Aristotelis Fountoukidis
|
Fountoukidis during the 1966–67 season | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aristotelis Fountoukidis | ||
| Date of birth | 13 February 1942 | ||
| Place of birth | Panteleimon, Kilkis, Greece | ||
| Date of death | 7 July 2007 (aged 65) | ||
| Place of death | Nea Kallikrateia, Chalkidiki, Greece | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1956–1960 | Aris Panteleimon | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1960–1963 | Apollon Kalamarias | 14 | (2) |
| 1963–1966 | MENT | 81 | (0) |
| 1966–1978 | PAOK | 336 | (18) |
| Total | 430 | (20) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1981 | PAOK (caretaker) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Aristotelis Fountoukidis (Greek: Αριστοτέλης Φουντουκίδης; 13 February 1942 – 7 July 2007), known mistakenly for many years as Aristarchos Fountoukidis (Greek: Αρίσταρχος Φουντουκίδης), was a Greek footballer who played as a central defender.[1]
Career
Fountoukidis was born in 1942 in Panteleimon, Kilkis. He started playing football at his hometown club Aris Panteleimon and in 1960 he moved to Apollon Kalamaria.[2] In 1963, he was transferred to MENT and from there he was acquired by PAOK in the summer of 1966, a move that was made possible thanks to the collaboration of PAOK administrative leader Giorgos Pantelakis with the team's coach Nikos Pangalos. Although he started his career as a center forward, at PAOK he established himself as a central defender and quickly became irreplaceable. Fountoukidis worked in construction when he was young and thanks to his impressive physical qualities, he was nicknamed "The Wall" (Greek: "Ο Τοίχος").[3] He is PAOK 5th all-time appearance maker with 395 games in total (336 in the league) and won with the White-blacks of the North the 1972 and 1974 editions of the Cup and the 1976 league title.[4][5][6][7]
Fountoukidis was assistant of Gyula Lóránt when the Hungarian manager returned to PAOK for a second spell in 1980 and took over as caretaker coach after Lóránt's passing.[8][9] Aristos coached PAOK in the 1981 Greek Cup final against Olympiacos.[10]
Death
On 7 July 2007, he suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 65.[11][12] PAOK FC issued the following statement:
«PAOK FC expresses its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, who was a leader and soul of the club. His name and his contribution will remain indelibly written in the golden pages of PAOK's history. PAOK FC Board of Directors decided to ask the higher authorities to observe a minute of silence in memory of Aristotelis Fountoukidis in the first official game of the new season. Club's representatives will lay wreaths at his funeral, which will take place at 17:00 at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Kalamaria.»
Honours
PAOK
- Greek League (1): 1975–76
- Greek Cup (2): 1971–72, 1973–74
References
- ^ Aristotelis Fountoukidis at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Μ.Γ.Σ. Άρης Παντελεήμονα επίσημο website" [Aris Panteleimon official website]. arispanteleimona.gr (in Greek). 13 February 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "Η μπάλα περνάει, ο παίκτης όχι: Ο «Τοίχος» του ΠΑΟΚ που άφηνε γραμμές στο χορτάρι και φόβο στις καρδιές των αντιπάλων" [The ball passes, the player doesn't: PAOK's "Wall" that left lines on the grass and fear in the hearts of opponents]. menshouse.gr (in Greek). 27 April 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ^ "1972 Greek Cup final, Panathinaikos–PAOK 1–2 (5/7/1972)". ert.gr (in Greek). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ "The first title". paokfc.gr.
- ^ "Cup Winner 1974". paokfc.gr.
- ^ "At the top of the Greek Championship". paokfc.gr.
- ^ "The day Lóránt was lost". paokfc.gr. 31 May 2020.
- ^ Giannis Paraskevaidis (31 May 2019). "ΠΑΟΚ–Ολυμπιακός 1–0 (31/5/1981) - Η ημέρα που «έφυγε» ο Λόραντ" [The day Lóránt passed away]. sdna.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ "1981 Greek Cup final Olympiacos–PAOK 3–1 (21/6/1981)". sdna.gr (in Greek). 11 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ Lefteris Pavlidis (7 July 2021). "ΠΑΟΚ: Όταν «έφυγε» ξαφνικά ο Αρίσταρχος Φουντουκίδης" [PAOK: When Fountoukidis suddenly passed away]. Sportime (in Greek). Retrieved 20 November 2025.
- ^ "Σαν σήμερα έφυγε ο Αρίστος Φουντουκίδης! (2007)" [Today marks the passing of Aristos Fountoukidis! (2007)]. paokmania.gr (in Greek). 7 July 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2025.