Diaspora soccer sensation follows his heart

His great-grandfather pursued a better life in the mines of Belgium. His grandfather nurtured a dream of the Greek national team. This is the story of a family that emigrated but never truly left its homeland.

“In the factories of Germany and the mines of Belgium…” The 45rpm vinyl record of the renowned laiko singer Stelios Kazantzidis remained relevant even as the decade changed. In 1970, Vaios Karetsas left his village of Dimitritsi in the Serres region of northern Greece, traveling to Belgium with his family to work as a coal miner in Limburg province. He had heard from fellow villagers and acquaintances about the hardships, but also about the good wages and the rights they and their families gained.

Fifty-five years later, the Karetsas name once again stands as a testament to the vision, talent and determination that Greeks abroad demonstrate, no matter where they live.

The great-grandfather of Greek soccer’s newest rising star would be doubly proud of his 17-year-old great-grandson, who is currently one of the most promising young players. Greek fans felt a similar sense of pride watching Konstantinos and the other young talents under Serbian coach Ivan Jovanovic. In Glasgow, where Greece breezed past Scotland 3-0 in their playoff second leg to secure a spot in Group A of the Nations League next year, these players showcased all the qualities modern soccer demands.

This fourth-generation Greek diaspora attacking midfielder is a rare talent – one we haven’t seen in years. Though still a minor, he possesses the maturity and skill set of a fully developed player. His technique, speed and boldness, combined with his dribbling, sharp shooting, vertical passing and in-game creativity seem to bridge the gap with the legendary players of past generations.

Praise

Celebrated manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s words after the game against Scotland only reinforced this impression. “Wow! Number 18 [PAOK’s attacking midfielder Giannis Konstantelias] and number 19 [Karetsas], with such physical development, could play in any of my teams,” he said, even drawing comparisons with his former players at Manchester United, David Beckham and Paul Scholes.

Konstantinos’ talent was evident from an early age. Eleven years ago, at just 6 years old, his father, Vaios, coached him at a local team in Genk. “His talent was innate. His touch on the ball, which is crucial at that age, was unique. He had imagination in his game, intelligence, and a natural goal-scoring instinct, using both feet with ease. Everything else followed quickly. His improvement was rapid, though what concerned him most was seeing other kids taller than him,” his father told Kathimerini, just before the Karetsas family returned to Belgium. There, Genk faced Ghent in the first match of the playoffs, securing a 4-0 victory, with Konstantinos scoring a stunner from outside the box.

In the days following the victory against Scotland, the family has been trying to manage emotions and priorities. At the same time, both they and the club are attempting to tone down the excitement, as all the noise surrounding his name could be a distraction for a 17-year-old. The allure of major European clubs offering millions may be tempting, but for the young international star, his father Vaios, his mother Eirini, and his 13-year-old brother Giorgos, the surprise wasn’t overwhelming. In reality, it was expected.

The first to believe that Konstantinos would shine in the national team was his grandfather, Kostas. At 20, he followed his father into the mines, worked hard, and never lost his passion for Greece – especially for anything Greek and PAOK-related. He inherited his love for the Thessaloniki club from his father and passed it down to his son and grandson.

Married to Maria from the remote village of Neo Cheimonio in Orestiada, in northern Greece’s Evros region, Kostas made several trips back home to watch PAOK’s legendary team of Giorgos Koudas, Stavros Sarafis, and Brazilian Neto Guerino. Naturally, he was at Toumba Stadium early in the morning to get a good spot for PAOK’s historic 1-0 victory over AEK, which secured the club’s first championship in 1976.

“If you want to choose a national team, you must follow your heart,” Kostas advised Konstantinos when he faced the dilemma of choosing between Greece and Belgium. And his heart had long been set on his parents’ homeland, despite both his father and mother being born in Genk and raised with a completely different mindset. However, they were united by their language, which they spoke fluently in both homes, having learned it from their grandparents, who were born in Greece.

The statement, “You can’t be called Konstantinos Karetsas and not play for the Greek national team,” made by Ivan Jovanovic during his visit to Belgium, was simply a confirmation. The text messages from his grandfather had already been received and read carefully.

His mother, Eirini, seems to be the exception to the PAOK rule in the Karetsas family. A third-generation Greek in Belgium, she grew up listening to her father, Giorgos, talk about the legendary Panathinaikos midfielder Mimis Domazos and the team’s road to Wembley Stadium, where the Athens side lost to Ajax in the 1971 European Cup final. With roots in the Athens suburb of Kaisariani, she supports Panathinaikos – although, as she admits, she started following soccer closely because of her son.

Grandfather Giorgos, who worked for years at the Ford factory in Genk, tried to convert Konstantinos into a Panathinaikos fan. When the boy was 8 and just about to join Genk’s academy, he gifted him a Panathinaikos jersey, a scarf, and other memorabilia. Later, when forward Nikos Karelis transferred from Panathinaikos to Genk, Giorgos took Konstantinos to get an autograph. “He wore the kit and took photos in green, but mostly to avoid disappointing his grandfather. He was already a PAOK fan,” Vaios said.

The Karetsas family’s strong bond and adherence to traditional Greek diaspora values have been key factors in the 17-year-old midfielder’s success. Supporting his decision to play for the Greek national team – at a time when the squad appears to be the most talented in its history – was just the first step. There are even more critical steps ahead in Konstantinos’ career, and his family will undoubtedly play the most decisive role.

After all, recent history has shown that Konstantinos thrives with his family’s support. At 12, in his first attempt to become independent by moving to Brussels as a boarder at Anderlecht’s academy, he struggled to adapt and returned to Genk. This sudden and overwhelming media attention needs to settle down, and his parents – who have been caught off guard by the spotlight – understand this better than anyone.

A promising future

At the moment, school and Genk take priority. Konstantinos is a diligent student with a particular aptitude for economics. Meanwhile, his team has just begun its campaign for the league title, which would secure a place in the next Champions League, with Club Brugge – featuring Greek winger Christos Tzolis – as their main rival.

“The next steps will be taken carefully,” says Konstantinos’ inner circle. His representation is managed by Belgium’s largest sports agency, Stirr Associates, which has already begun discussions with interested clubs and Genk. The club is expected to demand a significant resale percentage in any future transfer. But all of that is for later.

For now, Konstantinos remains focused on the present and what brings him the most joy – playing soccer and giving it his all.