Dimitris Kourbelis becomes the first non-Big 5 national team captain in 26 years

During the UEFA Nations League match between Serbia and Greece at the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade, 32-year-old midfielder Dimitris Kourbelis made history. Following the substitution of Vangelis Pavlidis in the 73rd minute, Kourbelis took over the captain's armband, leading Greece to a 2-1 victory. Kourbelis currently plays for Asteras AKTOR, marking the first time in 26 years that an active player from a club outside of the traditional Greek 'Big 5' (Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, AEK, PAOK, and Aris) has captained the national team.

The previous record holder was Marinos Ouzounidis, who held the captaincy while playing for Paniliakos during a match against Germany in Hamburg on September 2, 2000. During that specific 2-0 defeat, Ouzounidis also scored an own goal in the 79th minute. This milestone underscores the evolving landscape of Greek football, as Kourbelis's role demonstrates that representation in the national squad's leadership is expanding beyond the historical dominance of the five major domestic clubs.