Gianelos Margaritis has left us at the age of 87.

A top footballer who started his career in Thessaloniki with PAOK and immigrated to Australia at a young age.

In duration, his presence in the stadiums of Australia was much greater compared to other greats who came from Greece. In fact, Gianelos left Greece when he was an “active” international player.

He participated in all the representative bands of the homeland, with the National Youth, Men and Armed.

His career on the pitches in Australia is linked to South Melbourne Hellas, of which he was a top executive.

When he ended his career on the pitch, he began an equally successful career as a coach.

He successfully passed through the “benches” of Greece, Alexandros and Juventus Melbourne. He was for some time in the coaching team of the Australian national team during the period when the technical leadership of the “Socceroos” was held by Frank Arok.

Arok had immense appreciation for Gianelo’s technical knowledge and did not fail to express this appreciation whenever he was given the opportunity.

In a story published on September 1, 2021 in Neos Kosmos, sportswriter Ilias Donoudis wrote about Gianelos.

“An international in the national teams of his homeland and a star in a great PAOK team, with teammates, the legends of the double-header, Kouiroukidis, Yentzis, Leandros, Chavanidis and other players of that time.

I could write a book about Gianelos, and the endless stories of his life. That’s why I promise to come back.”

We spoke with Elias and asked him to tell us some of the “endless stories” he referred to in his note three years ago. He told us about how he met Gianelos in Melbourne.

It was at the time when Elias was a “fresh” immigrant and continued in Melbourne the career he had started in Greece as a sportswriter. As part of his work, he had written an article criticising the young coach Gianelos Margaritis.

Elias was in one of the Greek shops on Lonsdale Street drinking coffee when someone approached him and asked: “Are you Elias Donoudis?” “Yes, it’s me,” replied Elias, who met Gianelos. “And don’t you tell me,” Gianelos continued, “you came to Australia to get a job in a factory?” Elias, who understood that Gianelos wanted to express a complaint to him, said to him: “no, I didn’t come to get a job in a factory, sit down and have a coffee.”

That coffee was the beginning of a huge friendship that lasted for the rest of their lives. By the way, Elias also became Gianelos’ best man at his wedding.

Maybe someday Elias will write this book even though Gianelos got a “transfer” for heaven. It would be of great interest.

For now, whishing Gianelos farewell alongside all those who knew and admired him for as long as he was with us.