Hearts legend Takis Fyssas helps coronavirus fight with Euro 2004 Greek Gods

Takis Fyssas shows off the Greek flag at Tynecastle

Whenever Diego Maradona's 1986 World Cup-winning team speak, Argentinians stop and listen. When Vicente del Bosque's 2010 squad issue a message, Spaniards hang on every word. The Greek Gods of 2004 carry similar influence in their country.

Takis Fyssas is proud to use that authority constructively during the coronavirus pandemic. The former Hearts defender wants Greeks to follow Government advice strictly despite some other European nations relaxing lockdown restrictions.

He has been mobilised for the cause along with European Championship-winning colleagues Angelos Charisteas, Theo Zagorakis and the rest.

The united effort is having the desired effect. Greece had reported just 98 deaths from the virus as of Monday, while the United Kingdom's total soared into five figures. Much like his playing days with Hearts, Benfica, Panathinaikos and Panionios, Fyssas will never become complacent.

"We have the 2004 Legends team and we try to give a good example to people," he told the Evening News. "We gave blood two weeks ago to encourage everyone to go and give blood. It is important to help each other. All the sports personalities in Greece try to put effort in and give a good example to all the citizens in Greece.

"They are probably very afraid about what is happening in the world. We are afraid, too. We have to be in front of them to show a good example and support them. We need to show patience and discipline in our lives now. It's not easy.

"The 2004 Legends team play many charity games. We started to do this in 2014 and this is the example we want to give. Everyone must listen to the advice from scientists and doctors and be safe in the house.

"We try to give people instructions to stay home, play with your kids, see some movies or read some books that maybe you never had time to read before. We want people to have a good diet and stay well psychologically, but as I said it is not easy. You are in the house all the time.

"For sportsmen, we are used to being home. We are used to living in our house more than ever, or in hotels or the stadiums. This has always been our lives so it's not so difficult. The children want to talk about the situation all the time and they need to know the right things in a good way. We have to be careful what we advise them and we must stay patient with them.

"We are trying to keep safe because we had lockdown three weeks ago and everything is closed. We need to congratulate the Greek Government because they took the right decisions very quickly. We try to keep as many Greeks safe as we can. These are the regulations from our Government and we try to keep to this 100 per cent."

Fyssas never had trouble following instructions from senior figures. At the request of coach Otto Rehhagel, it was he who kept a teenage Portugese winger by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo quiet during Greece's historic Euro 2004 final triumph. He arrived at Tynecastle Park 12 months later as the most marquee of summer signings.

He is now enjoying his second spell as technical director with the Greek Football Federation. While frustrated his country cannot qualify for the next European Championship, Fyssas' mind is preoccupied with humane thoughts during this global health crisis.

"We had some very good results in September, October and November," said the former left-back, now 46. "Unfortunately, we did not have the possibility to get to the Euros. The national teams must wait now to see what will happens to the leagues. UEFA and FIFA will wait until the scientists give the signal and we cannot do anything more. We can only wait and be positive.

"We have to motivate ourselves and have the opportunity to live our lives. Of course, many people are not satisfied and they are very stressed. Many people lost their lives already and their families are so sad. This is something I cannot accept. That's why I am very motivated to give everyone the right example.

"We need to care about our parents. Older people need more attention and without them, the younger generation would not exist. We need to make everything about them. Although it is not only for the older people. We see young people who have problems, so this is for everybody."

Diverting his attention momentarily, Fyssas remains an avid Hearts follower. He won the Scottish Cup and helped the club reach the Champions League qualifying rounds during two enjoyable years in Gorgie. He remains an iconic figure among supporters and is dismayed seeing his old team bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

"I have followed Hearts every year since I left in 2007. I have done three or four interviews about Hearts since then and I said how much I appreciated my time in Edinburgh. The people and the fans loved me so a great part of my heart is in Scotland and in Edinburgh. I don't know if the people believe me, but this is how I feel. My family feels this, too.

"I was a little bit worried about this season and I hope Hearts can find a solution. All the players and all the staff at Hearts wanted to have success at the end of the season, so everyone is looking for better results. We cannot discuss that part of football right now because we must wait to see what happens."

Back to more important matters which Fyssas believes sportsmen and women are equipped to handle. "In sport, you need to have discipline, you need to have faith, you must believe and you must make sacrifices in your life for success.

"So let's sacrifice our lives just now and sacrifice the moments we had before, let's stay home, listen to the experts and we will be winners at the end."

Greek people will certainly listen to someone who knows a thing or two about winning.