Former Greece captain and Euro 2004 winner Zagorakis enters politics

The captain who led Greece to the 2004 European Championship title is running for election next month to the European Parliament.

Theo Zagorakis is a 42-year-old former midfielder who played 120 times for Greece before retiring in 2007. He was presented Tuesday by conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on a list of 42 candidates for the center-right New Democracy party.

The party is hoping for a strong showing in the May 25 election. It faces demands from the opposition to hold early general elections after imposing unpopular austerity measures. Greek political parties frequently draft well-known athletes, actors and other celebrities to their ballots.

Greece will elect 21 members to the 766 member-parliament.