Legendary Greek footballer of AEK Athens Mimis Papaioannou passed away today at the age of 80. He had been suffering from serious health problems for years since the legend of AEK and Greek football was battling Alzheimer’s disease.

He had a huge career on and off the football pitch and could have played for Spanish giants Real Madrid who had pursued him, but he wanted to make a career alongside Stelios Kazantzidis. He sang the anthem of AEK, logged many kilometers on the pitches, and will be remembered as one of the greats in Greek football.

Originally from Nea Nikomedia, Imathia, born on August 23, 1942, he developed into one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game in Greece. The IFFHS even recognized him as the leading Greek footballer of the 20th century. In 2003 he was voted as the third best Greek football player by EPO, while in 2021 again IFFHS chose him in the best 11 of all time in Greek football.

Mimis Papaioannou started his career in the team of his hometown, Nea Genea Nikomedia. In 1962 he transferred to AEK for 140,000 drachmas.

He competed with AEK for 17 consecutive seasons and with them, he received great distinctions. He won five First National championships (1963, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1979) and three Greek cups (1964, 1966, 1978). He was also twice the top scorer (1964, 1966) and was a key contributor to the team’s two impressive European cup runs, the 1968-69 European Cup and the 1976-77 UEFA Cup.