Former Panathinaikos player Giorgos Gonios dies at age 79

Giorgos Gonios, a prominent former Panathinaikos footballer, passed away on April 16 at the age of 79. Born in Athens on December 22, 1946, he joined Panathinaikos from Agios Ierotheos in 1968 and played for the club until 1979. During his eleven-season tenure, he made 310 appearances and scored 31 goals across all competitions. Initially recruited as a forward, where he scored 20 goals in his first season and helped the team win the 1969 double, he later transitioned into a defensive role. His career stats include 253 league matches with 26 goals and 21 European appearances with 4 goals. He was a member of the squad that reached the 1971 European Cup final. Panathinaikos issued an official statement expressing condolences for his death, honoring his contribution to the club's history.