Former Greece international soccer player and coach Takis Gonias has died at age 54, leaving Greek soccer in mourning.
Gonias, a gifted attacking midfielder with a long career in Greece, Spain, and Italy, later moved into coaching, working in both Greece and Egypt. Greek media reported that he had been battling cancer.
Levadiakos pays tribute to Takis Gonias
Levadiakos FC announced his death and paid tribute to the former player, who began his professional career with the club and wore its colors for five years.
The Boeotia-based club said Gonias served Greek sports with character, personality, and passion for soccer. It added that his death brought deep sorrow to the Levadiakos family because of his strong connection to the team.
The club closed its tribute with the words “Farewell, Takis,” and expressed condolences to his family and loved ones.
A career across Greece, Spain and Italy
Panagiotis “Takis” Gonias was born in Livadia, central Greece, on October 6, 1971. He began playing soccer at P.S. Panathinaikos in Kyriaki, Boeotia, before moving to Levadiakos.
He later played for several well-known Greek clubs, including Olympiacos, Iraklis, Panionios, and Paniliakos. His career also took him abroad, where he played for Sporting Gijon in Spain and for Messina and Crotone in Italy.
As a player, Gonias stood out for his technique, vision, and confidence on the ball. His strong personality and clear views on the game also made him one of Greek soccer’s most recognizable figures.
Takis Gonias’ Greece national team moment
Gonias earned two caps with the Greece national team. He made his debut on August 19, 1997, in a friendly against Cyprus and scored from the penalty spot to give Greece a 2-1 victory. Six months later, he made his second appearance for Greece, coming on as a substitute for Kostas Frantzeskos in another friendly.
After retiring as a player, Gonias worked as a television commentator, where he stood out for his direct analysis and sharp opinions. He also pursued golf and reached a professional level with the Glyfada Golf Club. Soccer, however, remained his main passion, and he later returned to the sport as a coach.
Gonias began his coaching career with Glyfada in 2013. He later coached Episkopi, Kallithea, and Ergotelis. During his time at Kallithea, his team recorded a notable 1-0 Greek Cup win over Atromitos. At Ergotelis, Gonias drew attention for a possession-based style of play that helped define his coaching identity.
Coaching career in Egypt
Gonias later continued his coaching career in Egypt, where he worked with Wadi Degla and Pyramids FC.
He took charge of Pyramids in 2021 and later returned for a second spell with the ambitious Egyptian club. His work in Egypt made him one of the few Greek coaches to build a profile outside Europe.
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