The Golden Glove – Tohouroglou reflects on his long and storied career
Gladesville Ryde Magic goalkeeper, 51-year-old Kyriakos Tohouroglou called time on his playing career over the weekend, having played against legendary players such as Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro and Predrag Mijatović during his long and storied career.
Having started with the Magic at around eight years old, Tohouroglou played for Doxa Drama in Greece at just 18 years old, before he made his mark at historic clubs such as Olympiacos, where he won three Greek league titles and a Greek Cup, Paniliakos, where he had his best playing year, and PAOK, where he won two Greek Cups.
Speaking on his time in Europe, Tohouroglou said it was a dream come true to compete in the UEFA Champions League, especially against the legendary Real Madrid team in 1997.
“[I played against] Real Madrid, Porto, Juventus, Manchester United… the Champions League is a dream come true.”
Tohouroglou also played alongside some legendary players during his career who he had also played against in his career and spoke on how he did not get star struck by them.
“We had Rivaldo, Giovanni… that level is different, we were all fighting for the same thing – we all had a job to do, that is how we saw it.”
Reflecting on his 20-year professional career, in which he totalled over 400 appearances, Tohouroglou said the time, looking back, flew by.
“It is short – I started at 18 and finished [professionally] at 37, and it feels like it was only yesterday.”
Kyriakos re-joined the Magic after his professional retirement and spoke on the reason he kept his playing career going.
“I was enjoying the football here… it is a fun game; you do something that you love, and you enjoy it, as well.”
With an initial agreement to just play one more season, Tohouroglou’s love for the game kept him coming back for another 13 years after that.
“George [Ganiatsas, Magic Football Manager] said to me ‘Play one year, the parents can see, the kids can see what a professional is’… to me, football was to get away from my problems.
“It was something relaxing.”
He decided to continue for one more season in 2024, with this season being his last, because he was convinced to have a proper retirement match.
“George said to me ‘we have to do a new retirement game’… and now the time had come to leave the game I love.
“I want to continue playing, but my body is not holding up like it once did anymore”
Tohouroglou played his 276th and final match for the Magic on Saturday, 20th July when his Magic side hosted Hawkesbury City FC for the Stroke Recovery Cup in what was the first instance of the two clubs competing for the Cup, with the Magic having previously played against Bankstown United FC for the Cup since 2021.
Hawkesbury won the Cup for the first time after a come-from-behind 3-1 victory, while Tohouroglou was substituted off in stoppage time at the end of the match to thunderous applause, before he embraced his opposite number Daniel Schwarzer, and a final wave to the crowd saw him end his career as he exited the field for the final time as a player.
“You never know what could happen to you tomorrow… that is why we are doing the Cup for this cause.
“I have played professionally what I have done in my career, but it is mostly for all these people that suffer after having a stroke and we are trying our best to get more research in aiding and assisting when these things happen.”
Speaking on John Koletti, whose role is the Social Media & Member Protection at Gladesville Ryde Magic, who also came up with the idea for the Cup after he suffered a stroke in 2019, Tohouroglou spoke very positively on his friend.
“I was at the hospital with him every single day… when you have a stroke, that is when you need the people next to you… this game is not for me; it is for John and people like John and that is why we wanted the supporters to come down.”
On a peculiar note, Tohouroglou has also scored 11 goals for the Magic in his time with the club, which he achieved most of them in one season being the main penalty taker.
“I had nine goals in one season, once – I was the top scorer of the team!”
Tohouroglou retired as a legend of the game in Australia, having played overseas against legendary players before returning to the club of his youth to finish his playing career and create a legacy.
Football NSW would like to acknowledge Kyriakos on an amazing career which we were fortunate enough to have shared upon his return.
Happy retirement Kiri.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa (@_dylancosta)
