Greek Roundup

President Stephanopoulos urges coach Rehhagel to stay

ATHENS (Reuters) -- Greece's president joined the chorus of voices pleading with German coach Otto Rehhagel to stay on at the helm of the triumphant national team on Tuesday.

"We (Greeks) plead with him to stay in Greece," Costis Stephanopoulos said in response to media speculation that the Germans want Rehhagel, affectionately known as King Otto, to return to Germany as national coach before the 2006 World Cup.

"Mr Rehhagel is not a Greek, but he has become something more than a Greek," added Stephanopoulos during a reception to honour the 2004 Euro champions.

"I won't ask him, as some journalists did, if he will stay in Greece... that's up to him. I want to tell him that if he stays in Greece he will satisfy us all. And if he leaves, we will love him, we will think of him and always respect him."

Greece's staggering success in winning Euro 2004 prompted delirious celebrations by millions of ecstatic fans across Greece and around the world.

Greece, who started the tournament as 80-1 outsiders, stunned the soccer world on Sunday by defeating hosts Portugal 1-0 in Lisbon, a feat seen by many as the country's greatest sporting achievement.

On Tuesday, Rehhagel thanked the president and praised the performance of his players. "We are very proud of our team which played very well... and we are proud of our fans," he said.

Stephanopoulos presented the players and their German manager with honorary national pins usually reserved for military heroes. The team was also honoured by Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

The Greeks' unexpected success at the European championships has united the country and made fans out of people who had never before watched a soccer match.

It has also provided a much-needed boost to national spirits ahead of the August 13-29 Olympic Games.

Rehhagel, praised as the primary reason for the team's success, was given the key to the city by Athens mayor Dora Bakoyianni on Monday and made an honorary citizen of Athens.

Katsouranis, Kapsis demand unpaid salary

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greek national team defenders Costas Katsouranis and Michalis Kapsis demanded their club team AEK Athens pay them euro753,400 (US$904,000) in back salary, taking their case to an arbitration panel two days after they helped the country to the European Championship.

AEK is facing relegation to amateur leagues unless it solves its financial problems before the start of the new season. Serb striker Ilja Ivic is also demanding back pay. The club's new chairman said he is hoping to settle with the players.

"We'll try to come to a compromise ... so they can continue their careers at AEK," Alexis Kougias said.

Kougias said a bid to buy the troubled club by Greece striker Demis Nikolaidis had failed and added that Theodoros Zagorakis, Greece's captain in Euro 2004 and who was selected Player of the Tournament, was in transfer talks with Italian club Bologna.

Greece's won the European Championship on Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Portugal in Lisbon. The victory has spurred calls to clean up the Greek league which has long been troubled by fan violence and allegations of corruption.

It also boosted confidence among Greeks ahead of the Aug. 13-29 Olympics.

Hundreds of thousands of people turned out to greet the national team Monday when the players returned home from Portugal. They were honored at a special ceremony inside the all-marble Panathenian stadium, where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.

Work on urgently delayed Olympic projects continued during the celebrations. And on Tuesday, a large area in front of the Panathenian stadium was dug up for repaving work.

Zagorakis bound for Bologna, says AEK

ATHENS (Reuters) -- Euro 2004 player of the tournament Theodoros Zagorakis has signed for Italy's Bologna, a senior official at AEK Athens told reporters on Tuesday.

The inspirational Greece captain has not commented on his future plans since securing his release from debt-crippled AEK. Bologna finished 12th in Serie A last season.

"Zagorakis has already signed a pre-contract agreement with Bologna," said lawyer and stand-in club chairman Alexis Kouyias.

Zagorakis, 33, will lead an exodus of Greece stars out of the club which risks losing its professional status due to 100 million euros of debt.

Spain's Atletico Madrid have also declared an interest in the ex-Leicester City player, according to local media reports.

AEK have one week to announce a financial rescue plan or face relegation into the amateur division.

All five of Greece's AEK-based players have formally demanded to be released from their contracts with many players unpaid since January.

Greece striker Demis Nikolaidis spearheaded a consortium attempting to take over the Athens club last month but has so far failed to stave off creditors, including the Greek state demanding unpaid taxes.

Kouyias said he would lead an alternative take-over bid that was working on a rescue plan to be announced next week.

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.