Kostas Eleftherakis
A graceful midfield dynamo known as 'the Deer,' he was a stalwart for Olympiacos and a key figure in Greece's national team during the 1970s.
Born 1950 (age 76)·Greek footballer·Birthday: July 18·Baby Boomers
Biography
Kostas Eleftherakis moved with an elegance that earned him the enduring nickname 'the Deer,' a player whose technical skill and vision defined his era in Greek football. Spending the vast majority of his club career with the giants of Piraeus, Olympiacos, he was central to their domestic dominance, winning multiple Greek Championships and Cups. His intelligent play in midfield made him a fixture for the Greek national team throughout the 1970s, where he earned over 30 caps. While Greece did not qualify for a major tournament during his tenure, Eleftherakis represented a period of respected, if not globally triumphant, Greek football. His legacy is that of a one-club man whose style and loyalty made him a favorite of the fierce Olympiacos faithful.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Kostas was born in 1950, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kostas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1950
#1 Movie
Cinderella
Best Picture
All About Eve
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Kostas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1950Born
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1955Started school
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1963Became a teenager
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Could drive
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1968Could vote
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Turned 21
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1980Turned 30
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 40
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 50
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 60
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 70
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 76 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Spent nearly his entire professional club career with Olympiacos, winning multiple Greek Championships and Greek Cups.
- Earned over 30 caps for the Greek national football team as a key midfielder throughout the 1970s.
- Was a central figure in the successful Olympiacos teams that dominated Greek football in the mid-1970s.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'the Deer' ('το Ελάφι'), was given for his graceful running style and agility on the pitch.
He scored a memorable goal in a 1974 European Cup match against Atlético Madrid at the Karaiskakis Stadium.
After retirement, he remained involved in football, including a role as vice-president of Olympiacos in the early 2000s.
“On the pitch, my mind was always two passes ahead of my feet.”
