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Euro 2004 Hero Katergiannakis Recounts Greece's Unlikely Triumph
🇬🇷 Greece /Sports

Euro 2004 Hero Katergiannakis Recounts Greece's Unlikely Triumph

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Greece's national football team unexpectedly won the UEFA European Championship in 2004, a historic achievement considered a major upset.
  • The victory, secured by Angelos Charisteas' goal against Portugal in the final, sparked widespread celebrations across Greece.
  • Former national team goalkeeper Fanis Katergiannakis reflects on the team's journey, the coach Otto Rehhagel's influence, and the strong team cohesion that led to their triumph.

On July 4, 2004, Greece achieved an unprecedented football triumph, defeating host nation Portugal in the Euro 2004 final to become European champions. This stunning victory, against all odds, saw Angelos Charisteas score the decisive goal against Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo's misjudgment, etching the win into sporting history.

I had been called up for the qualifiers. The first game I was included in the squad under Rehhagel was against Spain, 1-0. I was at Olympiacos then. I had an injury, I had broken a finger on my hand. Despite that, I didn't miss training. I trained even with one hand. I was in good physical condition. So, I had expected it.

— Fanis KatergiannakisKatergiannakis recalling his anticipation for being part of the Euro 2004 squad.

The nation erupted in jubilation as fans poured into the streets to celebrate what was widely hailed as an epic achievement. The Greek national team, under the guidance of the iconic German coach Otto Rehhagel, had defied expectations throughout the tournament, overcoming formidable opponents like defending champions France, the Czech Republic, and a Portuguese side boasting stars like Luís Figo, Deco, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reflecting on the historic campaign, former national team goalkeeper Fanis Katergiannakis shared his insights with tanea.gr. He spoke about the team's journey, the unique leadership of Rehhagel, and the strong sense of unity among the players. Katergiannakis highlighted the collective spirit, emphasizing that every player, including established stars like Demis Nikolaidis, Nikos Dabizas, and Vassilis Tsiartas, prioritized the team's success over individual glory.

Antonis was our main goalkeeper. There was competition, but we all looked for the good of the team, putting our ego aside. I would describe our cooperation as flawless.

— Fanis KatergiannakisKatergiannakis describing the dynamic among the goalkeepers during Euro 2004.

Katergiannakis recalled his own journey to the squad, noting his anticipation for a call-up given his consistent performance and dedication, even playing through an injury. He described the goalkeeping unit, including starter Antonis Minogiannis and Kostas Chalkias, as highly competitive yet supportive, always prioritizing the team's well-being. Katergiannakis also mentioned his multifaceted role within the team, jokingly referring to himself as a coach, photographer, and even a goalkeeper coach at times, all driven by a desire to contribute wherever needed.

Rehhagel's words pleased me: 'You don't have to be the best player on the team, you just have to be the best for the team.' Indeed, in training, wherever he put me, I played. Left-back, goalkeeper, photographer, even... goalkeeper coach. In one word, I felt satisfaction. Not just me. All the guys put 'together' above 'me', and that's why success came.

— Fanis KatergiannakisKatergiannakis explaining his versatile role and the team's philosophy under Rehhagel.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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