No-nonsense Wanderers defender ready for ALM finals war

Perth Now

08-05-2025

Shirt tucked in, socks rolled up high, and boasting an unquenchable thirst for smashing strikers, Western Sydney defender Anthony Pantazopoulos sounds like a footballer from a bygone era.
That's before you even start to discuss the no-nonsense centre back's party trick where he launches goalkicks downfield to cause havoc for opposing defenders.
And while those might all seem like traits from a time when the beautiful game was slightly more rudimentary, there is little doubt that Pantazopoulos has proven he belongs at A-League Men level after a breakout campaign.
Able to play with boot feet, the 22-year-old has made himself a cornerstone of the Wanderers' defence en route to Saturday's elimination final with Melbourne Victory.
Pantazopoulos helped the Wanderers finish the regular season in fourth spot on the table, scoring in last Saturday's 3-1 win over Macarthur FC to extend the club's unbeaten run to 11 games.
But there's little question as to what gives the defender, who grew up idolising Manchester United's Serbian hardnut Nemanja Vidic, the most satisfaction.
"I get more of a thrill out of going through someone," Pantazopoulos told AAP.
"I'm happy for the team if I score, but personally, there's nothing better than crunching someone, I really thrive off it.
"I played a few years in the NPL where the centre backs are old school and I learned stuff off them so I don't feel 22, I feel like a 36-year-old.
"If I play a striker who wants body contact in the first few minutes, then I'm the happiest man alive and I go; 'We're on for a war here', that gets me going."
It's not just at the back that the defender has made an impact, with the Wanderers discovering midway through this season that Pantazopoulos had a hidden talent - a rocket launcher of a right foot that can hoof a ball downfield and cause nightmares for rival defenders.
One was measured travelling 75 metres and another led directly to a goal in a win over Central Coast earlier this year.
"It's a little bit of a weapon now … it's either going to go behind the defence for one of our forwards to run onto or it can just cause chaos," Pantazopoulos said.
"(As a defender) the worst thing is when you're having to turn and chase a ball behind, so I can't imagine what it feels like for other centre backs to deal with."
The defender reckons he can find the same range on his left foot, too.
"My dad used to take me down to the park and tell me I could only use my left foot and if I used my right we'd be going home," Pantazopoulos said.
"Since then it's been natural, I never have to think about what foot I'm using."
Just 24 games into an ALM career, Pantazopoulos' form was recognised with a maiden Olyroos call-up in March.
It's a marked turnaround from last season when he felt like giving the game away, crediting new Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic and his parents for giving him the confidence to keep going.
"Last year if I made one mistake, I'd be gone for the rest of the session or the game and I wasn't able to get out of my own head because I'd be thinking, 'I'm never going to play again'," Pantazopoulos said.
"But I got over that barrier and when Staj wanted me to sign here again I was so happy.
"Representing the country was something I'd dreamt of ... I know how proud my family is and that drives me on."