Panajot Pano

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Panajot Pano
Panagiotis Panou

| image = Panajot Pano (1964).jpg

| upright = 1.1

| caption = Pano in 1964

| full_name = Panajot Thoma Pano

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1939|3|7}}

| birth_place = Durrës, Albania

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2010|01|19|1939|3|7}}

| death_place = Jacksonville, Florida, United States

| position = Forward

| years1 = 1957–1960 | clubs1 = 17 Nëntori Tirana | caps1 = 28 | goals1 = 8

| years2 = 1960–1975 | clubs2 = Partizani Tirana | caps2 = 210 | goals2 = 136

| totalcaps = 238

| totalgoals = 144{{cite web|url=https://albanopedia.com/biographies/panajot-pano#google_vignette|title=Panajot Pano: Albanian “Golden” Player|date=15 November 2022}}

| nationalyears1 = 1963–1973

| nationalteam1 = Albania

| nationalcaps1 = 28

| nationalgoals1 = 4

}}

Panajot Thoma Pano ({{langx|el|Παναγιώτης Θωμάς Πάνου|Panayiotis Thomas Panou}}; 7 March 1939 – 19 January 2010) was an Albanian football player. He started his career as a goalkeeper in the 17 Nëntori Tirana youth academy, but later became the most prolific centre-forward of their arch-rivals, Partizani Tirana. During his eighteen-year career he played 24 matches as part of the Albania national team and was awarded the Albanian UEFA Jubilee Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01ed-0f84628e2364-6d0ea26f68a5-1000--albania-s-little-puskas/|title=Albania's 'Little Puskás'|publisher=UEFA|author=Dritan Ikonomi|date=20 January 2011|access-date=25 September 2018}}

Due to his skills and abilities, Pano earned the nickname "The little Puskás" by sports commentators.{{cite web|url=https://www.vizionplus.tv/panajot-pano-perendia-mistike-e-ballkanit/|title=Panajot Pano, perëndia mistike e Ballkanit|trans-title=Panajot Pano, the mystical god of Balkan|publisher=Vizion Plus|language=sq|date=17 March 2017|access-date=26 September 2018}}

Early life

Panajot Pano (Panayiotis Thomas Panou) was born in Durrës, to ethnic Greek parents Thoma and Vasilika Pano who came from Lefterhor, Delvinë, Albania.{{cite web|url=http://en.sae.gr/?id=18621&tag=Day%20of%20National%20Mourning%20in%20Honour%20of%20the%20Greek%20Albanian%20Footballer%20Panajot%20Pano|title=Day of National Mourning in Honour of the Greek Albanian Footballer Panajot Pano|publisher=Hellenes Abroad / Greece|date=21 January 2010|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304013715/http://en.sae.gr/?id=18621&tag=Day%20of%20National%20Mourning%20in%20Honour%20of%20the%20Greek%20Albanian%20Footballer%20Panajot%20Pano|archive-date=4 March 2012|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news |last=Babaramo |first=Ilir |date=30 October 2018 |title=Panajot Pano është grek i Shqipërisë |url=https://shqiptarja.com/lajm/panajot-pano-eshte-grek-i-shqiperise |work=Shqiptarja.com}}{{Cite news |date=2 November 2018 |title=Sali Berisha i befasuar nga tifozët e Partizanit: Idhulli i tyre një minoritar grek, hera e parë një banderolë raciste |url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/sali-berisha-i-befasuar-nga-tifozet-e-partizanit-idhulli-i-tyre-nje-minoritar-grek-hera-e-pare-nje-banderole-raciste/ |work=Panorama Sport}}{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Neil Fredrik |date=9 September 2014 |title=Albania revive the days of Pano |url=https://gameofthepeople.com/2014/09/09/albania-revive-the-days-of-pano/ |website=Game of the People}} He developed a passion for the sport when he was around 4–5 years old. His parents were against him playing football and instead wanted him to focus more on school.

Club career

=Early career=

Pano begun his football career in 1954 by playing as a goalkeeper for 17 Nëntori Tirana. He their youth team which was coached by the former national team manager Adem Karapici initially and then Xhavit Shyqyri Demneri until the age of 16. He was handed his under-19s debut with Tirana by Demneri on 18 July 1956 in a youth national championship game against Korabi Peshkopi and he scored his first goal for the side on 5 August of the same year against Kukësi.

=Tirana=

Pano was handed his professional debut by manager Myslym Alla in senior side in 1958 as an 18-year-old, entering as a substitute in a Republic Cup game against Besa Kavajë which ended in a goalless draw. He scored his first senior goal in the returning leg but the team lost 2–1 and was eliminated from the competition. Pano remained a member of the under-19 team at the time and had to wait until the following season before he would establish himself as a first team member.

His league debut occurred on 4 May 1958 in the Tirana derby match against Dinamo Tirana, where he contributed in the 4–0 win by scoring a goal. Pano changed his role from goalkeeper to striker during a league match against Partizani Tirana where 17 Nëntori was losing 4–0. It was coach's Demneri decision to play him as a striker.

