Former Greece international defender Marios Oikonomou has tragically passed away at the age of 33, nine days after sustaining severe injuries in a motorbike accident in northwestern Greece.
Details of the Accident
The accident occurred on Saturday, May 23, near the entrance to Hatzikosta Hospital in Ioannina. Oikonomou collided with a vehicle driven by a 63-year-old motorist. Emergency services and traffic police promptly arrived at the scene, and the former footballer was rushed to Ioannina University Hospital with life-threatening head injuries.
Surgeons performed a decompressive craniectomy, a critical operation that involves temporarily removing part of the skull to reduce pressure on the brain. Following the surgery, Oikonomou was placed in intensive care but ultimately could not recover. Greek authorities have confirmed that an investigation into the collision, which occurred on a road with a known safety record, is ongoing.
Tributes from Clubs and Fans
PAS Giannina, the club where Oikonomou began his career, released a heartfelt statement: "Today the PAS Giannina family is mourning. Marios Economou, a child who earned the love and respect of all of us, left us prematurely. We spent moments of joy, effort and struggle together. Always with a smile, always with kindness. To his loved ones, to our President and father Giorgos Economou and his family, we express our deepest sympathy and our most sincere condolences. His memory will remain alive in all of us. Mario, we will remember you with love. May your memory be eternal."
AEK Athens, another former club, also paid tribute on social media: "The AEK Athens family stands by Marios and his family, with the hope that he can emerge victorious from the most difficult battle of his life." Italian club Bologna, where Oikonomou played during his career, offered words of encouragement: "Come on Marios, we are all with you."
Career Highlights
Oikonomou earned six caps for Greece between 2016 and 2018. He played for several Italian clubs, including Sampdoria, Cagliari, Bologna, SPAL, and Bari across Serie A and Serie B. He also had spells with AEK Athens, Danish side Copenhagen, and Panetolikos in Greece before retiring in 2024.
