Panajot Pano

Panajot Pano was born on the 7^th March 1939 and he died on the 19^th January 2010. He was a footballer from Albania. He started his football career as a goalkeeper in the youth academy of KF Tirana, though he became a good centre forward of their strong rivals of the club, Partizani Tirana. In his 18-year career of playing football, he played 24 matches for the Albanian national team and was given the award of Albanian UEFA Jubilee.

source of picture: www.lajme.gen.al

Biography

Pano was born in Durres, Albania by ethnic Greek parents.

Honors

He was the winner of the Albanian citizenships with the club, Partizani Tirana, 5 Albanian Cups and in the year 1970, the Balkan Cup. On the international front, he played 24 games for the national team of the country and scored three goals for the country.

In November 2003, to mark the UEFA jubilee, he was chosen as the Golden player of the country by the FAA as their most outstanding football player of the past 50 years.

On the 6^th March 2009, Pano got the order Honor of the Nation from the president of the country, Bamir Topi. This was the first time in the history of the country that a football player was given the award of the Honor of the Nation order.

Death

He died at the age of 70 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA on the 19^th January 2010 from a heart attack.

His son, Ledio Pano became another popular footballer in the country and played for the following teams in the country; Partizani, Luftëtari, Xanthi FC and Pas Ioannina, and he has played severally for the Albanian national team.