MARCH 15tH:
On this day in 1930, Kostas Nestoridis, one of Greece’s most legendary soccer players, renowned for his goal-scoring prowess and technical skill, was born. Starting his career with Panionios, he rose to prominence at AEK Athens in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming a dominant force in Greek soccer. Known for his exceptional dribbling, powerful shots, and deadly free kicks, Nestoridis won the Greek league’s top scorer title five consecutive times (1958-1962), a feat that cemented his legacy. Despite AEK not always being a title contender, his individual brilliance stood out, making him a fan favorite. He later played in Australia before transitioning into coaching. His influence on Greek soccer remains significant, with fans and players alike admiring his skill, sportsmanship, and contributions to the sport. Nestoridis is celebrated as one of AEK’s greatest legends and a pivotal figure in Greece’s soccer history, inspiring generations of aspiring strikers with his remarkable talent.
MARCH 17TH:
On this day in 1988, Nikolas Asimos (ne Asimopoulos), the Greek composer and singer, passed away at the young age of 38. At the age of 18, he moved from Athens to study at the Philosophical School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. From a young age, his artistic vein was made evident by his participation in theater groups, but his biggest loves were music and the guitar. He became a self-taught music writer and appeared in many Athenian music halls. He often had problems with the police, particularly during the period of military rule – the junta – in Greece and the consequent restrictions on civil liberties. Asimos became known as a counter-culture artist – his behavior and songs were often received as provocative by the general public. He had strong political opinions and ideologically, he could have been categorized as an anarchist, but he never accepted being put in a specific category of political ideology. In 1987, he was accused of the rape of an ex-girlfriend and was forcibly led to a mental institution. Shortly afterwards, he was sent to Korydallos Prison but was eventually bailed out. He never managed to overcome his bitterness over this charge and his psychological state began to deteriorate. After two failed attempts, he committed suicide by hanging in his house. It is rumored that he kept a diary during the last 15 days of his life in which he described his efforts to find something worth living for. He marked those pages with an ‘X’ which meant that he had not found anything worth living for. The last day that he ‘wrote’ in the diary was also marked with an ‘X’ – which was the day that he hung himself.
MARCH 21ST:
On this day in 1920, Manolis Chiotis, the famous singer, composer, and soloist bouzouki player, was born in Thessaloniki. At the age of 14, Chiotis and his family moved to Athens where his father opened a cafe. It was there that Chiotis began his stage career, and one year later, he recorded his first song. The German Occupation eventually became a reality and many record companies in Greece shut down, and it was after this time that he started to gain much popularity. He became known for blending popular folk music (‘laika’) and more modern Greek and international sounds. It is said that Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis took Princess Grace Kelly to one of Chiotis’ shows. Callas told Chiotis that she had been translating the lyrics for the American actress and that she loved them. It was then that Kelly asked Chiotis what the difference was between a bouzouki and an electric guitar. Chiotis said, “Ms. Callas, please explain to Princess Grace that the strings of an electric guitar are vibrated due to electricity, while the song of the strings of a bouzouki come straight from the heart.”
