Persidis's death saddens Austrian football
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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Former Austria defender and Under-19 coach Peter Persidis has died at the age of 61, with the Austrian Football Association ordering a minute's silence in his honour at the national team's next friendly on 11 February.
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Former Austria defender and assistant national and youth coach Peter Persidis died in Vienna on Wednesday at the age of 61, with the Austrian Football Association holding a minute's silence in his honour at the national team's next friendly game.
Minute's silence
Persidis took over as Under-19 head coach last summer, having previously worked as assistant to Josef Hickersberger at UEFA EURO 2008™. However, he was forced to step down soon afterwards after being diagnosed with a serious illness. With Austrian football now mourning the death of the seven-times capped international, fans will show their appreciation with a minute's silence before the friendly against Sweden in Graz on 11 February.
Greek successes
Having started his professional career at First Vienna FC, Persidis returned to his father's home country in the early 1970s, and went on to win three Greek titles with Olympiacos CFP prior to returning to Vienna in 1975 to play for SK Rapid Wien. A sweeper, and the club's captain from 1978 to 1980, he won the 1981/82 Austrian title with Rapid under Hickersberger. He also later worked as Hickersberger's assistant at Rapid and was briefly the club's caretaker manager.