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Chris Antonopoulos (soccer)

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Chris Antonopoulos
Antonopoulos in the 1990s
Personal information
Full name Chris Charles Antonopoulos
Date of birth December 17, 1968
Place of birth Alexandria, Louisiana, United States
Date of death January 27, 2025 (aged 56)
Place of death Miami, Florida, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1975-1982 Miami Shores
1982-1986 Miami Curley High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987-1990 FIU Panthers 44 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990 Holywood Kickers
1993 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2 (0)
1994-2001 Miami Socker Locker
2005-2006 Team Rio 7 (0)
2010 Florida Beach Soccer FC 12 (0)
International career
2002-2006 United States (beach)
Managerial career
1991-1993 Miami Curley High School (head coach)
2005-2006 United States (beach) (assistant)
2011-2013 Florida Beach Soccer FC (head coach)
Medal record
Men's Soccer
Representing  United States
1984 Junior Olympics
Gold medal – first place 1984 1st
Men's Beach Soccer
Representing  United States
CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2005 3rd
Gold medal – first place 2006 1st
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Chris C. Antonopoulos (December 17, 1968 – January 27, 2025) was an American soccer goalkeeper and coach. He played for Florida International University, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, and the U.S. Men's National Beach Soccer Team. He later coached Florida Beach Soccer FC, leading them to multiple national championships.

Early life

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Chris Antonopoulos was born on December 17, 1968, in Alexandria, Louisiana, and raised in Miami, Florida.[1]

Playing career

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Highschool

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He attended Miami Curley High School, where he was the goalkeeper.[2]

In 1984, Antonopoulos played for the United States' gold medal-winning AAU Junior Olympic soccer team, alongside Curley teammates Kieran Clarke and Alfred Avila.[3][4]

During his senior year in 1986, he recorded 14 shutouts in 19 games,[5] and earned multiple honors, including Miami News High School Player of the Year,[6] selection to the Florida Super Select 11 squad,[6] the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) All-State Team,[7] Miami Herald Dade County Player of the Year,[8] played in the Dade-Broward All-Star Game,[9][8] and received two All-Dade team selections in 1985 and 1986.[10][11][12]

That year, he led Curley to the Florida Class 3A playoffs, securing a victory over Ransom-Everglades in the semifinals before ultimately falling to St. Thomas Aquinas in the section 4 championship game.[13][14]

Coach Karl Kremser regarded Antonopoulos as among the top high school goalkeepers in the nation at the time.[15] He was recruited by 20 colleges but chose FIU where he received a full scholarship.[5]

College

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Chris Antonopoulos continued at Florida International University (FIU) as the goalkeeper from 1987 to 1990, appearing in 44 matches with 36 starts in goal.[16][17] He recorded 134 career saves, ranking 5th on FIU's all-time career saves leaderboard. His season-high of 79 saves came in 1990.[18] Antonopoulos' career total remains among the top 10 in program history.[17]

During his time at FIU, in 1989 he was named Defensive MVP of the Viderson Vital Benefit Tournament, after helping lead FIU to a 2–1 victory in the championship match.[19]

He received a B.A. in Hospitality Management in 1990.

Club

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After college, Antonopoulos was a goalkeeper with the Hollywood Kickers a Division 1 team in the Gold Coast Soccer League (GCSL) during the early 1990s. In 1990, he served as goalkeeper for the Kickers during their playoff run in the State Cup at Dowdy Field, reaching the semifinals.[20][21]

Professional

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In 1993, he turned professional with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL),[22] signing a one year deal.[23][24] Antonopoulos made his professional debut on June 18, 1993, against the Montreal Impact at Lockhart Stadium, playing in relief and conceding one goal in a 2–1 loss.[25] He earned his only start on August 29, 1993, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, allowing six goals in a 6–2 defeat. Across these two appearances, he played a total of 141 minutes and conceded seven goals.[26][27][28]

International

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Chris Antonopoulos pictured (top-right) with the United States men’s National Beach Soccer Team.

