Fotis Balopoulos

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Fotis Balopoulos

| image = Fotis Balopoulos.jpg

| caption = Sticker of Fotis Balopoulos with AEK Athens

| height =

| fullname = Fotios Balopoulos

| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|12|17|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Korydallos, Greece

| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|11|3|1943|12|17|df=yes}}

| death_place = Porto Rafti, Greece

| position = Center back

| youthyears1 = –1958

| youthclubs1 = Enosi Korydallos

| years1 = 1958–1964

| clubs1 = Proodeftiki

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1964–1970

| clubs2 = AEK Athens

| caps2 = 125

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 1970–1972

| clubs3 = Vyzas Megara

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 1972–1973

| clubs4 = Atromitos

| caps4 = 32

| goals4 = 0

| totalcaps =

| totalgoals =

| nationalteam1 = Greece

| nationalyears1 = 1965–1969

| nationalcaps1 = 10

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Fotis Balopoulos ({{langx|el|Φώτης Μπαλόπουλος}}; 17 December 1943 – 3 November 2012) was a Greek professional footballer who played as a center back.{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/fotis-balopoulos/|title=Fotis Balopoulos|work=worldfootball.net|access-date=5 November 2021}}

Club career

Balopoulos started playing football in his neighborhood club Enosi Korydallos and in 1958 he was transferred to Proodeftiki, where he had a successful spell, attracting the interest of the Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens. He played with Proodeftiki until 1964, both first and second national division after their establishment.

In the summer of 1964, he made the big transfer to AEK Athens, where he became more widely known and played their jersey for 6 seasons he won a Greek Cup in 1964 and a championship in 1968. He was member of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup in 1969.{{Cite web|url=https://www.enwsi.gr/178767/retro-aek/196869-i-proti-elliniki-omada-se-evropaiki-oktada-i-apogoitefsi-entos-sinoron-video-foto.html|title=1968/69: Η πρώτη ελληνική ομάδα σε ευρωπαϊκή οκτάδα, η απογοήτευση εντός συνόρων|first=Σταύρος|last=Καζαντζόγλου|date=15 June 2019|website=enwsi.gr|language=el}} In the summer of 1969, by decision of the Junta regime he was removed, with the accusation of being of left-wing political beliefs and was sidelined from the club for a year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.enwsi.gr/166488/retro-aek/otan-i-chounta-ton-sintagmatarchon-evaze-ston-gipso-ke-tin-aek.html|title=Όταν η χούντα των συνταγματαρχών έβαζε στον γύψο τη χώρα και διέλυε την ΑΕΚ|date=21 April 2020|website=enwsi.gr}}

In the summer of 1970 he went to Vyzas Megara, where he played for two years, during which he suffered several punishments and exclusions from the dictatorial regime and he even proceeded to refrain from football. In the summer of 1972 he moved to Atromitos, who had just been promoted to the first division and played for one year, when in the summer of 1973 ended his career.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aekpedia.com/2015/05/23/%cf%86%cf%8e%cf%84%ce%b7%cf%82-%ce%bc%cf%80%ce%b1%ce%bb%cf%8c%cf%80%ce%bf%cf%85%ce%bb%ce%bf%cf%82/|title=Φώτης Μπαλόπουλος|website=aekpedia.com}}

International career

Balopoulos played a total of 10 times with the Greece, between 1965 and 1969.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=1179|title=Fotis Balopoulos|website=eu-football.info|access-date=5 November 2021}} He made his debut on 23 May 1965 in an away match against the Soviet Union, as part of the 1966 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, under Lakis Petropoulos.{{Cite web|url=http://www.epo.gr/media/files/ETHNIKES_OMADES/MATCH_ANDRES_1929-2000/ethniki_andrwn_1961-65.pdf|title=Greece matches 1961–1965|website=epo.gr}}

Personal life

His brother, Vangelis was also a footballer and they shared a common spell at Proodeftiki. He lived far from the public eye in Porto Rafti, until his death on 3 November 2012, at the age of 69.