Vasilis Hatzipanagis

Vasilis Hatzipanagis (, , born 26 October 1954) is a Greek former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder for Iraklis in the Alpha Ethniki and Pakhtakor Tashkent in the Soviet Supreme League. He also played for Greece and the Soviet Union side.

Hatzipanagis is widely acclaimed among Greek and international football aficionados as one of the preeminent Greek footballers of all time. Despite his talent, his career was marred by contractual controversies. Numerous sources have bestowed upon him the epithet of "The Greek Maradona."

Club career Pakhtakor Tashkent Hatzipanagis was born in 1954 in Tashkent, the capital city of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, to Greek political refugees. His father was Greek-Cypriot from Makrasyka, and his mother was from Constantinople. He was scouted by Pakhtakor Tashkent. They wanted to invest in this raw, yet refined player, but the law was strict: he had to apply for Soviet citizenship to be eligible for the Soviet top flight. Hatzipanagis made his professional debut at the age of 17. During his time there, he made ninety-six appearances and scored twenty-two goals, and gained promotion from the Soviet First League to the Soviet Supreme League in 1972.

Iraklis With the Reign of the Colonels finally over the year before, Hatzipanagis signed for the Thessaloniki's club Iraklis, and such was his reputation that he filled the stadium for his first match in December 1975. The Iraklis fans would be one of the reasons this exceptional talent never joined another team, the other being his contract with Iraklis was heavily favoured towards the club, making it almost impossible for him to leave despite his desire to test himself in a better league. Despite interest from Lazio, Arsenal, Porto and Stuttgart, the club's board feared the consequences of selling the crowd favourite, and Hatzipanagis stayed at Iraklis until 1990. His farewell appearance for the club came in a UEFA Cup first round match against Valencia on 19 September, in a 0–0 draw. In the second leg on 3 October, the team lost 2–0 at the Mestalla Stadium, with Hatzipanagis an unused substitute.

Loan to Toronto Panhellenic In the summer of 1980, he played abroad in the National Soccer League on loan with Toronto Panhellenic. He won the league play-offs with the club.

International career Soviet Union He was called up to the Soviet Union under-19 squad. He was promoted to the senior squad and represented the Soviet Union Olympic team in the 1976 qualifying tournament. His debut was made in a 3–0 home win against Yugoslavia. He even managed to score his team's last goal in his debut. Aged 50, Hatzipanagis said: "It is very touching to see that you are not forgotten, that your contribution is appreciated even after so many years." He added: "I regret not having been able to wear the Greek national jersey more than once. And I regret not having made a career abroad. I would have liked to play in a better league, to have enjoyed football at that level. If I could turn back the clock, I would do some things differently."

Career statistics Club

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals Pakhtakor Tashkent Soviet First League

Iraklis Alpha Ethniki

377!!83!!9!!2!!1!!0!!3!!1!!390!!86

International

Honours Pakhtakor Tashkent Soviet First League: 1972

Iraklis Greek Cup: 1975–76 Balkans Cup: 1985

Toronto Panhellenic Canadian National Soccer League Play-Off: 1980

Individual Soviet Masters of Sports award Master of Sports: 1974 UEFA Jubilee Awards Greece's Golden Player: 1954–2003 Goals from direct corner kicks: 7, in the 1982-83 season