashing out of the competition 4–1 on aggregate.

In 1970, Pano played in the Balkans Cup, scoring 2 goals as Partizani became the first and only Albanian club to win an international competition, as they defeated Beroe Stara Zagora in the final, following a 1–1 draw in Tiranë and a 3–0 awarded win for the second leg, as Beroe withdrew.

Pano announced his retirement from football in May 1975. He also captained the national team in 10 occasions.

He scored his first international goal on 30 October 1963 against Denmark in the 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying stage which marked Albania's first ever win in a qualifying match.

Personal life His son Ledio Pano, became also a well known football player and played for the football clubs of Partizani, Luftëtari, Xanthi and PAS Giannina. He was also capped several times with Albania.

He died at 70 in Jacksonville, (Florida, United States) on 19 January 2010 after suffering a heart attack.

Legacy In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Albania by the Football Association of Albania as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.

On 6 March 2009, Pano received the order Honor of Nation from the President of Albania, Bamir Topi. This was the first time in the history of Albania that a footballer was honored with the Honor of the Nation order.

Career statistics

Club

International Source:

Albania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pano goal.

Honours Partizani Tirana Albanian Superliga: 1961, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1970–71 Albanian Cup: 1961, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1972–73 Balkans Cup: 1970

Individual Albanian Superliga top goalscorer: 1961, 1969–70 Albanian Sportsperson of the Year: 1960