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{{Short description|Albanian footballer (1939–2010)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name        = Panajot Pano<br>Panagiotis Panou
| image       = Panajot Pano (1964).jpg
| upright     = 1.1
| caption     = Pano in 1964
| full_name   = Panajot Thoma Pano<ref name="Panajot Pano"/>
| birth_date  = {{birth date|df=yes|1939|3|7}}
| birth_place = [[Durrës]], [[Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939)|Albania]]
| death_date  = {{death date and age|df=yes|2010|01|19|1939|3|7}}<ref name="Death"/>
| death_place = [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], [[Florida]], United States<ref name="Death"/>
| position    = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| years1 = 1957–1960 | clubs1 = [[KF Tirana|17 Nëntori Tirana]] | caps1 = 28  | goals1 = 8
| years2 = 1960–1975 | clubs2 = [[Partizani Tirana]]            | caps2 = 210 | goals2 = 136
| totalcaps  = 238 
| totalgoals = 144<ref>{{cite web|url=https://albanopedia.com/biographies/panajot-pano#google_vignette|title=Panajot Pano: Albanian “Golden” Player|date=15 November 2022}}</ref>
| nationalyears1 = 1963–1973
| nationalteam1  = [[Albania national football team|Albania]]
| nationalcaps1  = 28 
| nationalgoals1 = 4
}}

'''Panajot Thoma Pano''' ({{langx|el|Παναγιώτης Θωμάς Πάνου|Panayiotis Thomas Panou}}; 7 March 1939 – 19 January 2010) was an Albanian [[football player]]. He started his career as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] in the [[KF Tirana|17 Nëntori Tirana]] youth academy, but later became the most prolific [[centre-forward]] of their arch-rivals, [[Partizani Tirana]]. During his eighteen-year career he played 24 matches as part of the [[Albania national football team|Albania national team]] and was awarded the Albanian [[UEFA Jubilee Awards|UEFA Jubilee Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01ed-0f84628e2364-6d0ea26f68a5-1000--albania-s-little-puskas/|title=Albania's 'Little Puskás'|publisher=[[UEFA]]|author=Dritan Ikonomi|date=20 January 2011|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>

Due to his skills and abilities, Pano earned the nickname "The little [[Ferenc Puskás|Puskás]]" by sports commentators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vizionplus.tv/panajot-pano-perendia-mistike-e-ballkanit/|title=Panajot Pano, perëndia mistike e Ballkanit|trans-title=Panajot Pano, the mystical god of Balkan|publisher=Vizion Plus|language=sq|date=17 March 2017|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref>

==Early life==
Panajot Pano (''Panayiotis Thomas Panou'') was born in [[Durrës]], to ethnic [[Greeks|Greek]] parents Thoma and Vasilika Pano who came from [[Lefterhor]], [[Delvinë|Delvinë, Albania]].<ref name="Pano3">{{cite web|url=http://en.sae.gr/?id=18621&tag=Day%20of%20National%20Mourning%20in%20Honour%20of%20the%20Greek%20Albanian%20Footballer%20Panajot%20Pano|title=Day of National Mourning in Honour of the Greek Albanian Footballer Panajot Pano|publisher=Hellenes Abroad / Greece|date=21 January 2010|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304013715/http://en.sae.gr/?id=18621&tag=Day%20of%20National%20Mourning%20in%20Honour%20of%20the%20Greek%20Albanian%20Footballer%20Panajot%20Pano|archive-date=4 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Babaramo |first=Ilir |date=30 October 2018 |title=Panajot Pano është grek i Shqipërisë |url=https://shqiptarja.com/lajm/panajot-pano-eshte-grek-i-shqiperise |work=Shqiptarja.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 November 2018 |title=Sali Berisha i befasuar nga tifozët e Partizanit: Idhulli i tyre një minoritar grek, hera e parë një banderolë raciste |url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/sali-berisha-i-befasuar-nga-tifozet-e-partizanit-idhulli-i-tyre-nje-minoritar-grek-hera-e-pare-nje-banderole-raciste/ |work=[[Panorama Sport]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jensen |first=Neil Fredrik |date=9 September 2014 |title=Albania revive the days of Pano |url=https://gameofthepeople.com/2014/09/09/albania-revive-the-days-of-pano/ |website=Game of the People}}</ref> He developed a passion for the sport when he was around 4–5 years old.<ref name="Panajot Pano"/> His parents were against him playing football and instead wanted him to focus more on school.<ref name="Panajot Pano"/>

