Vangelis Pavlidis
A powerful Greek striker whose prolific goal-scoring in the Netherlands earned him a marquee transfer to Portuguese giants Benfica.
Born 1998 (age 28)·Greek footballer·Birthday: November 21·Generation Z
Biography
Vangelis Pavlidis is a classic number nine, a striker whose game is defined by strength, intelligent movement, and a ruthless finish. His career trajectory took him from the Greek Superleague to the Eredivisie in the Netherlands, where he truly found his scoring touch. At Willem II and then AZ Alkmaar, he transformed into one of the league's most consistent and feared forwards, regularly hitting the twenty-goal mark in all competitions. His ability to hold up play and bring teammates into the game, combined with a knack for being in the right place, made him the focal point of every attack. This sustained excellence prompted a major move to S.L. Benfica, one of Portugal's most storied clubs, where he shoulders the expectation of leading the line for a team with domestic and European ambitions, while also serving as the attacking talisman for the Greek national team.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Vangelis was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Vangelis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Vangelis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
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 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored over 20 league goals in a single Eredivisie season for AZ Alkmaar, establishing himself among the Dutch league's top scorers.
- Secured a high-value transfer to Portuguese powerhouse S.L. Benfica following his prolific spell in the Netherlands.
- Became a regular starter and key goal threat for the Greece national football team.
Did You Know?
He was born in Greece but grew up in Germany, starting his youth career with VfL Bochum.
He speaks four languages: Greek, German, English, and Dutch.
He scored a hat-trick for AZ Alkmaar in a UEFA Europa Conference League match against FC Vaduz in 2022.
“My job is to be in the right place at the right time and put it in the net.”
