Mimis Domazos facts for kids
Domazos with Panathinaikos
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dimitrios Domazos | ||
| Date of birth | 22 January 1942 | ||
| Place of birth | Ampelokipoi, Athens, German-occupied Greece | ||
| Date of death | 24 January 2025 (aged 83) | ||
| Place of death | Athens, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1953–1959 | Amyna Ambelokipoi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1959–1978 | Panathinaikos | 490 | (134) |
| 1978–1980 | AEK Athens | 34 | (5) |
| 1980 | Panathinaikos | 12 | (0) |
| Total | 536 | (139) | |
| International career | |||
| 1959–1980 | Greece | 50 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Dimitris "Mimis" Domazos (Greek: Δημήτρης "Μίμης" Δομάζος; born January 22, 1942 – died January 24, 2025) was a famous Greek football player. He played as an attacking midfielder, which means he helped both defend and score goals. People called him "The General" because of his leadership on the field.
Mimis Domazos was the captain of Panathinaikos for more than 15 years. In 2021, a group called the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) named him one of the best Greek football players of all time.
Contents
Football Journey
Starting Out in Football
Mimis Domazos was born in Ampelokipoi, Athens on January 22, 1942. He grew up right next to the Leoforos Alexandras Stadium, a famous football ground. From a very young age, he loved playing football in the fields nearby.
When he was just 13, he got a special player card to join a team called Amyna Ampelokipoi. He even had to pretend he was older to be allowed to play! Soon, his amazing skills caught the eye of Panathinaikos F.C.. In 1958, a Serbian football expert named Svetislav Glišović saw him play and told Panathinaikos to sign him up.
Playing for Panathinaikos
Domazos played his first unofficial game for Panathinaikos in December 1958. He officially joined the team in the summer of 1959 when he was 17. He later joked that he joined "for a suit and an orange juice," showing how simple transfers were back then. It was at Panathinaikos that he earned his famous nickname, "The General."
In his first three seasons, he helped Panathinaikos win three championships in a row! He scored a key goal on June 4, 1961, that helped secure the last of these titles. On November 26, 1963, Domazos scored four goals in one game, which was a first for the club. He became the team's captain for nearly 15 years and formed a strong attacking team with his friend, Antonis Antoniadis.
In the 1969 Cup final, he scored a fantastic free kick goal. The game ended in a draw, and Panathinaikos won the cup after a coin toss! In 1971, under coach Ferenc Puskás, Domazos led Panathinaikos to the final of the European Cup (now called the Champions League). They played against Ajax at Wembley Stadium but lost 2-0. Later that year, they also played in the Intercontinental Cup final.
Mimis Domazos was so good that he was nominated for the Ballon d'Or award in 1969 and 1971. This award is given to the best football player in Europe. In 1977, Panathinaikos won the Balkans Cup, adding another trophy to his collection.
One of his most memorable goals was a stunning bicycle kick in a big game against Olympiacos on March 17, 1974. It helped Panathinaikos get a 1-1 draw. Overall, Domazos won nine championships, three Greek Cups, and one Balkans Cup with Panathinaikos. He even helped them win the league and cup in the same year twice (1969 and 1977).
In 1978, after 19 years and 498 games with Panathinaikos, Domazos left the club.
Time with AEK Athens
After leaving Panathinaikos, Mimis Domazos joined AEK Athens in 1978. The owner, Loukas Barlos, wanted him on the team. Domazos played well, making 29 appearances and scoring 5 goals in his first season. He scored his first two goals for AEK against PAOK on September 10, 1978.
On April 8, 1979, he played against his old team, Panathinaikos. AEK won 1-0. With AEK, he won another league title in 1979.
Returning to Panathinaikos and Retirement
In January 1980, Domazos decided he wanted to finish his career back at Panathinaikos. AEK's owner understood and let him go. He returned to the club where he was a legend. Even though he didn't score in the 12 games he played, his leadership was still very important. He helped Panathinaikos win a derby against Olympiacos on January 13, 1980.
Mimis Domazos officially retired from football in the summer of 1980. He ended his career with an amazing record of 536 appearances and 139 goals in league games.
Playing for Greece
Mimis Domazos first played for the Greek national team on December 2, 1959, against Denmark. His last game for Greece was on November 11, 1980, against Australia. In that game, he was honored for his long and important contribution to Greek football. He even scored his last goal in that match, making him the oldest player to ever score for Greece, just before his 39th birthday. He was also the captain of the national team for many years. In total, he played 50 games for Greece and scored four goals.
Life Outside Football
Mimis Domazos was married to the famous singer Vicky Moscholiou from 1967 to 1978, and they had two daughters. Later, he married Argyro (Io) Theodorou in 1982, and they had a daughter named Theopi (Popi) Domazou. Popi is now a journalist and a local councilor in Athens.
In 2016, Domazos released a book called "Mimis Domazos: secrets and Other Revelations." The book shared many stories from his amazing football career and included rare photos. It became a very popular book. After he stopped playing football, he became a businessman and often wrote articles for Greek sports newspapers.
Mimis Domazos passed away on January 24, 2025, at the age of 83. His funeral was held on January 27, and his body was brought past the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, a place where he created so many memories. He was buried in the First Cemetery of Athens.
Career Achievements
Club Trophies
Panathinaikos
- Alpha Ethniki (Greek League Champion): 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1976–77
- Greek Cup: 1966–67, 1968–69, 1976–77
- Balkans Cup: 1977
AEK Athens
- Alpha Ethniki (Greek League Champion): 1978–79
Football Records
- Most league appearances in Greece: 536 official matches (502 with Panathinaikos and 34 with AEK Athens).
- Longest-playing footballer in Greek history: He played for more than 21 years (1959–1980).
- He scored a total of 139 goals in league games during his career (134 with Panathinaikos and 5 with AEK Athens).
- 124 goals were scored from regular shots.
- 7 goals were scored from free kicks.
- 2 goals were scored with headers.
- 6 goals were scored from penalty kicks.
See also
In Spanish: Dimitris Domazos para niños
