Anthony Koutoufides: Sex symbol footy legend turned reality TV star could become Melbourne’s next lord mayor in shock move

Australia
By William
  • Anthony Koutoufides is considering running for mayor
  • Former Carlton champion says: ‘I love this city’
  • Koutoufides played 278 games for Carlton, retiring in 2007

By James Cooney for Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Former AFL star Anthony Koutoufides is considering running for Melbourne mayor in October’s council elections.

The beloved Carlton champion said a friend had asked him to run for the position and he would not rule out making a surprise move into politics.

“I’m considering it,” he said The age.

“I really want to look into it because I would like to do something with it if I can.”

“I love this city, I love this country.”

Koutoufides did not indicate whether he would run for an established party or as an independent.

“I don’t want to say too much yet,” he said. “There’s a lot to be done.”

If the football legend decides to run in the election, he will face Nicholas Reece, who was sworn in as the 105th Lord Mayor of Melbourne in early July.

Anthony Koutoufides (pictured with his wife Susie) is considering running for Melbourne Mayor

Koutoufides (pictured in action for Carlton during a 2005 match against the Sydney Swans) was one of the country's biggest football stars in his heyday

Koutoufides (pictured in action for Carlton during a 2005 match against the Sydney Swans) was one of the country’s biggest football stars in his heyday

‘Kouta’ was a force in the AFL in the 1990s and early 2000s, playing 278 games for Carlton and winning the 1995 championship with the club.

He was seen as a sex symbol and appeared in the racy calendar Men For All Seasons, which was hugely popular at the time.

Koutoufides rose to reality stardom with roles as ‘Kouta the Greek God’ in the 2008 Seven Network revival of Gladiators and two roles on Dancing With The Stars, where he was crowned champion in 2006.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Koutoufides will star in the crime series Vendetta 19. She will play a prison guard opposite controversial former footballer Ricky Nixon.

The new TV series shows how the Crutchy Push gang clashed with notorious gangster rival Squizzy Taylor in Melbourne’s Pentridge Prison in 1908.

'Kouta' was crowned Dancing With The Stars champion in 2006, partnered with Natalie Lowe (pictured)

‘Kouta’ was crowned Dancing With The Stars champion in 2006, partnered with Natalie Lowe (pictured)

WHO IS ANTHONY KOUTOUFIDES?

The man known as ‘Kouta’ was an AFL star who played almost every position during his career.

Koutoufides, often referred to as the prototype of the modern footballer, played 278 games for Carlton, including the 1995 Premier League team.

Koutoufides did not end his football career without some controversy.

In 1997, the then poster boy of the AFL caused a stir when he secured an individual sponsorship deal with Adidas, which was diametrically opposed to Carlton’s sponsorship deal with Nike.

In October 2002, Koutoufides married Susie Angeloski and they now have three children.

It was the same year that Carlton became embroiled in a salary cap scandal, with the club being fined $930,000 and losing all of their early draft picks for the next two seasons.

It was Koutoufides’ huge salary that triggered the investigation at the time. There is no suggestion that he committed any wrongdoing in relation to the matter.

Koutoufides retired in 2007 and subsequently appeared in several reality shows, including the role of ‘Kouta the Greek God’ in the Seven Network revival of Gladiators in 2008.

He owned a Souvlaki Hut restaurant for a while and appeared in comedy advertisements featuring a gorilla.

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