Christos Ribas
 Ribas with AEK Athens | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1914 | ||
| Place of birth | Manisa, Ottoman Empire | ||
| Date of death | 18 October 1981 (aged 66–67) | ||
| Place of death | Athens, Greece | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1927 | AE Nea Ionia | ||
| 1928–1929 | AEK Athens | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1929−1948 | AEK Athens | 59 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1933–1936 | Greece | 9 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1961−1962 | Egaleo | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Christos Ribas (Greek: Χρήστος Ρίμπας; 1914 – 18 October 1981)[1][2] was a Greek footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AEK Athens and a manager. His nickname was "the Bird" (Greek: "το Πουλί").[3]
Club career
[edit]
Ribas started football in 1927, at the age of 14, playing as a striker for Atromitos Nea Ionia. The following year the Hungarian coach Sveg watched him play as a goalkeeper for the Athens College Branch team at the stadium of Panellinios and invited him to enroll in the infrastructure sections of AEK Athens.
In 1929 he was promoted to the first team and in 5 May of that year, he made his debut against Ferencvárosi, for the Easter Cup.[4] On 27 December 1931, he impressed with his performance against Wacker, for the Christmas Cup. On 28 May 1939, Ribas played in the Cup final against PAOK, at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium, where AEK won their second Cup in their history winning by 2–1.[5] He was the main goalkeeper of AEK Athens until the end of his career as a footballer in 1947, winning two consecutive Panhellenic Championships, two Cups and three Athens FCA Championships, including the first domestic double in by a Greek club in 1939.[6]
International career
[edit]Ribas played nine times for Greece including his last one as captain.[7] In 1933, he was invited to the Balkan mixed team for a match against the World mixed team, which was eventually postponed.
After football
[edit]After the end of his career as a footballer, Ribas was involved with AEK, becoming a member of their staff, while also managing teams such as Egaleo, Loutraki, Elefsina and Markopoulo.[8]
Personal life
[edit]Ribas was married to Eleni and had five children named Apostolos, Panagiota, Michalis, Nikos and Anastasia. He died on 18 October 1981 from an incurable illness.[9]
Honours
[edit]AEK Athens
- Panhellenic Championship: 1938–39, 1939–40
- Greek Cup: 1931–32, 1938–39
- Athens FCA League: 1940, 1946, 1947
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Hristos Rimbas, international footballer". eu-football.info.
- ^ "Greece player stats". epo.gr.
- ^ ""Ο Χρήστος μου δεν γέρασε". Το παράπονο της συζύγου του Ρίμπα". sport-retro.gr. 14 February 2017.
- ^ "Χρήστος Ρίμπας: Ο αίλουρος της ΑΕΚ". 18 October 2009.
- ^ "AEK-ΠΑΟΚ: Πρώτα πόζαραν αγκαλιασμένοι, μετά έπαιξαν τον τελικό Κυπέλλου του 1939". 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Όταν έφυγε ο "αίλουρος" Χρήστος Ρίμπας". enwsi.gr. 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Greece matches 1929-1938" (PDF). epo.gr.
- ^ "Θα βγει ο Ρίμπας και θα την πιάσει!". aek-live.gr. 19 October 2018.
- ^ "Αθλητική Ηχώ 20-10-1981". athlitikihxo.gr.[permanent dead link]