George Pakos

Who is George Pakos?

George "Teddy" Pakos is a former Canadian international soccer player. His goals were crucial in Canada qualifying for its only FIFA World Cup finals to date, in 1986.

An amateur player with the Victoria Athletic Association men's soccer team for much of his playing days, the midfielder Pakos scored 5 times in 22 'A' internationals, all of which he earned from age 29 on. In 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification as a 33-year-old who had been cut from the team after the first round of qualifying, Pakos was recalled and scored the lone goal in a vital away win at Honduras. He also scored the first goal in a 2-1 home victory against Honduras that clinched Canada's berth in their only finals appearance.

Pakos played his first senior soccer with the London Boxing Club in 1975. The side won the Canadian national amateur club championship in 1976. He began work at the same time as a water-metre tecnnician for the city of Victoria, a job he continued for over 25 years. The third son of Polish immigrants, George's father Zenon played professionally in Poland before being displaced by the war.