From 2002 to 2006, Antonopoulos represented the United States Men's National Beach Soccer Team as a goalkeeper and an assistant coach. He participated in multiple international tournaments during his tenure, including appearances at the Mundialito de Futebol de Praia in Portugal.[29] Antonopoulos was a goalkeeper on the U.S. team that won the 2005 and 2006 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, earning qualification for the 2005 and 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.[30][31]

Beach soccer club

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Team RIO

Chris Antonopoulos served as the goalkeeper for Team Rio, which won the North American Sand Soccer Championships (NASSC) in 2005.[32]

Florida Beach Soccer FC

In 2010, Antonopoulos founded Florida Beach Soccer FC, a competitive beach soccer team based in Florida. He also served as the team's goalkeeper during its inaugural season.[33] That year, he helped lead the team to a championship victory at the Clearwater Beach Soccer Tournament, part of the Major Beach Soccer National Championship Series sponsored by the United Soccer League.[34] They also placed third at the 2010 U.S. Open at the North American Sand Soccer Championships.[35][33] In 2013, Antonopoulos played one period as a guest goalkeeper for a U.S. alumni team in a pro-am exhibition match against the Brazilian Legends at the NASSC in Virginia Beach, which ended in a 4–4 tie.

The squad featured several players with U.S. Beach Soccer National Team experience, including Benyam Astorga, Oscar Gil, and Francis Farberoff.[33]

Coaching career

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Miami Curley

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After his playing career at FIU, Antonopoulos served as the head coach of the boys' varsity soccer team at Archbishop Curley High School in Miami, Florida, his alma mater.[8] In 1993, the team compiled a 14–7–1 record and qualified for the district playoffs. Two players from that squad, including his younger brother Todd Antonopoulos, were selected to the Class 3A–2A–1A First Team All-State.[8][36]

U.S. Nationals Team

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Antonopoulos' coaching experience also includes serving as an assistant coach for the United States Men's National Beach Soccer Team in 2005 and 2006.[30] In this role, he contributed to the team's victory at the 2005 and 2006 CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship, earning their first title and securing qualification for the 2005 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.[30][31]

Florida Beach Soccer FC

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After suffering knee and shoulder injuries, Antonopoulos transitioned to coaching in 2011, becoming the head coach of Florida Beach Soccer FC, a team he had helped found in 2010.[34][33] Under Antonopoulos’ coaching, Florida Beach Soccer FC competed in multiple national and international tournaments.

The team won the U.S. Open Beach Soccer Championship at the North American Sand Soccer Championship (NASSC) in back-to-back titles 2011 and 2012, and finishing as runners-up in 2013.[33][37][38]

In 2011, the team also won the BagoSports Beach Football Invitational in Trinidad and Tobago, securing the Caribbean Championship with an undefeated record.[39][40] In 2011, he coached the team to another victory in the Major Beach Soccer National Championship Series sponsored by the United Soccer League.[34][41]

In 2013, he coached the team at the Beach Soccer Championships in Oceanside, California.