==Club career==
===Early career===
Pano begun his football career in 1954 by playing as a goalkeeper for [[KF Tirana|17 Nëntori Tirana]]. He their youth team which was coached by the former national team manager [[Adem Karapici]] initially and then [[Xhavit Shyqyri Demneri]] until the age of 16. He was handed his under-19s debut with Tirana by Demneri on 18 July 1956 in a youth national championship game against [[Korabi Peshkopi]] and he scored his first goal for the side on 5 August of the same year against [[FK Kukësi|Kukësi]].<ref name="Panajot Pano"/>

===Tirana===
Pano was handed his professional debut by manager [[Myslym Alla]] in senior side in 1958 as an 18-year-old, entering as a substitute in a [[Albanian Cup|Republic Cup]] game against [[Besa Kavajë]] which ended in a goalless draw.<ref name="Panajot Pano"/> He scored his first senior goal in the returning leg but the team lost 2–1 and was eliminated from the competition.<ref name="Panajot Pano"/> Pano remained a member of the under-19 team at the time and had to wait until the following season before he would establish himself as a first team member.

His league debut occurred on 4 May 1958 in the [[Dinamo Tirana–KF Tirana rivalry|Tirana derby]] match against [[Dinamo Tirana]], where he contributed in the 4–0 win by scoring a goal. Pano changed his role from goalkeeper to striker during a league match against Partizani Tirana where 17 Nëntori was losing 4–0. It was coach's Demneri decision to play him as a striker.<ref name="Panajot Pano"/>

He played his final game for Tirana on 9 December 1959 against Besa Kavajë in a game which ended in a 4–2 win for Pano's side.

===Partizani Tirana===
{{Quote box|width=15%|align=right|quote="If Panajot Pano doesn't remember me, I remember him."|source=—[[Franz Beckenbauer]], 1990<ref name="Panajot Pano">{{cite news|url=http://www.albaniasoccer.com/english-news/1027-in-memoriam-panajot-pano-the-qgreatest-soccer-player-in-albaniaq.html|title=In Memoriam : Panajot Pano "The Greatest Soccer Player in Albania"!|publisher=Albania Soccer|language=sq|date=20 January 2010|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportekspres.com/video-njeriu-qe-nuk-kaloi-detin-perkujtohet-legjenda-panajot-pano/|title=VIDEO / "Njeriu që nuk kaloi detin", përkujtohet legjenda Panajot Pano|trans-title=Video / "The man who didn't pass the sea", legend Panajot Pano commemorated|publisher=Albania Soccer|language=sq|date=20 January 2010|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref>}}

On 12 December 1958, Pano was called for the military service and eventually signed for [[FK Partizani Tirana|Partizani Tirana]].<ref name="Panajot Pano"/> He played his first match for his new side under [[Rexhep Spahiu]] on 14 February 1960 against [[Dinamo Tirana]] in which he also would score his first goal for his new club in the 3–0 win. He scored 7 goals in his first season which helped the team to finish runner-up in the championship which was won by Dinamo Tirana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.giovanniarmillotta.it/albania/calcio/alba60.html|title=Albanian Football Season 1960|publisher=Giovanni Armillotta|language=it|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref>

Pano finished 1961 season as top scorer (with 14 goals) as Partizani Tirana won the championship. For his performances Pano earned the Albanian Sportsperson of the Year award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/shqiperia-1961-e-futbollistit-panajot-pano/|title=Shqipëria 1961 e futbollistit Panajot Pano|trans-title=Albania 1961 of footballer Panajot Pano|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=1 April 2014|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref> Two years later, he was part of the team that played in the [[Spartakiad]] tournament, an official championship of communist countries army clubs.<ref name="Spartakaid">{{cite web|url=http://www.giovanniarmillotta.it/albania/calcio/football021.html|title=Two legendary International Tournaments of Partizani Tiranë: Leipzig (1958) and Hanoi (1963)|publisher=Giovanni Armillotta|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> Pano scored four goals during the tournament, including a memorable [[Hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] in the 3–1 win over Vorwärts B.<ref name="Hanoi 63'">{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/partizani-i-hanoit-63/|title=Partizani i Hanoit '63|trans-title=Partizani of Hanoi 63'|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=23 April 2014|access-date=6 September 2018}}</ref> Partizani eventually reached the final and was subsequently defeated by XI CSKA/SKA.<ref name="Hanoi 63'"/>