He played his final game for Tirana on 9 December 1959 against Besa Kavajë in a game which ended in a 4–2 win for Pano's side.

=Partizani Tirana=

{{Quote box|width=15%|align=right|quote="If Panajot Pano doesn't remember me, I remember him."|source=—Franz Beckenbauer, 1990{{cite news|url=http://www.albaniasoccer.com/english-news/1027-in-memoriam-panajot-pano-the-qgreatest-soccer-player-in-albaniaq.html|title=In Memoriam : Panajot Pano "The Greatest Soccer Player in Albania"!|publisher=Albania Soccer|language=sq|date=20 January 2010|access-date=19 August 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://sportekspres.com/video-njeriu-qe-nuk-kaloi-detin-perkujtohet-legjenda-panajot-pano/|title=VIDEO / "Njeriu që nuk kaloi detin", përkujtohet legjenda Panajot Pano|trans-title=Video / "The man who didn't pass the sea", legend Panajot Pano commemorated|publisher=Albania Soccer|language=sq|date=20 January 2010|access-date=19 August 2015}}}}

On 12 December 1958, Pano was called for the military service and eventually signed for Partizani Tirana. He played his first match for his new side under Rexhep Spahiu on 14 February 1960 against Dinamo Tirana in which he also would score his first goal for his new club in the 3–0 win. He scored 7 goals in his first season which helped the team to finish runner-up in the championship which was won by Dinamo Tirana.{{cite web|url=http://www.giovanniarmillotta.it/albania/calcio/alba60.html|title=Albanian Football Season 1960|publisher=Giovanni Armillotta|language=it|access-date=26 September 2018}}

Pano finished 1961 season as top scorer (with 14 goals) as Partizani Tirana won the championship. For his performances Pano earned the Albanian Sportsperson of the Year award.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/shqiperia-1961-e-futbollistit-panajot-pano/|title=Shqipëria 1961 e futbollistit Panajot Pano|trans-title=Albania 1961 of footballer Panajot Pano|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=1 April 2014|access-date=26 September 2018}} Two years later, he was part of the team that played in the Spartakiad tournament, an official championship of communist countries army clubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.giovanniarmillotta.it/albania/calcio/football021.html|title=Two legendary International Tournaments of Partizani Tiranë: Leipzig (1958) and Hanoi (1963)|publisher=Giovanni Armillotta|access-date=6 September 2018}} Pano scored four goals during the tournament, including a memorable hat-trick in the 3–1 win over Vorwärts B.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/partizani-i-hanoit-63/|title=Partizani i Hanoit '63|trans-title=Partizani of Hanoi 63'|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=23 April 2014|access-date=6 September 2018}} Partizani eventually reached the final and was subsequently defeated by XI CSKA/SKA.

On 17 September 1969, Pano returned at Tirana to participate in the first leg of 1969–70 European Cup's first round against Standard Liège; he played as a starter but was replaced by Niko Xhaçka after 65 minutes, as Tirana lost the game 3–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62592--standard-liege-vs-tirana/|title=Standard Liège 3–0 KF Tirana|publisher=UEFA|access-date=27 March 2019}} He didn't play in the second leg which saw Tirana crashing out of the competition 4–1 on aggregate.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62593--tirana-vs-standard-liege/|title=KF Tirana 1–1 Standard Liège|publisher=UEFA|access-date=27 March 2019}}

In 1970, Pano played in the Balkans Cup, scoring 2 goals as Partizani became the first and only Albanian club to win an international competition, as they defeated Beroe Stara Zagora in the final, following a 1–1 draw in Tiranë and a 3–0 awarded win for the second leg, as Beroe withdrew.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/balkanclub70s.html|title=Balkan Cup 1970-79|website=RSSSF|access-date=25 September 2018}}

Pano announced his retirement from football in May 1975.

International career

Pano has been an Albanian international, earning 28 caps and scoring 4 goals between 1963 and 1973.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=15947|title=Football PLAYER: Panajot Pano|publisher=EU-Football.info|access-date=25 September 2018}} He also captained the national team in 10 occasions.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/panajot-pano-i-europes/|title=Panajot Pano i Europës|trans-title=Panajot Pano of Europe|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=6 May 2014|access-date=25 September 2018}} He scored his first international goal on 30 October 1963 against Denmark in the 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying stage which marked Albania's first ever win in a qualifying match.{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/pano-i-kupave-te-europes/|title=Pano i Kupave të Europës|trans-title=Pano of European cups|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=30 April 2014|access-date=25 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/3980--albania-vs-denmark/|title=Albania 3-0 Denmark|publisher=UEFA|access-date=25 September 2018}}

Personal life

His son Ledio Pano, became also a well known football player and played for the football clubs of Partizani, Luftëtari, Xanthi FC and Pas Ioannina. He was also capped several times with Albania.{{cite web|url=http://bundesliga.weltfussball.at/spieler_profil/ledio-pano/ |title=Ledio Pano |publisher=Bundesliga.weltfussball.at |date=23 May 1968 |access-date=10 September 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spox.com/de/daten/fussball/spieler_profil/ledio-pano/ |title=Ledio Pano - Steckbrief |publisher=SPOX.com |date=23 May 1968 |access-date=10 September 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/history/season=1988/round=211/match=1269/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208172909/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/history/season=1988/round=211/match=1269/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2009 |title=UEFA EURO 2012 |publisher=UEFA |access-date=10 September 2010}}{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

