It seems like yesterday to zealous fans, but it’s been nine years since the Greek national soccer team won the European championship for the first time ever with a dramatic series of performances, a month before the Olympic Games in Athens. Those were the days.
On July 4, 2004, the UEFA European Football Championship, the 12th edition of the quadrennial football tournament for men’s national teams in Europe, were held in Portugal.
Angelos Charisteas scored the winning goal with a header at the 57th minute, which was the most valuable goal in Greek football’s history and thanks to which the Greek players of coach Otto Rehhagel were crowned European champions.
After the final whistle, millions of Greeks took the streets and celebrated. The tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award went to Theodoros Zagorakis, who lifted the trophy to Portugal’s sky with his team around him.
When they returned to Greece the next day, more than 100,000 people were waiting to greet them in Athens, surrounding their bus and screaing for their football heroes at a ceremony in Kallimarmaro Stadium in Athens, Greece.
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