Stavros Zarokostas Bio
Stavros Zarokostas is a Greek-American professional footballer who plays as a forward. He is currently signed with USL League One club One Knoxville, where he wears the number 21 shirt. Known for his pace and movement in the attacking third, Zarokostas has built a career that has taken him from American college soccer to professional leagues in the United States, Finland, and Greece.
Born in Leonidio, Greece, Zarokostas moved to the United States as a young player and developed his game in the U.S. college system before breaking into the professional ranks. His journey from the Rhode Island Rams to the New York Red Bulls draft, and onward to clubs in the USL Championship, the Finnish Veikkausliiga, and the Greek lower divisions, reflects a player willing to test himself in different footballing environments.
Early Life and Background
Stavros Zarokostas was born on 5 November 1997 in Leonidio, a small town in the Peloponnese region of Greece. Growing up in a country with a deep footballing tradition, he developed an early interest in the sport and played in local youth setups before relocating to the United States. His Greek roots remain a central part of his identity, and he has been described as Greek-American throughout his career.
Standing 1.70 meters tall, Zarokostas built his game around quickness, sharp movement off the ball, and a willingness to operate in tight spaces near the opponent’s goal. The move to the United States opened the door to a structured college pathway, and he eventually enrolled at the University of Rhode Island, where he suited up for the Rhode Island Rams men’s soccer program between 2016 and 2019.
Path to Professional Soccer
Zarokostas balanced his time at the University of Rhode Island with appearances for Rhode Island Reds, a developmental team in the lower tiers of American soccer, during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Those matches gave him valuable senior minutes alongside his college schedule and helped raise his profile heading into his draft year.
In 2020, his college form was rewarded when he was selected by the New York Red Bulls in the third round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. Although the Major League Soccer club did not sign him to a professional contract, the selection confirmed his standing as a legitimate professional prospect and provided a springboard into the United Soccer League system.
Stavros Zarokostas Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
During his early years as a senior player, Zarokostas competed for Rhode Island Reds while still representing the Rhode Island Rams at the college level. The dual-track experience allowed him to sharpen his finishing and link-up play against older opponents, a key step in his transition from promising youth player to professional forward.
Those developmental seasons established the foundation for his later professional move, and by the time he entered the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, he had already accumulated two years of senior football on his résumé.
Charleston Battery Breakthrough (2020–2021)
After going unpicked up by New York Red Bulls, Zarokostas signed with USL Championship side Charleston Battery in May 2020. The move brought him into one of the stronger second-tier clubs in the United States and offered a clear platform to prove himself at a higher level.
He made his league debut for Charleston on 19 July 2020, entering the match in the 79th minute as a substitute for Nicque Daley during a 2-1 home defeat to Birmingham Legion. Although the result did not go his way, the appearance marked a significant milestone in his professional career and confirmed his arrival in the USL Championship.
FC Haka Era (2022–2023)
On 31 January 2022, Zarokostas took his career abroad, signing a contract with Finnish Veikkausliiga club FC Haka for the 2022 season, with an option for an additional year. The transfer represented his first move to a top-flight European league and a chance to test himself in a different footballing culture.
He remained with the Finnish side through the 2023 season before electing to pursue the next chapter of his career in the Greek football pyramid.
One Knoxville Era (2024–Present)
In 2024, after a brief spell with Egaleo in Greece, Zarokostas returned to the American soccer landscape by joining USL League One club One Knoxville. The move reunited him with the U.S. third tier, a level where his speed and directness as a forward can be effective weapons.
Wearing the number 21 shirt, he has continued to feature for the Tennessee-based club as it builds its presence in the league. His experience across college soccer, the USL Championship, and European competition gives One Knoxville a versatile attacking option heading into the new campaign.
Notable Events and Milestones
Zarokostas’s career has been marked by several defining moments, including his selection in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, his professional debut for Charleston Battery in July 2020, and his move to FC Haka in January 2022. Each step has reflected steady progress from college football to the international stage.
Stavros Zarokostas Family
Family Background and Heritage
Public information about Stavros Zarokostas’s immediate family is limited. He was born and raised in Leonidio, Greece, and later moved to the United States, a path that shaped his Greek-American identity as both a person and a player.
Personal Life
Zarokostas has kept much of his personal life away from the public eye. Details regarding his marital status, spouse, and children are not publicly available, and he is primarily known for his commitments on the pitch rather than off it.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Stavros Zarokostas is expected to remain a part of One Knoxville’s attacking plans as the club continues its development in USL League One. His combination of European experience and familiarity with the American soccer pyramid makes him a useful piece for the coaching staff.
The new season provides an opportunity for Zarokostas to build on the rhythm he developed in the latter stages of 2024 and to establish himself as a regular contributor in the final third. With the league schedule underway, his role as a forward will be central to One Knoxville’s hopes of climbing the standings.
Given his track record of adapting to new leagues and countries, the 2025 campaign offers a platform for Zarokostas to add consistency and goals to his résumé, and to help anchor the club’s push up the table.