# Theodoros Zagorakis

> Greek footballer, MEP

**Wikidata**: [Q296452](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q296452)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodoros_Zagorakis)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/theodoros-zagorakis

## Summary
Theodoros Zagorakis is a Greek former professional association football player and politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the New Democracy party. He is most renowned for captaining the Greece men's national football team to victory in UEFA Euro 2004, a historic achievement that remains one of the biggest upsets in football history. Following his retirement from sports in 2007, he transitioned into public service, representing Greece in the European Parliament from 2014 to 2024.

## Biography
- **Born:** October 27, 1971, in Lydia, Greece.
- **Nationality:** Greece (Citizen of the Hellenic Republic).
- **Education:** Not specified in the provided source material.
- **Known for:** Captaining the Greece national team to win UEFA Euro 2004 and serving as a Member of the European Parliament.
- **Employer(s):** 
  - *Football Clubs:* A.O. Kavalas (1988–1993), PAOK FC (1993–1998, 2005–2007), Leicester City F.C. (1998–2000), AEK Athens F.C. (2000–2004), Bologna F.C. 1909 (2004–2005).
  - *Political Office:* European Parliament (2014–2024).
- **Field(s):** Association Football (Midfielder), Politics.

## Contributions
Theodoros Zagorakis's primary contributions lie in the realm of international sports leadership and European political representation.
- **UEFA Euro 2004 Victory:** As the captain of the Greece men's national football team, he led the squad to win the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament. This victory is widely considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history, as Greece was not a favorite to win.
- **European Parliament Service:** He served two terms as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing Greece.
  - *First Term:* July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2019, during the Eighth European Parliament.
  - *Second Term:* July 2, 2019, to July 16, 2024, during the Ninth European Parliament.
  - *Affiliation:* He was a member of the New Democracy party and sat within the European People's Party Group.
- **Club Career Statistics:** Over his professional career, he accumulated significant playing time and goals across multiple European leagues:
  - A.O. Kavalas: 114 appearances, 6 goals.
  - PAOK FC: 200 total appearances (155 in first stint, 45 in second), 10 total goals.
  - Leicester City F.C.: 50 appearances, 3 goals.
  - AEK Athens F.C.: 101 appearances, 4 goals.
  - Bologna F.C. 1909: 32 appearances, 0 goals.
  - Greece National Team: 120 caps, 3 goals.

## FAQs
**What is Theodoros Zagorakis best known for in his football career?**
He is best known for captaining the Greece national team to a surprise victory at UEFA Euro 2004, a tournament where the team defied all odds to win the championship. His leadership on the field was instrumental in this historic achievement.

**What political roles has Theodoros Zagorakis held?**
He served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Greece for two consecutive terms, from 2014 to 2024. During this time, he represented the New Democracy party and was part of the European People's Party Group.

**Which football clubs did Theodoros Zagorakis play for?**
His club career included stints with A.O. Kavalas, PAOK FC (in two separate periods), Leicester City F.C., AEK Athens F.C., and Bologna F.C. 1909. He played as a midfielder for these teams between 1988 and 2007.

**What are his physical statistics and personal details?**
Zagorakis stands 178 cm tall and weighs 75 kg. He was born on October 27, 1971, in Lydia, Greece, and is married to Ioanna Lili since 2006. The couple has two children.

**What languages does Theodoros Zagorakis speak?**
He speaks Modern Greek, which is also his native language. His name in the native language is Θοδωρής Ζαγοράκης, and he is also known by the pseudonym "Thodoris" (Θοδωρής).

## Why They Matter
Theodoros Zagorakis holds a unique place in history as the leader of a national team that achieved the impossible, fundamentally altering the perception of Greek football and inspiring underdog narratives globally. His victory at Euro 2004 demonstrated that tactical discipline and unity could overcome financial and talent disparities in international sports. Beyond the pitch, his transition to the European Parliament highlights the pathway for athletes to influence public policy and represent their nation on a continental stage. His work in the European People's Party Group contributed to the legislative processes of the EU during his decade-long tenure, bridging the gap between sports diplomacy and political governance.

