Former Olympic Soccer Coach Dies

Longtime Vienna resident and internationally-acclaimed soccer coach Alketas (Alkis) Panagoulias, who coached the American and Greek national soccer teams and the 1994 U.S. Olympic team, died June 18 from complications of a stroke.

He was 78.

The proud grandfather, father and husband was born in Greece and traveled the world for his career, but it was Vienna he loved to call home.

Born in Greece, Alkis was an international soccer player with Aris F.C. Thessaloniki, Greece. In 1962, he arrived in the U.S. to further his education and became the head coach of the Greek American Atlas (former  "Greek Americans") of New York. He led the team to three consecutive U.S. Open titles in 1967, '68 and '69. He returned to Athens, Greece, in 1972 as the assistant coach of the Greek National Team and became head coach the year after. He coached the Greek team from 1973–1981, including the first appearance of Greece in the EURO Cup in 1980.

He coached the famous Olympiacos C.F.P. from 1981 to 1983, earning the championship title in 1982 and 1983.

Alkis returned to the U.S. to become the head coach of the United States Men's National Soccer Team, Team America, based in Washington, D.C., RFK Stadium, from 1983 to 1985. He served as head coach of the U.S. Olympic Soccer Team in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

He then returned to Athens, Greece to coach Olympiacos C.F.P., earning the championship title in 1987. He also coached Aris FC from 1987-1990. He returned as head coach of the Greek National Soccer team in 1992 and led the team to its first appearance in a FIFA World Cup in 1994. He coached Iraklis FC in 1997 and coached Aris Thessaloniki F.C. from 1998-1999.

Following his retirement from coaching, Panagoulias served as president of Aris Thessaloniki F.C. in 2002. During the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, he served as venue manager for the soccer events held in Athens. He was elected member of the city council of Thessaloniki, and was a candidate for the Greek Parliament 1991. He was a FIFA instructor, a National Faculty member of the U.S. Academy of Sports and a member of the USSF Coaches Council. His biography was published in Greece in November 2007. He was a member of the USA Soccer Federation Hall of Fame. His biography "From the White Tower to the White House" was published in Greece in 2007.

He is survived by his wife, Vanna, his daughter Despina, son John and two grandchildren, Mikaela and Zoe.

Beth Gearhart contributed information to this story.