French
DeutschStavros Sarafis
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 January 1950 | ||
| Place of birth | Epanomi, Thessaloniki, Greece | ||
| Date of death | 13 October 2022 (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Thessaloniki, Greece | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1963–1967 | Anagennisi Epanomi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1967–1981 | PAOK | 358 | (136) |
| International career | |||
| 1969–1977 | Greece | 32 | (7) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1989 | PAOK (caretaker) | ||
| 1994 | PAOK (caretaker) | ||
| 1995 | PAOK (caretaker) | ||
| 1999 | PAOK (caretaker) | ||
| 2006 | PAOK (caretaker) | ||
| 2010–2013 | PAOK (youth) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Stavros Sarafis (Greek: Σταύρος Σαράφης; 17 January 1950 – 13 October 2022) was a Greek international footballer who spent his entire career at PAOK, playing mainly as a midfielder and occasionally as a forward. A versatile midfielder and prolific goalscorer, he was mostly renowned for his excellent abilities in the air, being able to deliver powerful headers towards goal. Regarded as one of the club's most iconic figures, Sarafis is PAOK record top goalscorer. His nickname was "Ceasar" (Greek: "Kaisaras").
Career
[edit]Sarafis was born in Epanomi, on the outskirts of Thessaloniki in 1950 and at the age of 13 he began his football career with Anagennisi Epanomi, while when he turned 16, he was called up for a match with the Greek Youth National Team. In the summer of 1967, at the age of 17, he was transferred to PAOK, who fought with city rivals Aris for his acquisition.[1] He made his PAOK debut in the league match against Egaleo (October 8, 1967) and in the 72nd minute, he scored his first goal and paved the way for the 2–0 victory. Sarafis spent his entire football career at the Double-headed eagle of the North and wore the No 8 white-black jersey for 14 years, retiring in 1981. In the summer of 1976, when his contract was expiring, AEK Athens president Loukas Barlos offered him 5 million drachmas to join the Double-headed eagle of the South, however Sarafis turned down the offer and decided to stay at his beloved PAOK despite the fact that he was informed by PAOK president Giorgos Pantelakis that the club could afford to offer him only 1 million drachmas.[2] Sarafis was a prolific goalscorer with an incredible heading ability, netting 136 goals in 358 league matches with PAOK. He also scored 26 goals in the Greek Cup and 7 in UEFA competitions, for 169 goals in total.[3] His partnership with Giorgos Koudas was one of the most prominent midfield duos in Greek football during the 1970s, winning one league title (1976) and two Cups (1972, 1974). After retiring, he continued serving the club from various positions, including caretaker and assistant manager.
Sarafis had 32 caps for the Greece national team between 1969 and 1977, scoring 7 goals.[4]
Death
[edit]Sarafis died on 13 October 2022, at the age of 72.[5]
Career statistics
[edit]Club career
[edit]| Club | Period | Greek League | Greek Cup | Europe | Career Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| PAOK | 1967–1981 | 358 | 136 | 54 | 26 | 21 | 7 | 433 | 169 |
International career
[edit]| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | 3 | 0 |
| 1972 | 4 | 1 |
| 1973 | 4 | 1 |
| 1974 | 7 | 3 |
| 1975 | 4 | 2 |
| 1976 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 32 | 7 |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 September 1972 | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus |  France | 1–1 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 2 | 31 January 1973 | Nikos Goumas Stadium, Athens |  Bulgaria | 1–0 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 29 May 1974 | Stadionul Național, Bucharest |  Romania | 1–1 | 1–3 | Balkan Cup |
| 4 | 15 November 1974 | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus |  Cyprus | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 18 December 1974 | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus | Bulgaria | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying |
| 6 | 24 September 1975 | Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki | Romania | 1–1 | 1–1 | Balkan Cup |
| 7 | 30 December 1975 | Stadio Comunale, Florence |  Italy | 2–2 | 2–3 | Friendly |
Honours
[edit]PAOK
- Greek League (1): 1975–76
- Greek Cup (2): 1971–72, 1973–74
Individual
- PAOK record top goalscorer: 169 goals
- PAOK record league top goalscorer : 136 goals[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Lefteris Zavliaris (14 October 2022). "Πώς ο ΠΑΟΚ έκλεψε από τον Άρη τον Σταύρο Σαράφη" [How PAOK stole Stavros Sarafis from Aris]. voria.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ Giorgos Kouventidis (4 September 2008). "Σταύρος Σαράφης, μια ζωή στην υπηρεσία του ΠΑΟΚ" [A whole life in the service of PAOK]. Makedonia (in Greek). Retrieved 11 April 2025.
- ^ "Σταύρος Σαράφης, ο ανυπέρβλητος". forzaonline.gr (in Greek). 17 October 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ List of Greek internationals, rsssf.org
- ^ "Rest in peace Caesar…". paokfc.gr. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Τα 136 γκολ του Σταύρου Σαράφη στο πρωτάθλημα". paokmania.gr (in Greek). 16 November 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2019.