In 1974, at the historic Maracanã Stadium, following the match between Greece and Brazil, the Brazilian coach Mário Zagallo bowed in respect.
The “rock” of the defense for Olympiakos Volos, Olympiakos Piraeus, and the Greek National Team, played 17 times for the national side, earning the love of fans, teammates, and even opponents—something very few athletes achieve.
Wearing the Olympiakos Piraeus jersey, he participated in numerous league matches as well as European competitions. However, one of the most memorable moments of his career was his participation in the historic game against Brazil’s national team at the legendary Maracanã Stadium.
It was April 28, 1974. Brazil, reigning World Champions from 1970, was preparing for the upcoming World Cup in West Germany by organizing friendly matches with European teams, including Greece.
The Greek delegation, after an exhausting 22-hour journey, arrived in Rio de Janeiro on April 25, where they were warmly welcomed by the local Greek community.
The legendary Maracanã, with a capacity of 200,000, was nearly full, and Takis Synetopoulos later told the newspaper Tachydromos:
“In that game, everything I did worked. The next day, the newspapers wrote: Brazil – Synetopoulos 0–0, in a Maracanã packed with 180,000 fans.” After the game, Brazilian coach Mário Zagallo stated:
“The Greek team was not what we were told. The players had strength and technique, and players like Domazos, Synetopoulos, and Eleftherakis could easily play in Brazil.”
Greece’s starting eleven that day included: Oikonomopoulos (Panathinaikos), Pallas (Aris), Kampas (Panathinaikos), Takis Synetopoulos (Olympiakos), Iosifidis (PAOK), Eleftherakis (Panathinaikos), Domazos (Panathinaikos), Sarafis (PAOK), Terzanidis (PAOK), Antoniadis (Panathinaikos), and Delikaris (Olympiakos).
Born in Volos in 1948, Takis Synetopoulos showed his rich talent playing on the local fields from a young age. In 1963, at the age of 15, he joined Olympiakos Volos and quickly rose to the first team. He even managed to play alongside Vasilis Botinos before the latter transferred to Olympiakos in 1964.
Strong and with excellent physical condition, Synetopoulos had the ability to play effectively in nearly every position on the field.
Olympiakos Piraeus, with easy access to Volos and a history of acquiring players from the city—such as Kokkinakis, Moustaklis, Tzinis, Botinos, and Zanteroglou—kept close tabs on the young and versatile midfielder. They attempted to sign him in the 1965–66 season, but Olympiakos Volos firmly refused to negotiate his release. During those years, Synetopoulos had already made a name for himself playing for Greece’s Youth National Team.
In 1969, he enlisted in the Navy to serve his military duty and immediately joined the Armed Forces National Team, with which he won the World Military Cup (CISM).
His transfer to Olympiakos Piraeus happened in 1970, during the military junta, under a special provision that allowed conscripted footballers to transfer clubs for the duration of their service. At that time, transfers were limited by a decree from then General Secretary of Sports, Konstantinos Aslanidis.
Synetopoulos only wanted to play for Olympiakos and rejected all other offers. Despite efforts from Panathinaikos and AEK, the player remained firm. Panathinaikos eventually turned to Kampas from Pierikos and AEK to Toskas from Trikala. Olympiakos emerged victorious in the pursuit without further conflict.
Takis Synetopoulos had a remarkable career with Olympiakos Piraeus, being a key and irreplaceable player for nine full seasons, and a regular for the Greek national team, with 17 appearances between 1970 and 1975.
His primary position was as a defensive midfielder, playing just in front of the center-backs, where he delivered some of his best performances. However, he could also effectively cover the libero role and every defensive position—side back, stopper—and even played as a forward when the team needed him.
In 1979, he returned to his roots at Olympiakos Volos, where he ended his career in 1982.
He wore the Olympiakos Piraeus jersey in a total of 345 matches: 170 in the league, 72 in friendlies, 68 in international friendlies, 21 in the Greek Cup, and 14 in European competitions. With Olympiakos, he won three league championships and three Greek Cups, including two domestic doubles.
In an interview with Tachydromos on December 1, 2012, Mr. Synetopoulos spoke about the late president of Olympiakos Piraeus, Nikos Goulandris:
“Captain Nikolas could sign any player he wanted back then. He had great affection for me, and I for him. Just imagine—if he wanted, he could’ve dismantled both Panathinaikos and AEK.”
“He would come to training sessions and hand out money. He’d say: ‘Whichever team wins the scrimmage gets 30,000 drachmas each.’ Thank God, during Goulandris’ time, everyone who played for Olympiakos got paid.”