The Panathinaikos-Argentinian Connection

The Panathinaikos-Argentinian connection: 

By Antonios Theodosis

Throughout the illustrious history of Greek football giants Panathinaikos, the club like its adversaries, has seen its fair share of foreign talent come in through the ranks. It appears however that the Greens have had a particular affinity towards Argentinian players. The club has seen a host of memorable Argentines wear the green shirt throughout the decades. Many of these players have become club legends and fan favorites. Examples include: Juan Ramon Rocha, Juan Jose Borelli, Juan Ramon Veron, Oscar Alvarez, Ezequiel Gonzalez, and Sebastian Leto. The list could go on with many more Argentines finding themselves at the Athenian giants, however these players in particular are some of the most notable to dawn the “trifili.” Many of these players bled for the jersey and were essential figures in the club’s biggest accomplishments, cementing their legacies at the club and in the hearts of the Panathinaikos faithful. 

The 1970s:           

The Argentinian connection can be traced back as early as the 1970’s with the likes of Juan Ramon Veron and Oscar Alvarez taking the club by storm. Juan Ramon Veron, the father of the famous Juan Sebastian Veron, arrived at Panathinaikos in 1972 and remained at the club until 1975. He would score twenty-two goals in fifty-five appearances for the Greens and was a big name in the football world in the 1970’s. His arrival at the club would signify a long history of Argentinian talents to wear the Panathinaikos shirt. One of these talents was Oscar Alvarez, who had arrived in Greece in the early 1970’s along with many other Argentine players. He was a key figure on a Pas Giannina team that was dubbed “The Ajax of Epirus.” In 1976 Alvarez signed for Panathinaikos and quickly left his mark. He would go on to win the double with Panathinaikos in the 1976-1977 season along with the Balkan Cup. He would score fifty-five goals in one hundred fifteen appearances for the Greens, becoming the ninth top scorer in club history. He is fondly remembered by the Panathinaikos fans that watched him play in the 1970’s and helped contribute to a dominant Panathinaikos team in his four years at the club.

The 1980’s:

The 1980’s saw the arrival of one of the most beloved Panathinaikos players in the club’s history, Juan Ramon Rocha. The Argentinian midfielder arrived in Greece in 1980 having signed for the Greens under a fake Greek name during a period of “hellenization” of foreign players in Greece due to roster limitations. Rocha was eventually caught however, and he faced imprisonment. Panathinaikos also were faced with the possibility of relegation, but both Rocha and Panathinaikos were able to overcome the situation with neither party facing punishment. Rocha would go on to play for the Greens for nine years, racking up over two-hundred appearances and scoring thirteen goals. Rocha was a classic midfielder who possessed fantastic dribbling, ball control, and passing. During his days as a player at the Athenian club he won the Greek league title two times (1984 and 1986) and won the Greek cup five times (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989). Rocha retired a Panathinaikos player in 1989 and has managed the club three times, winning the league double in 1995 and retaining the league championship in 1996. His love for the club is very well known amongst the Green faithful with Rocha having released songs proclaiming his love and support of the club and also serving in numerous roles throughout his post playing career. 

The 1990’s: 

Delving into the 1990’s and under the watchful eye of Rocha, Panathinaikos found themselves with yet another Argentinian ace in Juan Jose Borelli. The midfielder is one of the best known Argentinian players to have played in Greece and came to Panathinaikos from River Plate in 1991. Borelli was a great talent and like his previous countrymen to have dawned the Green shirt, he helped the club taste success in 1995 and 1996 during their league run under compatriot Juan Ramon Rocha. Along with this, Borelli also helped Panathinaikos reach the Champions League Semi Finals against Ajax in 1996. He scored four goals in the tournament as the Athenian giants were yet again bested by the legendary Dutch club in Europe. He would eventually leave the club in 1997 after his solid tenure with Panathinaikos. Borelli has stated that it was a mistake leaving the club and has also proclaimed that he would love to coach the club like his mentor, Rocha. 

The 2000’s: 

The modern era is one that saw two Argentinian aces take the club by storm and win the hearts of the fans. The two players are Ezequel Gonzalez and Sebastian Leto. Gonzalez played for the Greens in 2003 and stayed with the club for five years. He captained the club and like the other Argentines that have played for the club, he won the double in 2004 putting his name in the history books of the club. Unfortunately, after a serious knee injury picked up during a friendly match, Gonzalez’s tenure at the club would come to an end. His hard work and leadership along with his ability to elevate his level of play for big games against arch-rivals Olympiakos made Gonzalez a fan favorite among the Panathinaikos faithful. Having hung up his playing boots in 2011 he took up a scouting role in Argentina for Panathinaikos and still works for the club today. 

The 2010’s:

Panathinaikos fans would not have to wait long for a new ace to fill the shoes of Gonzalez. In 2009, Panathinaikos would welcome the newest Argentine to the club, the skillful winger Sebastian Leto who arrived from Liverpool. Leto’s flair, passion, and overall ability to score quickly made him a hit amongst the fans. He would help the club win the 2010 league double and participate in historic European games such as the famous 6-4 aggregate win over Claudio Ranieri’s AS Roma side in the Europa league knockout stage. Panathinaikos fans loved him so much they even re-made a famous song “Seven Nation Army” with his name in the lyrics often chanting it during games after the Argentine found the back of the net. Like Gonzalez, Leto would succumb to a knee injury and eventually leave the club in 2013 during the tough economic crisis the club found itself in. He would however make a return in 2016 with fans showing their excitement for the experienced attacking midfielder’s return. He would leave the club again in 2017 after an icy relationship formed with Panathinaikos president Giannis Alafouzos. Panathinaikos fans still hold Leto close to their hearts as his tenure reminds fans of a better time, a time in which he helped lead the club reach success much like the other Argentines that came before him. 

It is apparent that the Panathinaikos-Argentinian connection is one that is deeply rooted. The club has seen its fair share of extremely talented Argentine players come through the ranks and make history with the club. In every era there has been at least one Argentinian player that has played a key role in the club’s success and embraced the culture of the Athenian giants. It is for these reasons that such a connection is significant.

Hellas Football.