Greek - Albanian Mourns Legendary Footballer

Greek - Albanian footballer, Panajot Pano, who passed away at the age of 71 in a Florida Hospital on Tuesday. In Wednesday’s cabinet meeting the Council of Ministers observed a minute of silence in his honor and Prime Minister Sali Berisha announced that on the day of his burial the government will officially declared national mourning.

“Pano’s death was a huge loss for Albanian football,” Berisha said, adding that he would be buried with state honors.

Pano (a Greek Vllah family origin) started his career as a goalkeeper in the Tirana youth academy but he became the most prolific striker of its arched-rival, Partizani. During his 18-year career he has played 24 matches with the Albanian national football team and was awarded in 2003 the Albanian UEFA Jubilee Award.

In March, Pano also received the order ‘Honor of the Nation’ from President Bamir Topi, Albania’s highest official recognition.