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07:27 GMT, Thursday, 5 June 2008 08:27 UK

What happened to Greece's 2004 heroes?

By Andrew McKenzie

Greece shocked the world of football when they were crowned European champions in Portugal in 2004.

Their players returned to a hero's reception back home where they were treated as gods.

But did the victory bring with it fortune and fame to the Greek players? Here's what happened to the men that pulled off one of sport's greatest shocks.


Antonios Nikopolidis Antonios Nikopolidis

The goalkeeper, who was 33 at Euro 2004, made a controversial move to Olympiakos after 15 years with rivals Panathinaikos following the tournament.

The George Clooney lookalike is still at Olympiakos and still in contention for the goalkeeping position at Euro 2008.

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Giourkas Seitaridis Giourkas Seitaridis

Possibly Greece's outstanding player in Euro 2004, at 23 the right-back was reportedly interesting Real Madrid but had made a pre-tournament contract with Porto, who looked to have a bargain at £3m.

In 2005 he moved to Dynamo Moscow for £7m only to be sold to Atletico Madrid for £8m a year later. He has recovered from a serious injury to make the 2008 squad.

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Traianos Dellas Traianos Dellas

The towering centre-half, who struggled at Sheffield United but starred at Euro 2004, continued his form after the tournament to earn a starting role at Roma.

He moved back to Greece in 2005 with AEK Athens, where he is now captain, and he has also overcome injuries to return to form.

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Michalis Kapsis Michalis Kapsis

An ever-present alongside Dellas in the Greek defence, he was one of five AEK Athens players in the Euro 2004 squad.

He left the club, who were close to bankruptcy, and spent a season in France with Bordeaux before returning to Greece with Olympiakos and then Apoel but he will not be at Euro 2008.

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Takis Fyssas Takis Fyssas

The uncompromising left-back who stifled Cristiano Ronaldo in the final spent a second season at Benfica after Euro 2004 before deciding on a move to Scotland with Hearts.

After two years at Tynecastle he headed back home with Panithinaikos but now in his mid-30s he is no longer involved in the national set-up.

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Theo Zagorakis Theo Zagorakis

Greece's skipper, their inspiration and voted player of the tournament in 2004. He left AEK Athens on a free transfer after the win to earn a lucrative deal with Italian side Bologna.

After only one season he headed back to his spiritual home of PAOK Thessaloniki, where he played for two seasons before becoming their president. He retired from international football in 2007 with 120 caps.

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Kostas Katsouranis Kostas Katsouranis

The defensive midfielder was the only squad member to stick with AEK Athens after Euro 2004 amid their financial problems.

However, after two further seasons he decided to leave his home country for Benfica, but he remains one of the first names on Otto Rehhagel's teamsheet.

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Angelos Basinas Angelos Basinas

Basinas, who set up the winning goal in the final, was chased by both Portsmouth and Birmingham but stayed with Panathinaikos until September 2005 when the Greek side ended his contract after over a decade of service.

He joined Real Mallorca in Spain and has become a popular player with the Spanish club, while taking over the armband for the national team ensures he is as influential as ever as their playmaker.

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Georgios Karagounis Georgios Karagounis

A fixture in the Inter Milan side before Euro 2004 but the midfielder, who was banned from the final, fell out of favour in the 2004-05 season.

Karagounis, nicknamed 'The Dude', spent two seasons back in Portugal with Benfica before returning to Panathinaikos in 2007 and remains a key part of the national side.

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Stelios Giannakopoulos Stelios Giannakopoulos

The Bolton midfielder, who appeared in the final because of Karagounis's suspension, became a firm fixture for the English club after his Euro 2004 exploits.

His stay at the Reebok Stadium lasted until this summer when his contract ended and he was released. He has been linked with a return to Greece but there was no doubt over his place in Rehhagel's squad for Euro 2008.

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Zisis Vryzas Zisis Vryzas

The hard-working leader of Greece's forward line became something of a journeyman, heading from Fiorentina to Celta Vigo on loan, then to Torino in the two seasons after Euro 2004.

He returned to Xanthi, the club where he started his career, before hanging up his boots after a spell with PAOK, where he is now technical director.

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Angelos Charisteas Angelos Charisteas

The scorer of Greece's winning goal in the final headed back to Werder Bremen after the tournament but before the season was out he had signed for Ajax for more than £3m.

He struggled for games in Amsterdam so made a controversial move to Rotterdam to join Feyenoord, before heading back to Germany with Nuremberg last summer. Another who remains a key cog in Rehhagel's side.

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Where does Greece's win rank in the history of international football's greatest upsets?



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Related to this story:

Greece's rise and fall (05 Jun 08 |  Greece )
Archive: Euro 2004 review (27 May 08 |  Euro 2008 )
Archive: Portugal 0-1 Greece - Euro 2004 (28 May 08 |  Euro 2008 )
Greece win Euro 2004 (04 Jul 04 |  Euro 2004 )
Portugal v Greece photos (04 Jul 04 |  Photo Galleries )
Zagorakis named top player (05 Jul 04 |  Greece )
Greece welcomes back squad (05 Jul 04 |  Sport Homepage )
Greek joy, Portuguese woe (05 Jul 04 |  Europe )
In pictures: Joy in Athens (06 Jul 04 |  In Pictures )
Pick your Greece XI (22 May 08 |  Greece )
Greece team guide (15 May 08 |  Greece )

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