Themis Rigas
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Patras, Greece | ||
| Date of death | 13 January 1984 (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]
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]