Theodoros Zagorakis began his professional career in Kavala in 1989 and transferred to PAOK FC at age 21, making his debut in the Greek First Division. In 1998 he traveled to the United Kingdom to compete in the Premier League with Leicester, winning the League Cup. In 2000, he returned to Greece to play with AEK FC.

Greece’s success in 2004 gave him the opportunity to compete in the Campionato with Bologna, where he stayed for one year and was a key player. In 2005 he returned to Greece and to PAOK FC, where he ended his football career two years later.

His first appearance with the Greek national team was on September 7, 1994. He is in second place, all-time, in appearances with the national team, with 120 cups between 1994-2007.
He was the captain of the team that won the UEFA European Championship at Euro 2004 in Portugal, participating in the starting line-up, for the full 90 minutes on all six games, and was named most valuable player of Euro 2004.

His final appearance was on August 22, 2007, at a friendly game against Spain, where he was honored for his contribution to the Greek national team.

In June, 2007, he became President of PAOK FC and in 2014 he was elected to the European Parliament. He was elected again in 2019.

He is married and has two children.