With a very successful career spanning 18 years, Greek center Panagiotis Fasoulas is one of

the emblematic figures in European basketball.

Born in Thessalonini, Panagiotis started his

professional career with hometown team PAOK,

to receive a scholarship from Jim Valvano’s NC State and get a permanent spot in the Greek national team. This was actually the legendary team that claimed the top Greek victory in European basketball, by winning the gold medal in the European Championship in 1987.

With Panagiotis always starring in the starting Center position with his lucky number 13, the Greek national team excelled in tournament after tournament,

in numerous European and World Championships, and an Olympics tournament.

Two finals, four additional semi-finals, and 244 appearances later, Panagiotis had left an indelible impression on the history of the Greek national team. But that’s only part of the story. Following national championship and Saporta Cup success with the black-and-white shirt of PAOK, Panagiotis moved south to dress in red-and-white for Olympiacos and lead his new team to European and domestic success.

Three Euroleague finals (including one championship) complemented 4 domestic championships, placing

Olympiacos at the elite level of European basketballl.

After 15 succesful years in basketball and having built a massive popularity in Greece, Panagiotis eventually turned to politics: he was elected twice in electoral landslides a member of the Greek parliament, and later the Mayor of Piraeus.

Throughout this process, he has been

supported by his amazing family, with his wife Masha, daughter Mariella and son John always by his side.