## Notable For
- **UEFA Euro 2004 Captaincy:** Leading Greece to their first major international trophy.
- **Political Tenure:** Serving as a Member of the European Parliament for ten years (2014–2024).
- **International Club Career:** Playing in the Greek Super League, English Premier League, and Italian Serie A.
- **National Team Record:** Earning 120 caps for the Greece men's national football team.
- **Party Affiliation:** Representing the New Democracy party in the European Parliament.
- **Awards and Recognition:** Recognized with various player IDs across major football databases (UEFA, FIFA, Transfermarkt, etc.) and holding a high profile in Greek media.
- **Family Life:** Married to Ioanna Lili since 2006 with two children.

## Body

### Early Life and Physical Profile
Theodoros Zagorakis was born on October 27, 1971, in Lydia, Greece. He is a male citizen of Greece and belongs to the Greek ethnic group. Physically, he stands at a height of 178 centimeters and has a mass of 75 kilograms. His native name is Θοδωρής Ζαγοράκης, and he is also known by the pseudonym "Thodoris" (Θοδωρής). He speaks Modern Greek. In his personal life, he is married to Ioanna Lili, a union that began in 2006, and they have two children.

### Football Career: Club Level
Zagorakis's professional football career began in 1988 and concluded in 2007. He played primarily as a midfielder. His career trajectory included several notable clubs across different countries:
- **A.O. Kavalas (1988–1993):** He started his career here, making 114 appearances and scoring 6 goals.
- **PAOK FC (1993–1998):** His first stint with the Thessaloniki club saw him make 155 appearances and score 10 goals.
- **Leicester City F.C. (1998–2000):** He moved to the English Premier League, where he played 50 matches and scored 3 goals.
- **AEK Athens F.C. (2000–2004):** Returning to Greece, he joined AEK Athens, making 101 appearances and scoring 4 goals.
- **Bologna F.C. 1909 (2004–2005):** He played in the Italian Serie A, appearing in 32 matches without scoring.
- **PAOK FC (2005–2007):** He returned to PAOK for a second stint, making 45 appearances and scoring 0 goals before retiring.

### Football Career: International Level
Zagorakis was a cornerstone of the Greece men's national football team from 1994 to 2007. He earned a total of 120 caps and scored 3 goals for his country. His most significant achievement was captaining the team to victory in UEFA Euro 2004. This tournament victory is a defining moment in Greek sports history. He is listed in various football databases, including UEFA (ID: 13929), FIFA (archived ID: 155517), and Transfermarkt (ID: 9867).

### Political Career
Following his retirement from football, Zagorakis entered politics. He became a member of the New Democracy party in 2014.
- **Eighth European Parliament:** He was elected in the 2014 European Parliament election in Greece, serving from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 2019. He was part of the European People's Party Group.
- **Ninth European Parliament:** He was re-elected in the 2019 European Parliament election, serving from July 2, 2019, to July 16, 2024. He continued his affiliation with the European People's Party Group.
- **Work Locations:** During his tenure as an MEP, his work locations included Strasbourg and Brussels.
- **Digital Presence:** He maintains a Facebook profile under the handle "th.zagorakis" and has an MEP Directory ID of 125067.

### Identity and Recognition
Zagorakis is recognized globally as a human and a specific instance of a Greek footballer and MEP. His identity is documented across numerous Wikipedia languages, including Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, English, Spanish, Estonian, Persian, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Croatian, Hungarian, Armenian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh, Korean, Latvian, Malagasy, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simple English, Serbian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Chinese. He has a Commons category dedicated to him and is identified by various unique IDs such as the VIAF ID (9275174413964708700009) and Freebase ID (/m/03c4xq). His image is available on Wikimedia Commons.

## References

1. Members of the European Parliament
2. [Members of the European Parliament](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/125067/THEODOROS_ZAGORAKIS/home)
3. Transfermarkt
4. FBref
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. [Source](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/portal/de)
7. [Members of the European Parliament](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/125067/THEODOROS_ZAGORAKIS/home)
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. [Source](https://football.aek.com/player/56)