| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Patras, Greece | ||
| Date of death | 13 January 1984(1984-01-13) (aged 38–39) | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1960–1962 | Apollon Athens | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1962–1963 | Panachaiki | ||
| 1963–1964 | Olympiakos Patras | ||
| 1964–1965 | Panachaiki | ||
| 1965–1967 | Thyella Patras | ||
| 1967–1973 | Panachaiki | 83 | (12) |
| 1973 | New York Apollo | ||
| 1974 | → Toronto Homer (loan) | ||
| 1974–1976 | Panachaiki | 58 | (9) |
| 1976 | Toronto Metros-Croatia[1] | 10 | (0) |
| 1976–1977 | Patrai | ||
| 1977–1979 | Panachaiki | 24 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Themis Rigas (Greek: Θέμης Ρήγας; 1945 – 13 January 1984), popularly nicknamed The Train, was a Greek footballer born in Patras. One of the fastest and most talented wingers of his generation,[citation needed] he was a member of the Panachaiki football team that impressed Greece in the 1970s and qualified for the 1974 UEFA Cup.[2]
Career
Greece
Rigas began his career with Panachaiki's youth team and graduated to the senior team in 1962, which competed in the Beta Ethniki.[3] In his initial stages with Panachaiki, he had loan spells with Olympiakos Patras and Thyella Patras.[3]
In 1973, while Panachaiki was competing in the Alpha Ethniki, he helped the club secure a berth for the 1973–74 UEFA Cup.[4] Rigas would appear in the continental tournament, where FC Twente eliminated them.[4]
He had 165 First Division appearances for Panachaiki and scored 23 goals.[3]
United States
In the summer of 1973, he played in the American Soccer League with the New York Apollo.[5]
Canada
In 1974, he played abroad in the National Soccer League with Toronto Homer.[6] Rigas scored his first pair of goals for Toronto on May 5, 1974, against the Quebec Selects.[7] He helped the club secure a playoff berth by finishing second in the league standings.[8]
In 1976, Rigas returned to Canada, where he signed with the Toronto Metros-Croatia of the North American Soccer League.[9][10] He debuted for Toronto on 16 May 1976, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he contributed an assist.[11] Rigas was named to the league's team of the week on 25 May 1976.[12] His stint with Toronto was brief as he was placed on waivers in July 1976.[13]
Death
Rigas died in a domestic accident in 1984, at the age of 39, leaving behind him the family of Panachaiki without one of their most eminent members.[14][15]
References
- ^ "NASL-Themis Rigas".
- ^ rsssf
- ^ a b c "Θέμης Ρήγας: Ξεχωριστός εντός και εκτός αγωνιστικού χώρου | ΕΙΔΗΣΕΙΣ" [Themis Rigas: Outstanding on and off the field]. Peloponnese Newsroom (in Greek). 13 January 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Η έξοδος της Παναχαϊκής στην Ευρώπη που άφησε τα ίχνη για να πατήσουν οι υπόλοιποι!" [Panachaiki's exit to Europe that left a mark for the rest to follow!]. bankingnews.gr (in Greek). 29 June 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ "Wings wing in finale". The Morning News. 27 August 1973. p. 27.
- ^ "Eagles, Homer stay unbeaten, tie 1-1 before 10,951 fans". The Globe and Mail. 20 May 1974. p. S8.
- ^ "Homer blanks Selects". The Montreal Star. 6 May 1974. pp. B11.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (2 October 1974). "Serbian Toast of the NSL - Stern Test for National Team". Toronto Star. pp. C8.
- ^ "Two new players in Metros' lineup". The Globe and Mail. 15 May 1976. p. 51.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (8 May 1976). "Play Washington tomorrow - A revolving door for Metros' room". Toronto Star. pp. D3.
- ^ Waring, Ed (17 May 1976). "Tampa players homesick for England but few Metro fans notice". The Globe and Mail. pp. S7.
- ^ Mudry, Richard (25 May 1976). "Derek, Marsh take aim on Pele's league lead". The Tampa Times. p. 12.
- ^ Kernaghan, Jim (8 July 1976). "Is Eusebio Getting a Subtle Bum's Rush?". Toronto Star. pp. C1.
- ^ "40 χρόνια χωρίς τον ανεπανάληπτο Θέμη Ρήγα... - Ποδόσφαιρο" [40 years without the inimitable Themis Rigas...]. THE BEST (in Greek). 13 January 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
- ^ "Θέμης Ρήγας: Σαν σήμερα πέθανε το "τραίνο" της Παναχαϊκής" [Themis Rigas: Today the Panachaiki "train" died]. matchnews.gr. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
Notes
- Rsssf, website about football statistics
