« If you didn’t see him … » – THE NEWS

Those who saw him in the reds swear that they did not fit more. It was like stroked the hand of a tsarouch, a gyne. As a work of art. Thanassis Bebi’s « armor » that « if you didn’t see him, you don’t know what you lost » …

Yes, for decades as if all of them were argued every time the conversation approached the absolute « 10 » of Olympiacos. Equipped with the same attack. « If you didn’t see him … ». From Savva Theodoridis, who loved him as his brother to Mimis Domazo who had his photo in the head and heard Ambelokipi shouting « Olibik » every time he tried to imitate his childhood image with a ball.

And by George Sideris, who was left with Kaimos that he could not play with him in his « showers » as the publisher of « light » Theodoros Nikolaidis who did not talk about it.

Goal with … the trayca.

And to you the stories that you don’t know where the myth goes beyond reality. It was, he says, one of the big derby with the National. Kerberos for the opposite is Stathis Mandalozis, the first to win the « wildcat » emblem. He used to play wearing a tray. At some point the baby arrives outside the area (his). He passes one, two, stops in front of Mandalozis and as he dribbles, he grabs the tragedy from his head. And go goals, all together. The ball, the trada, the Mandalozis trying to prevent evil. Like those football comics.

From this « paste » made by « Pinocchio », as baptized by Cypriot journalist Pavlos Krinaios. A man (1.64 m). Xerkian. But on the stadium « Orchestra Manager ». The ball on his feet … is ready, ready to make every laugh, and he with his head « high » first playing the next phase in his mind and then reveal it to others, through his endless repertoire. The kids said, whose only contact with him was the short radio that he was imagined two meters as he was leading the Holy Mouratis, Russianides, Dariva, Kotridis, Weaver and everyone else to football immortality. When their Olympiacos won the title « Legend » forever, inspiring the whole post -war Greece.

Thanasis Bebis and George Sideris. Two « sacred » names in the history of Olympiacos unite the generations of legend. Bebis, the architect of the game, and Sideris, the downtrodge of scorer who admired his mentor

He was born in the late 1920s, in Petralona. He first made ball in the green birds and then in the neighboring Akratos Ano Petralona. He moved to Fostiras of Taurus in 1947 and soon became a member of the famous five of his strikers who later established him as a « giant murderer ». In order to wear the reds he had to reach the courts, as Fostiras showed a paper with his signature in an eternal dedication statement: « Declared that I will be a faithful follower and never give up my favorite club, Fostira. » Bebis accused his team’s management of forgery, but he did not go out. This is how he left for Piraeus having a great deal of patience and a time -consuming blockade that delayed his integration.

15 glorified years

He stayed at Olympiacos for almost 15 years. He won six championships (the five in a row, but not the 1954 as he did not play that season due to a confrontation with the administration) with the Piraeus. He took eight cups, but also won the Balkans in 1963. In 1959 he was in the first European Reds against Milan. In 1961, in the famous 2-1 victory in the friendly with Santos Pele, he was only injured in the second minute. Outside the Stadium Saint. Never smoked. He never won. Inside the beast. Ready to put them with a monk of his monk. Once Olympiacos played in Thessaloniki with PAOK in a lot of the title of the champion. The games then took place in the space that is now the international exhibition. And the « tension » was cut in the air with the knife.

The stands were so close to the pitch that the reds in the respite did not think about the locker room approach so as not to pass through the world. They stood to rest in the cross. Eventually they win and win the title! But leaving – three hours after the end – the team’s coach becomes « summer » from the stones. Everyone has in mind the obvious. To leave the story behind them. But Bebis didn’t think about it a second time. He pulls his head out of a window, hangs in the air holding his shirt and starts shouting: « Well …, we believe in it. And we play for her.  » The same man who wore his cross on his throat on the neck of Mimis Domazos at the 1960 finale in Karaiskakis in Karaiskakis, saying « little, you will become my successor when I stop ». Olympiacos’ great, then in the then virtuoso of the eternal opponent. With the morality of another era.

When their own Olympiacos won the title « Legend » forever inspiring the whole post -war Greece

Not to forget: he loved to scour pranks to his brother friend Andreas Mouratis. « Missouri » with the letters and a lot of information was not doing well. And of course the information about opponents in football came up with the dropper. So Bebis was starting half of the week to sprinkle him for the striker that Muratis would have to stop on Sunday. What went down to his head. Many times before the games, in the « warming up », he showed Muratis at the chance a footballer of the other team. « He is, » he used to say, and when the truth was revealed it was … a mess.

He didn’t play much with the National Team. Just 17 entries because « I couldn’t stand the injustice ». He broke up with the EPO administration, when the federation did not appear to the agreement that he would pay for that lost football players (who were obviously not professionals and were not biopolized by football). It was a match with Israel in 1953. On the eve of two or three, he left the hotel. The next day he returned, played and with his own goal, Greece prevailed 1-0. But the glass had cracked. And it broke on a trip to Madrid when the federation decided not to grant the $ 2-3 salary that UEFA had established for the international.

Always loyal

His football circle closed at the port of his heart in 1963. But not his relationship with Olympiacos. Where he returned in the 1980s to play the role of the service coach several times. In the 15 games he sat on the bench in 1979-80, 1983-84 and 1984-85, his team never lost (10 wins and 5 draws). Indeed, the last 1983-84 match Olympiacos welcomed the (already) Panathinaikos champion and wanted at all costs to come to Europe. The Greens dreamed of triumphant in Karaiskakis, but Bebis was simple and understandable. « If they want, the EPO bikes send them to make the tour of Karaiskakis. Tour of the triumph ever »! With a goal by Mitropoulos (86΄) Olympiacos prevails. « Let us win Panathinaikos and lose from the … Buddha! » ​​Pinocchio shouted, leaving for the locker room.

Last image: On October 8, 2012 at the Taurus Stadium. On the occasion of a friendly of veterans, the PAE honors its huge contribution. Bebis walks a few steps, reaches the flag of Olympiacos and worshiping it, kissing it three times.

Five years later, he passed away on July 23, 2017. Separation, wanting in a few words to say everything.