Greek club puts revolutionary hero on 'historic' jerseys

Kolokotronis headed a confederation of Peloponnese irregulars for a major part of the 1821-1829 Greek revolution.
For representational purposes | AP
For representational purposes | AP

ATHENS: A Greek first division club on Monday said it was firing up its jersey with the country's top revolutionary hero to give "historic value" this season.

Asteras Tripolis FC said its away jersey would carry the image of revolutionary general Theodoros Kolokotronis, one of the senior commanders in Greece's 10-year war of liberation against the Ottoman Empire.

Both jerseys will also carry a phrase attributed to Kolokotronis: "God has set His signature for the liberation of Greece, and He does not rescind it."

"I am certain fans will love the new jerseys from the start," Asteras commercial director Dimitris Kenes said in a statement.

Kolokotronis headed a confederation of Peloponnese irregulars for a major part of the 1821-1829 Greek revolution.

One of his feats was the capture of the city of Tripolitsa, seat of Asteras FC, which was followed by a massacre of the Turkish and Jewish population, in retaliation for past Turkish brutality.

Formerly gracing one of Greece's pre-euro drachma banknotes, Kolokotronis was also famous for promising to put to "fire and the axe" Greeks who failed to help against the Turks.

Asteras, whose home stadium is also named after Kolokotronis, finished fifth in the Greek league and is in this year's UEFA Europa League qualifying round.

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