Kostas Katsouranis
The midfield engine of Greece's historic Euro 2004 triumph, a tough-tackling leader who defined an era of Greek football.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Greek footballer·Birthday: June 21·Generation X
Biography
Kostas Katsouranis is forever etched in Greek sporting lore as a central pillar of the team that achieved the impossible. A versatile and fiercely competitive midfielder, he was the perfect embodiment of coach Otto Rehhagel's disciplined, collective system. At Euro 2004, his tireless work rate, tactical intelligence, and aerial prowess in both boxes were instrumental in Greece's stunning championship run. Club success followed with Panathinaikos, where he won domestic titles and was twice named Greek Footballer of the Year. He later captained the national team, leading them to another surprising quarter-final at the 2012 European Championship. Katsouranis was not a flashy playmaker but a warrior; his value was measured in crucial interceptions, dominant headers, and an unbreakable will that inspired his teammates. He retired as one of Greece's most capped players, his legacy inseparable from the country's greatest football moment.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kostas was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kostas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Kostas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
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
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA European Championship in 2004 with Greece, starting in the midfield throughout the tournament.
- Earned over 110 caps for the Greek national team, serving as captain for several years.
- Named Greek Footballer of the Year in 2005 and 2013, recognizing his domestic dominance.
- Won three Greek Super League titles, two with Panathinaikos and one with PAOK.
Did You Know?
He is one of only two Greek players to have scored in two different FIFA World Cup tournaments (2010 and 2014).
Katsouranis holds a degree in physical education and sports science.
He began his professional career as a central defender before moving into midfield.
After retirement, he served as president of the Greek footballers' union (PSAP).
“We were a team of friends, a team that fought for each other. That was our strength in 2004.”
