 Theodoros Maniateas | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Theodoros Maniateas | ||
| Date of birth | (1945-03-19)19 March 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Athens, Greece | ||
| Date of death | 20 September 2014(2014-09-20) (aged 69) | ||
| Place of death | Athens, Greece | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1957–1964 | Panthisaikos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1964–1969 | AEK Athens | 18 | (0) |
| Total | 18 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1964–1965 | Greece U19 | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1985 | Aris Skala | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Theodoros Maniateas (Greek:Θεόδωρος Μανιατέας; 19 March 1945 – 20 September 2014) was aGreek professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper.
Maniateas started his career at the age of 12 as a striker at Panthisaikos. The people of the club, realizing his football skills, relocated him to the position of goalkeeper. The agents of the big clubs did not take long to recognize the young talented goalkeeper and put him under surveillance.Olympiacos was the first club to invite him for a try-out in a training match atNea Smyrni Stadium, where he received flattering comments from the strikers of the red and whites,Giorgos Sideris andAris Papazoglou, who recommended his immediate acquisition.
In the summer of 1964, after the persistence of the manager,Tryfon Tzanetis, he was eventually acquired byAEK Athens as a third choice goalkeeper afterStelios Serafidis andVangelis Petrakis. His co-existence with the other two goalkeepers did not leave him enough chances for participation. During his time at the club he got opportunities to participate inCup matches against smaller clubs, as well as in friendly matches. In the summer of 1966, as part of the team's preparation for the upcoming season, AEK traveled toNew York City where in a friendly tournament they faced theSantos ofPelé,Eusébio'sBenfica and the expatriateGreek American. Maniateas played as a starter in the match against Santos and made a sensational appearance although AEK was ultimately defeated 1–0.[1] His appearance caused Pelé to admire and bow to the face of the Greek goalkeeper, while the organizers awarded him a golden watch, a valuable possession by the standards of the time, for being the player of the tournament.[2][3] A member of the squad that won second place in theBalkans Cup in1967, losing only in the final byFenerbahçe.[4] He was a regular player in the team that reached thequarter-finals of theEuropean Cup in 1969.[5] During his spell at AEK, he won theChampionship in 1968 season and the Cups in 1965.
In the summer of 1969, frustrated by his lack of participation, he clashed with the management and technical leadership of the team, resulting in his release from the club with the consent of the manager,Branko Stanković. Olympiacos immediately tried to signed him, but they eventually failed, after a financial disagreement. He continued to train with Olympiacos and to compete in friendly matches, until the summer of 1970 when he retired at the age of just 25.[6]
Maniateas shared withVasilis Konstantinou the position of goalkeeper of the National Youth Team, where they played in theEuropean Championship in1964 and1965.[7][8]
Maniateas was married and had three children. He regularly attended AEK and the club's Veterans Association events. In 20 September 2014 he died at the age of 69, after a 5-year struggle with lung cancer.[9]
AEK Athens