He died at 70 in Jacksonville, (Florida, United States) on 19 January 2010 after suffering a heart attack.{{cite web|url=https://telegrafi.com/nderron-jete-legjenda-panajot-pano/|title=Ndërron jetë legjenda Panajot Pano|trans-title=Legend Panajot Pano passes away|publisher=Telegrafi.com|language=sq|date=19 January 2010|access-date=25 September 2018}}

Legacy

In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Albania by the Football Association of Albania as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsId=130150.html?redirectFromOrg=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925142143/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsId=130150.html?redirectFromOrg=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2018|title=Golden Players take centre stage|publisher=UEFA|date=29 November 2003|access-date=25 September 2018}}

On 6 March 2009, Pano received the order Honor of Nation from the President of Albania, Bamir Topi.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01e3-0f85e78f5bf3-b60f21704e8d-1000--albania-pays-respects-to-favourite-son/|title=Albania pays respects to favourite son|publisher=UEFA|author=Fatjon Pandovski|date=30 March 2010|access-date=26 September 2018}} This was the first time in the history of Albania that a footballer was honored with the Honor of the Nation order.

Career statistics

=Club=

Season !Team !Goals
class="wikitable"
1958	17 Nëntori Tirana	5
1959	17 Nëntori Tirana	10
1960	Partizani	12
1961	Partizani	19
1962–63	Partizani	12
1963–64	Partizani	16
1964–65	Partizani	14
1965–66	Partizani	11
1966–67	Partizani	18
1968	Partizani	23
1969–70	Partizani	18
1970–71	Partizani	18
1971–72	Partizani	14
1972–73	Partizani	10
1973–74	Partizani	9
TOTAL		209

=International=

Source:

National team	Year	Apps
class=wikitable style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan=11\|Albania \|1963	4	1
1964	3	0
1965	3	0
1966	0	0
1967	4	0
1968	0	0
1969	0	0
1970	2	0
1971	6	2
1972	2	0
1973	4	1
colspan=2\|Total	28	4

Albania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pano goal.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
scope=col\|No. !scope=col data-sort-type=date\|Date !scope=col\|Venue !scope=col\|Cap !scope=col\|Opponent !scope=col\|Score !scope=col\|Result !scope=col\|Competition
scope=row\|1 \|30 October 1963\|\|rowspan=4\|Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania\|\|align=center\|4\|\|{{fb\|Denmark}}\|\|align=center\|1–0\|\|align=center\|1–0\|\|1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying
scope=row\|2 \|26 May 1971\|\|align=center\|20\|\|{{fb\|Romania}}\|\|align=center\|1–0\|\|align=center\|1–2\|\|1972 Summer Olympics qualifiers
scope=row\|3 \|14 November 1971\|\|align=center\|22\|\|{{fb\|Turkey}}\|\|align=center\|3–0\|\|align=center\|3–0\|\|UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying
scope=row\|4 \|8 November 1973\|\|align=center\|28\|\|{{fb\|China}}\|\|align=center\|1–1\|\|align=center\|1–1\|\|Friendly

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

scope=col|No.

!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date

!scope=col|Venue

!scope=col|Cap

!scope=col|Opponent

!scope=col|Score

!scope=col|Result

!scope=col|Competition

scope=row|1

|30 October 1963||rowspan=4|Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania||align=center|4||{{fb|Denmark}}||align=center|1–0||align=center|1–0||1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying

scope=row|2

|26 May 1971||align=center|20||{{fb|Romania}}||align=center|1–0||align=center|1–2||1972 Summer Olympics qualifiers

scope=row|3

|14 November 1971||align=center|22||{{fb|Turkey}}||align=center|3–0||align=center|3–0||UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying

scope=row|4

|8 November 1973||align=center|28||{{fb|China}}||align=center|1–1||align=center|1–1||Friendly

Honours

Partizani Tirana

Albanian Superliga: 1961, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1970–71
Albanian Cup: 1961, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1972–73
Balkans Cup: 1970

Individual

Albanian Superliga top goalscorer: 1961, 1969–70
Albanian Sportsperson of the Year: 1960

References

External links

{{NFT player|47589}}
[http://www.albania-sport.com Albania Sport]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100122170427/http://lajme.shqiperia.com/media/artikull/iden/393669/titulli/Ndahet-nga-jeta-Panajot-Pano Ndahet nga jeta Panajot Pano]

Category:1939 births

Category:2010 deaths

Category:Footballers from Durrës

Category:Albanian men's footballers

Category:Albanian people of Greek descent

Category:Albania men's international footballers

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:KF Tirana players

Category:FK Partizani Tirana players

Category:Kategoria Superiore players

Category:UEFA Golden Players

Category:Albanian emigrants to the United States

Category:20th-century Albanian sportsmen