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Girtzikis elected in Greece

Giorgos Girtzikis has been elected as president of the Hellenic Football Federation, and has called for support from stakeholders to take the country's football forward.

New Hellenic Football Federation president Giorgos Girtzikis
New Hellenic Football Federation president Giorgos Girtzikis ©Intime

Giorgos Girtzikis has been elected as the new president of the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO). He was the only candidate for a post left vacant after his predecessor Giorgos Sarris stepped down in December.

"Today's result marks a new day for Greek football," Mr Girtzikis said in his post-election speech in Athens. "We will collaborate with everybody within our field to find the answers that these tough times call for. We will make way for the pertinent changes in order to improve our sport. That is my commitment. Football, the king of sports, needs your support. We must protect it, be vigilant and kind at the same time."

Born on 18 February 1947 in Xanthi, Mr Girtzikis was an amateur player in his youth. From 1973 until 1980, he was president of the club he had been playing for, Thraki Sydini FC. He played a major part in the foundation of the Xanthi Union of Football Clubs, and was vice-president and then president from 1980 until 1997.

From 1997 until 2000, he was the deputy general secretary of the EPO, deputy treasurer from 2000 until 2003, and treasurer from 2003 to 2012. In October 2014, he was appointed president of the EPO central refereeing committee, a post he left in December to run for the presidency.

Mr Girtzikis, who has worked in the dairy industry as a senior executive and consultant, also served as president of SKODA Xanthi FC from 2000 to 2004, and he was also active in municipal politics, as a municipal councillor in Vistonida, and prefecture councillor in Xanthi.

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