Legendary Greece goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis has announced that he is hanging up his gloves.
Legendary Greece goalkeeper calls time on playing career
Legendary Greece goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis has announced that he is hanging up his gloves.
The 39-year-old was the last line of defence for Otto Rehhagel's side as they stunned the football fraternity with their Euro 2004 triumph.
Nikopolidis has now informed his club Olympiakos of his intention to retire from playing and is expected to work at the Athens giants in another capacity.
A statement from Olympiakos said: "The director general of Olympiakos, Ioannis Chrysikopoulos, met at the offices with team captain Antonios Nikopolidis, who informed him of his decision to quit football."
The move brings to a close a colourful career for Nikopolidis, capped by Greece's success in Portugal six years' ago when he kept six clean sheets in the tournament.
In a club career played solely in his homeland, Nikopolidis won 10 Greek championships - five for Panathinaikos and five for Olympiakos.
He retired from international football after Euro 2008 having won a record 90 caps.