Personal life and legacy

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  • After retiring from professional beach soccer, Antonopoulos returned to his passion for the sport by coaching youth soccer through various organizations.[1]
  • The NASSC referred to him as one of beach soccer's “OGs,” acknowledging his early contributions to its growth in the United States.
  • In a statement on his death, Francis Farberoff, a former teammate from the U.S. National Men’s Beach Soccer Team and later coach of both the U.S. and Bahama's Men’s National Teams, commented on Antonopoulos’s contributions. Farberoff noted that Antonopoulos was a committed presence during their time together, emphasizing his intensity in matches and training, as well as his role in motivating teammates. He described their shared experiences as memorable, highlighting Antonopoulos’s lasting impression on those he played with.[42]
  • Chris Antonopoulos was married to Michele Antonopoulos in November 1998 and together they had four children. Brandon, Jacob, Ryan, and Tiffany. He died in Miami in January 2025.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Chris Antonopoulos Obituary (1968 - 2025) - Boynton Beach, FL - the Miami Herald". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  2. ^ By (1987-08-24). "Hurricanes' Andre Brown Breaks Finger on Right Hand". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  3. ^ "AAU/USA JUNIOR OLYMPICS GAMES SOCCER - BOYS UNDER 16" (PDF). AAU Junior Olympic Games. Jacksonville, Florida. August 19, 1984.
  4. ^ "Killian performs the soccer shuffle". The Miami Herald. December 18, 1984. p. 44. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Phillips, Mike (August 30, 1987). "Deep FIU Team enjoys goalies galore". The Miami Herald. p. 170. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "The Silent Treatment: Soft-spoken goalie Chris Antonopoulos keeps his opponents quiet". The Miami News. May 9, 1986. p. 22. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  7. ^ "For the Record: Florida Athletic Coaches Association teams: Super Select Team". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. April 1, 1986.
  8. ^ a b c d Christopher, Andrew (March 24, 1991). "Brothers Antonopoulos Exit Smiling". The Miami Herlad. p. 279. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  9. ^ "The Best of Dade County Soccer". The Miami Herald. March 25, 1986. p. 28. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  10. ^ "All-Dade Athletic Awards". The Miami Herald. May 26, 1985.
  11. ^ "All-Dade Athletic Awards". The Miami Herald. May 25, 1986. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  12. ^ Turick, Scott (April 2, 1985). "All-Dade Boys Soccer: First Team". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 82.
  13. ^ Diaz, George (February 19, 1986). "Killian overcomes rainstorm, Stings in Region 9-4A soccer: Highschools". The Miami Herald. p. 298.
  14. ^ Miller Degnan, Susan (February 19, 1986). "St. Thomas, S. Plantation win boys soccer regions: High Schools". The Miami Herald.
  15. ^ Nash, Noel (April 16, 1986). "Premier goalkeeper will guard FIU net". The Miami News. p. 17.
  16. ^ "2007 FIU Men's Soccer Media Guide by Ivan Irizarry - Issuu". issuu.com. 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  17. ^ a b "FIU Athletics Mourns the Loss of Chris Antonopoulos". FIU Athletics. 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2025-01-29.
  18. ^ "M-Soccer All-Time Records". FIU Athletics. 2007-01-31. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  19. ^ Doorman, Larry (March 5, 1989). "Hurricanes walk past Gophers; FIU wins in 11". The Miami Herald.
  20. ^ "Historical Results". Florida Gold Coast League. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  21. ^ By (1990-03-16). "KICKERS' WIN, GET A STEP CLOSER". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  22. ^ "APSL 1993 Season". a-leaguearchive.tripod.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  23. ^ "Scoreboard (soccer)". The Miami Herald. May 18, 1993. p. 143. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  24. ^ Lohrer, Robert (May 18, 1993). "Strikers looking to add new player". The Miami Herald. p. 63.
  25. ^ "1993 Ft. Lauderdale Strikers season" (PDF). Historical Lineups. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  26. ^ "Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1993 Roster". SoccerStats.us. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  27. ^ "Callback". Sun Sentinel. 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  28. ^ "Today's game". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  29. ^ "Mundialito de Futebol de Praia". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  30. ^ a b c "CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship 2006 by Concacaf - Issuu". issuu.com. 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
  31. ^ a b "Remembering Chris Antonopoulos". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 2025-02-08. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  32. ^ "CONGRATULATIONS TO U.S. OPEN '05 TOP FINISHERS!" (PDF). www.sandsoccer.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-11. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  33. ^ a b c d e By (2011-11-06). "Getting their kicks in the sand". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
  34. ^ a b c "Soccer Invades Clearwater Beach". Clearwater, FL Patch. 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
  35. ^ "CONGRATULATIONS to the U.S. OPEN 2010 teams!" (PDF). www.sandsoccer.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
  36. ^ Jackson, Barry (January 31, 1993). "Winning Siblings: Curley's brothers, sisters may bring the championship home". The Miami Herald. p. 199.
  37. ^ "North American Sand Soccer Championships in Virginia Beach". News 3 WTKR Norfolk. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  38. ^ "Local Roundup (Beach Soccer)". The Miami Herald. July 1, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  39. ^ "Beach football team places third in T/dad Invitational tourney". Stabroek News. November 23, 2011.
  40. ^ "Top players for BagoSports beach tourney". Trinidad Express Newspapers. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  41. ^ "Beach Champs". The Miami Herald. February 5, 2012. p. D10. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  42. ^ "The Legacy of Beach Soccer Pioneer Chris Antonopoulos". Pro-am Beach Soccer. March 7, 2025.
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