Former Panathinaikos president Giorgos Vardinogiannis dies

Giorgos Vardinogiannis, known as “The Captain,” has died after a brief hospitalization.

He was a Greek shipping businessman who was closely associated with Panathinaikos, the Athens football club.

Vardinogiannis became the club’s president in 1979, as Greek football entered its professional era, and stayed in the role until 2000.

During his tenure, Panathinaikos won six league titles and nine Greek Cups, as well as three Greek Super Cups.

The team also reached the semifinals of Europe’s top club competition twice, in 1985 and 1996.

Vardinogiannis took a hands-on role in transfers and club decisions, which brought success but also drew criticism.

He stepped down in 2000, and his family retained control of the club until 2011; the accounts differ on whether he was 89 or 90.