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  "path": "/2026/06/01/international-footballer-dies-aged-33-nine-days-motorbike-accident-28607010/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-01T17:20:28.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Greece",
    "Sign up now",
    "Athens",
    "pic.twitter.com/0uqGCHSe4R",
    "June 1, 2026",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source",
    "@sampdoria"
  ],
  "textContent": "Marios Oikonomou has sadly died aged 33 (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nGreece international Marios Oikonomou has tragically died at 33 years old, nine days after a motorbike accident.\n\nOikonomou was riding a motorbike when he was hit by a car performing a U-turn in his home town of Ioannina in Greece on May 23.\n\nThe former defender underwent surgery and had been in an induced coma in hospital before his death was confirmed on Monday June 1.\n\nThe footballer had suffered severe head injuries in the crash and the damage proved too much for doctors to save him after nine days of treatment.\n\n##  The countdown is on\n\nOur seven-day guide to the World Cup is live. 48 teams, 104 games, 1104 players – we've got everything you need to know. Sign up now.\n\nOikonomou started his career at Greek club PAS Giannina before moving to Cagliari in 2013 and then Bologna a year later, where he really made his name.\n\nThe centre-back played regularly as Bologna earned promotion back to Serie A and continued to perform in the Italian top flight.\n\nIt was during his stint at Bologna that he earned his six Greece caps.\n\nMarios Oikonomou earned promotion to Serie A with Bologna in 2015 (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nHe would return to Greece with AEK Athens, then move to join Copenhagen in 2020, winning the Danish Superliga in 2022, before another brief stint in Serie A with Sampdoria.\n\nA statement from former club AEK Athens read: ‘With sadness in our hearts and souls, we recently learned of the sad fact that Marios Economou lost the battle for life. Difficult moments when words cannot express for AEK, but much more for his family, the extent of his loss.\n\n‘His career in football and sports and the battles he fought speak for themselves, as well as the unique ethos demonstrated by this young athlete, who lost his life at the age of 33 and on Pentecost Sunday.\n\nOikonomou won six caps for Greece (Picture: Getty Images)\n\n‘We wish courage and mental strength to his family and loved ones. He will be remembered by all AEK fans.’\n\nBologna’s official account posted on X: ‘Farewell Marios, you left us too soon. You will forever be in our hearts.’\n\nHis first club wrote in a statement: ‘Today the PAS Giannina family is mourning.\n\n> Ciao Marios 💔 pic.twitter.com/0uqGCHSe4R\n>\n> — U.C. Sampdoria (@sampdoria) June 1, 2026\n\n‘Marios Oikonomou, a child who earned the love and respect of all of us, left us prematurely. We spent moments of joy, effort and struggle together.\n\n‘Always with a smile, always with kindness. To his loved ones, to our President and father Giorgos Oikonomou and his family, we express our deepest sympathy and our most sincere condolences.\n\n‘His memory will remain alive in all of us. Mario, we will remember you with love. May your memory be eternal.’\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "International footballer dies aged 33 nine days after motorbike accident"
}