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Nikolaos (Nikos) Alefantos also known with the nickname "Kyr-Nikos"(Greek: Νίκος Αλέφαντος), (born 3 January 1939 in Athens) is a Greek football coach. He is well-known in Greece as a cult figure, due to his temperamental style, frequent use of harsh language and controversial views on coaching. He is also known for his very short stays as coach of various Greek football clubs, especially his stay at Fostiras in 2002, for just three hours (yet the record shortest tenure is probably 10 minutes by Leroy Rosenior at Torquay United on 17 May 2007[1]).

In 1956 he started his career as a player, and in the early 1970s he moved on to become a coach. As a player, at first he played for Asteras Exarchion, and then for PAO Rouf, Olympiacos Piraeus, Olympiacos Chalkida, Panelefsiniakos and Vyzas Megaron.

His first team as a coach was PAO Rouf, which he failed to promote to the Greek First Division. Later in the 1970s he would twice win a promotion to the First Division as coach of PAS Giannena and Pierikos. Alefantos' only silverware is the Cypriot Cup, which he won when he was manager of APOEL.

He is known for his love for Olympiacos, and his excellent relationship with Olympiakos' president Sokratis Kokkalis, despite being the only Olympiacos coach in the last 13 years to finish a season without winning either the Championship or the Cup. He is known for blaming referee Giorgos Douros as being responsible, claiming he favoured Panathinaikos (the eventual winners), in a crucial derby and for his weeping during TV an interview to Elli Stai.

To his defense, former Olympiacos striker Nery Castillo stated in August 2007 that "Alefantos was the best coach I had while playing for Olympiacos".

He is also famous because of some interviews. A notable one took place in the summer of 2008. After Greece was defeated by Russia in Euro 2008, he verbally attacked Angelos Charisteas, saying that he should retire immediately from his international duties, "because he has no honor as a player", and then suggested him to try his luck on basketball

He has written and published his memoirs in two volumes: "From poverty to fame", and "From fame to poverty".

His coaching career in the past three decades (time spent in each team):

Teams played

1956-1958: Olympiacos 20 (12)
1958-1959: Pas Giannina 10 (7)
1959-1963: Atsalenios F.C. 87 (64)
1963-1965: 55 (76)
1965-1969: 72 (31)

Teams managed

1969-1970: Asteras Exarchion, promoted to Beta Ethniki
1970-1973: PAO Rouf
1973-1974: PAS Giannina, promoted to Alpha Ethniki
1974-1976: Pierikos, promoted to Alpha Ethniki in his first season
1976-1977: OFI Crete
1979-1980: Pas Giannina (3 months), Korinthos (2 months)
1981: OFI Crete {2 months}
1982-1983: Doxa Dramas [1 season], only one home loss
1983-1984: Olympiacos (3 months)
1984-1985: Panionios (7 months), Greek military national team (6 months)
1985-1986: Iraklis (5 months)
1986-1987: AEK (4 months)
1987-1988: Iraklis (3 months)
1989: PAOK (3 months)
1989-1990: Doxa Dramas (7 months), Apollon Kalamarias (12 days)
1990-1991: AE Larissa (1 month), Ionikos (2 months)
1992-1993: Ionikos (2 months)
1993-1994: Kalamata (25 days), Xanthi (9 days), Olympiacos [rest of the season]
1994-1995: Olympiacos (8 months)
1995-1996: Panionios (2 months), relegated
1996-1997: APOEL (Cypriot Cup winner), Apollon Kalamarias (2 months), Lykoi (13 days), Ethnikos Piraeus (15 days)
1998-1999: Proodeftiki FC (9 months)
1999-2000: Panachaiki (2 months)
2000-2001: Panargeiakos (40 days)
2001-2002: Ethnikos Asteras (5 months)
2002: Fostiras (3 hours)
2004: Olympiacos (3 months)