Fotis Balopoulos

Fotis Balopoulos (Φώτης Μπαλόπουλος; 17 December 1943 – 3 November 2012) was a Greek professional footballer who played as a center back.

Club career
Balopoulos started playing football in his neighborhood club Enosi Korydallos and in 1958 he was transferred to Proodeftiki, where he had a successful spell, attracting the interest of the Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens. He played with Proodeftiki until 1964, both first and second national division after their establishment.

In the summer of 1964, he made the big transfer to AEK Athens, where he became more widely known and played their jersey for 6 seasons he won a Greek Cup in 1964 and a championship in 1968. He was member of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup in 1969. In the summer of 1969, by decision of the Junta regime he was removed, with the accusation of being of left-wing political beliefs and was sidelined from the club for a year.

In the summer of 1970 he went to Vyzas Megara, where he played for two years, during which he suffered several punishments and exclusions from the dictatorial regime and he even proceeded to refrain from football. In the summer of 1972 he moved to Atromitos, who had just been promoted to the first division and played for one year, when in the summer of 1973 ended his career.

International career
Balopoulos played a total of 10 times with the Greece, between 1965 and 1969. He made his debut on 23 May 1965 in an away match against the Soviet Union, as part of the 1966 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, under Lakis Petropoulos.

Personal life
His brother, Vangelis was also a footballer and they shared a common spell at Proodeftiki. He lived far from the public eye in Porto Rafti, until his death on 3 November 2012, at the age of 69.

Honours
Proodeftiki
 * Beta Ethniki: 1963–64

AEK Athens
 * Alpha Ethniki: 1967–68
 * Greek Cup: 1965–66

Greece military
 * World Military Cup: 1962, 1963