Takis Loukanidis one of the best Greek football players in the late 50s and 60s died on Thursday at the age of 81.
Loukanidis made 23 appearances for the Greek national team and scored three goals from 1958 to 1967.
Born in Paranesti, a village in the broader area of Drama, he began playing football with the youth team of AEK Komotini, and joined the senior team of Doxa Drama F.C. in 1955.
He was much sought after by many Greek clubs. Italian and Turkish clubs had also expressed interest in signing him.
He finally joined Greek giants Panathinaikos.
He made his debut against AEK on March 28, 1962. In the following match he scored his first goal with Panathinaikos against Proodeftiki on April 1, 1962 .
During his career at Panathinaikos, Loukanidis scored 59 goals.
He won three Greek championship medals (in 1962, 1964 and 1965) and one Greek Cup medal (in 1967).
Video (in Greek)