On 17 September 1969, Pano returned at Tirana to participate in the first leg of [[1969–70 European Cup]]'s first round against [[Standard Liège]]; he played as a starter but was replaced by Niko Xhaçka after 65 minutes, as Tirana lost the game 3–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62592--standard-liege-vs-tirana/|title=Standard Liège 3–0 KF Tirana|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref> He didn't play in the second leg which saw Tirana crashing out of the competition 4–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62593--tirana-vs-standard-liege/|title=KF Tirana 1–1 Standard Liège|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref>

In 1970, Pano played in the [[Balkans Cup]], scoring 2 goals as Partizani became the first and only Albanian club to win an international competition, as they defeated [[PFC Beroe Stara Zagora|Beroe Stara Zagora]] in the final, following a 1–1 draw in Tiranë and a 3–0 awarded win for the second leg, as Beroe withdrew.<ref name="Balkan">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/balkanclub70s.html|title=Balkan Cup 1970-79|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>

Pano announced his retirement from football in May 1975.<ref name="Panajot Pano"/>

==International career==
Pano has been an [[Albania national football team|Albanian international]], earning 28 caps and scoring 4 goals between 1963 and 1973.<ref name="EU-Football.info">{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=15947|title=Football PLAYER: Panajot Pano|publisher=EU-Football.info|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref> He also [[Captain (association football)|captained]] the national team in 10 occasions.<ref name="Pano1">{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/panajot-pano-i-europes/|title=Panajot Pano i Europës|trans-title=Panajot Pano of Europe|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=6 May 2014|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref> He scored his first international goal on 30 October 1963 against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] in the [[1964 European Nations' Cup round of 16|1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying]] stage which marked Albania's first ever win in a qualifying match.<ref name="Pano2">{{cite web|url=http://www.panorama.com.al/sport/pano-i-kupave-te-europes/|title=Pano i Kupave të Europës|trans-title=Pano of European cups|publisher=Panorama Sport|language=sq|date=30 April 2014|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/3980--albania-vs-denmark/|title=Albania 3-0 Denmark|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His son [[Ledio Pano]], became also a well known football player and played for the football clubs of [[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]], [[Luftëtari Gjirokastër|Luftëtari]], [[Xanthi FC]] and [[Pas Ioannina]]. He was also capped several times with [[Albania national football team|Albania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bundesliga.weltfussball.at/spieler_profil/ledio-pano/ |title=Ledio Pano |publisher=Bundesliga.weltfussball.at |date=23 May 1968 |access-date=10 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spox.com/de/daten/fussball/spieler_profil/ledio-pano/ |title=Ledio Pano - Steckbrief |publisher=SPOX.com |date=23 May 1968 |access-date=10 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/history/season=1988/round=211/match=1269/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208172909/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/history/season=1988/round=211/match=1269/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2009 |title=UEFA EURO 2012 |publisher=[[UEFA]] |access-date=10 September 2010}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

He died at 70 in [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], ([[Florida]], United States) on 19 January 2010 after suffering a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]].<ref name="Death">{{cite web|url=https://telegrafi.com/nderron-jete-legjenda-panajot-pano/|title=Ndërron jetë legjenda Panajot Pano|trans-title=Legend Panajot Pano passes away|publisher=Telegrafi.com|language=sq|date=19 January 2010|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>

==Legacy==
In November 2003, to celebrate [[UEFA]]'s Jubilee, he was selected as the [[UEFA Jubilee Awards|Golden Player]] of Albania by the [[Football Association of Albania]] as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsId=130150.html?redirectFromOrg=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925142143/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsId=130150.html?redirectFromOrg=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2018|title=Golden Players take centre stage|publisher=[[UEFA]]|date=29 November 2003|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>

