The legendary veteran goalkeeper Nikos Sarganis is fighting for his life, according a facebook post by journalist Antonis Antonopoulos.
Sarganis, also known as “The Phantom,” is 70-years-old, battling cancer, and is in a coma in an Athens’ hospital.
“I was shocked when I heard the news. Unfortunately, Nikos Sarganis is in a tragic condition. He is in a coma in an Athens hospital. The greatest goalkeeper to emerge from Greek football has sadly been badly hit by this devastating illness. Fighting this monster is a tough battle, and it’s hard to emerge victorious. So tragic, my friend Nikolas. Truly tragic,” wrote the sports journalist.
Nikos Sarganis: 58 Caps for the National Team
Nikos Sarganis excelled during the 1980s, playing for Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, and other teams. Beyond his exceptional performance as a goalkeeper, he was skilled in penalty-taking, scoring several goals, and earning the nickname “Phantom.”
He was first called up to the Greek national team in the fall of 1980. Sarganis made an impressive debut on October 15, 1980, in a 1–0 away win against Denmark during the 1982 World Cup qualifiers. His extraordinary saves, particularly a lightning-fast reaction to a close-range volley by the renowned Allan Simonsen, secured his team’s victory and led Danish journalists to nickname him “Phantom”—a name that stuck with him throughout his career. He played for the national team until 1991, earning 58 caps in total.
