Greek sport and politics on Sunday paid tribute to the country's top-scoring goalkeeper and penalty legend Nikos Sarganis, who died at the age of 70.
Nicknamed 'Phantom' after the US-made warplane owing to his skill in the air, Sarganis was a spot-kick specialist who also scored a record six goals against rival keepers in a two-decade career.
🕊️ R.I.P - Nikos Sarganis
— Hellas Football (@HellasFooty) December 8, 2024
Nicknamed "Phantom", the legendary goalkeeper has sadly passed away at the age of 70
🧤🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/mlIThy8ILM
Greek minister for sport Ioannis Vroutsis said the country was "deeply hurt" by the loss of Sarganis, who died in an Athens hospital after a long illness.
The Greek communist party said Sarganis was "a top goalkeeper who stood out both for his impressive reflexes in goal and for his composure in penalty kicks against opposing goalkeepers."
Today, we mourn the passing of the legendary goalkeeper Nikos Sarganis 🔴⚪️
— Thrylos 7 International (@Thrylos7Intl) December 8, 2024
One of the best Greek goalkeepers ever who was given the nickname “Phantom” for his legendary performances.
He passed at the age of 70 and leaves an incredible legacy for Greek football.
In his time… pic.twitter.com/OsFkHFwLGS
A winner of five league championships and five league cups between 1980 and 1989, Sarganis also had 58 caps with the Greek national team, among them a pair of historic clean sheets against Denmark and England in Copenhagen and London.
Originally a right-back, he was also one of few players of the era to switch from Olympiacos to cross-town rivals Panathinaikos in 1985.
Olympiacos on Sunday said Sarganis was "one of the goalkeepers who changed the specific position through the way he played".
After retiring in 1992, Sarganis was a national federation youth coach and was elected to the Athens regional council last year.
The Greek football federation said Sarganis was "invincible" in many games, including a 1991 Uefa Cup Winners' Cup fixture against Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, and a "role model for generations of young goalkeepers."