On 6 March 2009, Pano received the order [[Honor of Nation Order|Honor of Nation]] from the [[List of heads of state of Albania|President of Albania]], [[Bamir Topi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01e3-0f85e78f5bf3-b60f21704e8d-1000--albania-pays-respects-to-favourite-son/|title=Albania pays respects to favourite son|publisher=[[UEFA]]|author=Fatjon Pandovski|date=30 March 2010|access-date=26 September 2018}}</ref> This was the first time in the history of Albania that a footballer was honored with the ''Honor of the Nation'' order.<ref name="Pano3"/>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Season
!Team
!Goals
|-
|1958||[[SK Tirana|17 Nëntori Tirana]]||5
|-
|1959||[[SK Tirana|17 Nëntori Tirana]]||10
|-
|1960||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||12
|-
|1961||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||19
|-
|1962–63||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||12
|-
|1963–64||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||16
|-
|1964–65||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||14
|-
|1965–66||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||11
|-
|1966–67||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||18
|-
|1968||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||23
|-
|1969–70||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||18
|-
|1970–71||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||18
|-
|1971–72||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||14
|-
|1972–73||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||10
|-
|1973–74||[[Partizani Tirana|Partizani]]||9
|-
|'''TOTAL'''||||'''209'''
|}

===International===
Source:<ref name="EU-Football.info"/>

{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=11|[[Albania national football team|Albania]]
|1963||4||1
|-
|1964||3||0
|-
|1965||3||0
|-
|1966||0||0
|-
|1967||4||0
|-
|1968||0||0
|-
|1969||0||0
|-
|1970||2||0
|-
|1971||6||2
|-
|1972||2||0
|-
|1973||4||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total!!28!!4
|}

Albania score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pano goal.<ref name="EU-Football.info"/>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
|-
!scope=col|No.
!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date
!scope=col|Venue
!scope=col|Cap
!scope=col|Opponent
!scope=col|Score
!scope=col|Result
!scope=col|Competition
|-
!scope=row|1
|30 October 1963||rowspan=4|[[Qemal Stafa Stadium]], [[Tirana]], Albania||align=center|4||{{fb|Denmark}}||align=center|1–0||align=center|1–0||[[1964 European Nations' Cup round of 16|1964 European Nations' Cup qualifying]] 
|-
!scope=row|2
|26 May 1971||align=center|20||{{fb|Romania}}||align=center|1–0||align=center|1–2||[[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's qualification|1972 Summer Olympics qualifiers]] 
|-
!scope=row|3
|14 November 1971||align=center|22||{{fb|Turkey}}||align=center|3–0||align=center|3–0||[[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying Group 8|UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying]] 
|-
!scope=row|4
|8 November 1973||align=center|28||{{fb|China}}||align=center|1–1||align=center|1–1||[[Exhibition match|Friendly]]
|-
|}

==Honours==
'''Partizani Tirana'''
*[[Albanian Superliga]]: [[1961 Albanian Superliga|1961]], [[1962–63 Albanian Superliga|1962–63]], [[1963–64 Albanian Superliga|1963–64]], [[1970–71 Albanian Superliga|1970–71]]
*[[Albanian Cup]]: [[1961 Albanian Cup|1961]], [[1963–64 Albanian Cup|1963–64]], [[1965–66 Albanian Cup|1965–66]], [[1967–68 Albanian Cup|1967–68]], [[1969–70 Albanian Cup|1969–70]], [[1972–73 Albanian Cup|1972–73]]
*[[Balkans Cup]]: [[1970 Balkans Cup|1970]]<ref name="Balkan"/>

'''Individual'''
*[[List of Albanian Superliga top scorers|Albanian Superliga top goalscorer]]: [[1961 Albanian Superliga|1961]], [[1969–70 Albanian Superliga|1969–70]]
*Albanian Sportsperson of the Year: 1960<ref name="Panajot Pano"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{NFT player|47589}}
*[http://www.albania-sport.com Albania Sport]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100122170427/http://lajme.shqiperia.com/media/artikull/iden/393669/titulli/Ndahet-nga-jeta-Panajot-Pano Ndahet nga jeta Panajot Pano]

{{Albanian Superliga top scorers}}
{{UEFA Jubilee Awards}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pano, Panajot}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Durrës]]
[[Category:Albanian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Albanian people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:Albania men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:KF Tirana players]]
[[Category:FK Partizani Tirana players]]
[[Category:Kategoria Superiore players]]
[[Category:UEFA Golden Players]]
[[Category:Albanian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century Albanian sportsmen]]