Vasilis Hatzipanagis

ABOUT VASILIS HATZIPANAGIS

Footballer who often played to sell-out crowds and whose skills as a midfielder became the stuff of legend.

He had to apply for Soviet citizenship before being allowed to join Uzbekistan club Pakhtakor.

His contract with Iraklis was worded in such a way that he was never free to leave the team, playing for them from 1975 until 1991 over 281 appearances.

His parents were Greek political refugees in the USSR.

He was considered to be on par with Diego Armando Maradona .