Greek Australian football mourns loss of Hellas Melbourne veteran Stratos Kalogeros

The Greek Australian shot assemblage is mourning the nonaccomplishment of erstwhile Hellas Melbourne subordinate Stratos Kalogeros, a respected fig who made a lasting interaction some connected and disconnected the pitch.

Kalogeros, who passed distant astatine the property of 88 connected 19 April, was laid to remainder connected Monday, leaving down a bequest that spans generations of players successful Melbourne’s shot scene.

Born successful Athens connected 21 July 1937 to parents from Kaloneri, Kozani, helium migrated to Australia successful 1959 arsenic portion of the wave of footballers who helped signifier the aboriginal years of the crippled within the Greek diaspora.

He began his nonrecreational vocation arsenic a furrier, a trade helium had learned successful Greece, and aboriginal became progressive successful nutrient retail. With perseverance and vision, helium acceptable up delicatessen businesses and then a supermarket successful Oakleigh, with the assistance of his precocious friend, Tony Beris.

He roseate to prominence wearing the blue-and-white jersey of Hellas Melbourne, becoming portion of a aureate epoch for the nine during the 1960s. Known for his strength, speed and commitment, Kalogeros embodied a procreation of players who, arsenic helium erstwhile reflected, “played for the shirt, not for money.”

Beyond his playing career, Kalogeros near an arsenic important people arsenic a manager with Nea Hellas successful Port Melbourne, where helium developed a fig of players who would spell connected to vie astatine the highest levels of Australian football.

Kalogeros and Kourkoulakos astatine Hellas’ aged crushed successful Middle Park.

Among those helium mentored were Aki Kotsamihalis, Mehmet Durakovic, Mickey Peterson, Joe Palatsidis — present adjunct manager of the Matildas — arsenic well arsenic Peter Tsolakis, Con Tangalakis, George Kalogeros and Nick Papanikolaou. Many of his players progressed to National League clubs including South Melbourne and Heidelberg, with some representing the Socceroos.

His power was evident astatine his funeral, where erstwhile players gathered to wage tribute to the antheral who helped signifier their careers.

“His team produced footballers of exceptionally precocious level,” Phillip Diamataris told Neos Kosmos. “It was a very special infinitesimal for each of us to travel together to honour him.”

Diamataris added that Kalogeros played a cardinal relation successful gathering the club’s identity.

“Stratos was instrumental successful processing the South Melbourne Hellas brand,” helium said.

“He was a very arrogant South Melbourne idiosyncratic who carried that with him each his life.”

Stratos Kalogeros (standing, left) with Hellas successful 1966, soon earlier K. Nestoridis took implicit the team.

Diamataris said that pridefulness was evident adjacent successful his last farewell.

“There were South Melbourne shirts placed successful the coffin, and a drafting of him successful the South Melbourne uniform. He’s taken South Melbourne with him… to paradise.”

“He was a highly regarded idiosyncratic successful the community, but very humble — ne'er someone who sought the spotlight. He was softly spoken, respectful each his life.”

Kalogeros besides built a successful beingness beyond football, operating a supermarket successful Oakleigh, while remaining profoundly connected to the community.

Reflecting connected his playing days successful a past interview, helium spoke with pridefulness astir the aureate epoch of Hellas Melbourne, recalling crowds of up to 25,000 astatine Olympic Park and memorable matches, including a celebrated 1–0 victory implicit Juventus.

“The stadium was packed, the ambiance unthinkable — it felt similar Greece versus Italy,” helium said.

He besides expressed interest astir the modern game, noting declining attendances and a displacement successful mentality distant from passionateness for the jersey.

The Nea Hellas team coached by Stratos Kalogeros.

Despite not considering himself among the biggest names of his era, Kalogeros remained arrogant of his contribution.

“I whitethorn not person been 1 of the stars, but I was a strong and accelerated subordinate and I gave everything connected the tract for the shirt,” helium said.

Kalogirou leaves down his wife, Georgia, his children, Giorgos and Angeliki, Theodora and George, and his granddaughters, Malamo and Georgia.

His passing marks the extremity of an epoch for Melbourne’s Greek shot assemblage — 1 defined by passion, individuality and a heavy transportation to the game.

Players developed by Stratos Kalogeros astatine his funeral.