Panathinaikos names Anastasiou coach

14 May 2013 11:47

Former Greek international Yannis Anastasiou was named as the new coach of Athens giants Panathinaikos on Tuesday.

Anastasiou, 40, will be hoping to revive the fortunes of the club after they experienced one of their worst ever seasons in the campaign just finished, coming in sixth in the Greek Super League and missing out on a place in the end-of-season European play-offs as a result.

Anastasiou, who had a brief stint on the coaching staff at English Premier League club Reading earlier this year, has previously worked as an assistant coach at Panathinaikos and has also served on the coaching staff at Ajax.

"This is a top European club which is well respected abroad," said Anastasiou, who added that he will be focused on bringing through young players from the club's academy as Panathinaikos, like many Greek clubs, continue to struggle financially.

During his playing career, Anastasiou was capped five times by Greece and enjoyed spells with Belgian club Anderlecht and in the Dutch league with Ajax.

Panathinaikos, European Cup runners-up in 1971, have won 20 Greek league titles but have played second fiddle to bitter rivals Olympiacos in recent years.

Source: AFP