In 2008, the now 51-year-old Anastasiou hung up his boots. More than fifteen years later, he still works in the football world. In Cyprus, at Omonia Nicosia, to be precise. "Since this season, I have a new role at the club: Strategic Football Director," he says. What stands out is that the Greek still speaks excellent Dutch. "I feel good here; I am healthy and have a nice job. With my experience and knowledge, I try to ensure that the club follows the same plan regarding the first team, scouting, youth development, and everything related to football."
Striker in Amsterdam
The forward spent his early years as a professional footballer in his home country. After playing minutes for PAS Preveza, Ethnikos Piraeus, and OFI Crete, he moved abroad in 1999 to RSC Anderlecht. After a year and a half in Belgium and three and a half seasons at Roda JC, Anastasiou joined Ajax during the winter break of the 2003/2004 season. "I had wonderful years in Amsterdam. We had a super team and a good coach in Ronald Koeman."
His first half-year was immediately crowned with a championship. "The team had so much talent. I only have good memories of my time at Ajax: the national title and playing in the UEFA Champions League."
Anastasiou left Ajax in 2006 after 38 official matches and ten goals. After his playing career, he moved to coaching. In 2013, he became the head coach of Thursday night's opponent, Panathinaikos. "I have good memories of both clubs, and they are in my heart. I try my best to follow both clubs," he laughs.
Differences
He knows both clubs well enough for that. "Panathinaikos is a top club in Greece in terms of organisation, but also in terms of supporters. The only difference with Ajax is the pace. You see that at Ajax, even in the youth, they play at a high pace, which is visible in the first team. At Panathinaikos, the pace is slightly lower, but that is also the Greek football culture. Otherwise, I see few differences between the clubs. The emotions of the people in Greece are high and different than in the Netherlands. People really live for certain matches, which gives players extra strength, but also extra pressure."
He expected that they would face each other in the third qualifying round of the second European club tournament. "From the moment I saw that Ajax and Panathinaikos could draw each other, I knew: that’s going to happen," he says of the preliminary draw. "I thought they had enough quality to survive the second qualifying round. And that’s what happened."
Duel in Athens
"It will be an interesting duel," he continues. Ajax is clearly in a reconstruction phase, and Panathinaikos have had a new coach since this season. I think that they are not yet complete as a team at the moment, but they are dangerous. For me, it's 50/50. Both teams are not at their best yet, and the two-leg tie will certainly not be decided in one match."
Usually, the Greeks play their home matches in the atmospheric Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, but on Thursday, the Olympic Stadium of Athens will be the setting. Is there a difference in ambience? "Panathinaikos have often played big matches in that stadium in the past, so they know what it's like to play there. It doesn't make much difference in terms of atmosphere. It is currently the holiday season in Greece. Many people are at the beach, but more than 50,000 fans are expected to be present. That is a lot for this time. It will be a hot evening with lots of passion and experience, which is great."
Ajax and Panathinaikos. Two clubs with a rich history and the two loves of the Greek. "I can't choose," he says with a smile. I hope and expect that the best team will go through."
