Pari Pantazopoulos

Paraskevas "Pari" Pantazopoulos (Greek: Παρασκευάς Πανταζόπουλος; born 17 September 1988 in Athens) is a Greek-born American soccer player who currently plays for Panathinaikos Chicago in the National Premier Soccer League.

Paraskevas "Pari" Pantazopoulos
Personal information
Full name Paraskevas Pantazopoulos
Date of birth (1988-09-17) 17 September 1988
Place of birth Athens, Greece
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Panathinaikos Chicago
Youth career
1992–1998 Vrilisia
2000-2007 Chicago Magic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 ASIL Lysi 20 (2)
2008–2009 Zakynthos 20 (2)
2009–2010 Korinthos 9 (1)
2010 Aspropyrgos Enosis 9 (1)
2010-2012 Chicago Fire 15 (0)
2012 Puerto Rico Islanders 25 (0)
2013 Chicago Inferno
2020– Panathinaikos Chicago 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 July 2020

Career

Youth and high school

Pantazopoulos was born in Athens and began playing football at the age of four. He played for the Athens youth team Vrilisia F.C. for four years before his family moved to the United States in 1998. In Chicago, he played with the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program where he was recognized by the Chicago Magic, one of America's top boys' sides.[1]

Pantazopoulos played in the Chicago Magic's starting XI and reached the US Youth Soccer National Championships final in Florida where they lost 1-0 to California's Arsenal F.C. With the US ODP 1988's, he competed against the Brazilian team in Lloret de Mar, Spain in 2006.[2]

Pantazopoulos was a regular with Prospect High School's starting XI. During his high school career with the Prospect Knights, he tallied 51 goals, earning an Illinois All-State team selection over his four-year high school career.[3][4]

Professional

During Pantazopoulos' senior high school season, he was offered a trial by German first division side F.C. Koln but declined the offer in favour of remaining with his high school team. In 2006, he signed with ASIL Lysi, a second division team in Cyprus. In 2007, Pantazopoulos signed with Greek third division side A.P.S. Zakynthos.[5] After two seasons in Zakynthos, Pantazopoulos signed a one-year contract with fellow Greek third division side Korinthos F.C.. He spent the first half of the season with Korinthos and the second half with Aspropyrgos Enosis.[6]

In January 2011, Pantazopoulos returned to the United States and won an open tryout, earning a trial with Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire, the club he has supported since his childhood. [7] Chicago officially signed him to a contract on 4 April 2011.[8]

Pantazopoulos was waived by Chicago on 11 March 2012, six days prior to the club's first game of the MLS season.[9]

Pantazopoulos trialled with Indy Eleven of the North American Soccer League in 2013, before signing with Chicago Inferno of the USL Premier Development League.

In May 2020, Pantazopoulos was named team captain for National Premier Soccer League side Panathinaikos Chicago.[10]

References
  1. "Chicago Magic". Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  2. "Chicago Magic News March to July 2006". Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  3. Cole, Andy (30 August 2006). "Pari Power". THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS. Journal Online. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  4. "Boys' Soccer: Northwest Team Previews". Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  5. "Greek Soccer Club Signs Pari Pantazopoulos". Retrieved 13 September 2007.
  6. "Εντυπωσίασε ο Πάρης Πανταζόπουλος στα tryout των Σικάγο Φάιρ" (in Greek). Contra.gr. 20 January 2011.
  7. Crandall, Jeff (18 January 2011). "Get to know Pari, Joining the Fire "A dream come true."". www.chicago-fire.com. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  8. http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2011/04/fire-sign-pari-pantazopoulos
  9. http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/03/chicago-fire-waive-pari-pantazopoulos
  10. "Pantazopoulos named Team Captain". Facebook.com. Panathinaikos Chicago. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
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