Indeed, if Tzimopoulos goes on to become a regular in the All Whites, football fans in this country should be thankful for a Mediterranean summer romance almost three decades ago, and the persistence of some Wellington-based relatives.
Tzimopoulos's grandparents migrated to New Zealand in 1963. His mother Sophia was born in Wellington a year later. The family went back to Greece for a stint in the early 1980s, before deciding to return to New Zealand in 1984.
"We came back but Sophia decided to stay," says Basil Mitrakas, Sophia's brother. "She had met someone from a neighbouring village and wanted to make Greece her home."
Sophia married Kosta Tzimopoulos soon afterwards, and Themistoklis Tzimopoulos was born in November, 1985. Instead of being just another kid trying to make it from New Zealand, Tzimopoulos learned his trade in a football-mad nation.
His mother - and relatives back home - kept the Kiwi connection alive and, as a 13-year-old, Tzimopoulos travelled to New Zealand for the wedding of his uncle Basil.
He stayed almost three months during the Greek summer, turned out for Wellington Olympic and discovered his other homeland.
"He particularly enjoyed visiting Taupo and Rotorua," recalls Mitrakas. "And he always talked about the green fields everywhere but not many kids playing [football] on them. On the field, he stood out, too - much more committed than most of the other kids."
Once he returned to Greece, his football career started to take shape. He left his home city of Kozani (population 70,000) at 16 for the capital Athens, joining the then Super League club Akratitos.
"It wasn't easy," Tzimopoulos says. "It was a seven-hour bus ride from my city so I could only go home in the holidays. But that's what you have to do to make it."
And to paraphase Frank Sinatra, if you can make it in Greek football, you can probably make it anywhere.
It's a tough place to play, especially as the away team. Tzimopoulos remembers one match when their team bus was blocked by home fans from getting into the stadium, resulting in a delayed kickoff.
The supporters are some of the most passionate in Europe but players can face hostile, intimidating environments when that spills over.
"It can be a big motivation," says Tzimopoulos. "Especially when you are playing the big teams. You want to do well and the atmosphere is incredible. But sometimes it gets too much."
An entire recent round of the Greek Super League was played without fans - the lockout put in place after problems at a derby between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos.
Tzimopoulos has chalked up more than 100 matches in the top tier of Greek football and played regularly against Greek giants Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens.
The 2012-13 season was his most memorable so far, as PAS Giannina finished fifth in the championship and qualified for Europe.
Ask Tzimopoulos about the best player he has faced and there is an instant answer.
"That has to be Rivaldo," says Tzimopoulos. "He was my idol, so I couldn't believe I was playing against someone like him. [Fellow Brazilian star] Giovanni was also an amazing opponent ... so skilful."
Tzimopoulos came to the attention of New Zealand Football via Mitrakas and other relatives based at the Olympic club. They had first pressed his claims several years ago, with little response, but the new All Whites regime has been more proactive.
He has fitted in well to the All Whites environment, teaching his new team-mates some Greek phrases and learning a lot about the culture of the team.
"It's an amazing feeling to be here," says Tzimopoulos. "Everyone has been very welcoming."
He's set high standards at training and his copious serving of boiled eggs (five or six) at the breakfast table have reminded some of the younger players in the team about the importance of nutrition.
But the most important test comes on Wednesday morning (NZT).
"They are a very good team," says Tzimopoulos. "It's going to be a huge test. But I can't wait."
And neither can Kosta, Sophia and Basil.
• Michael Burgess travelled to Korea with assistance from ASB, the principal partner of New Zealand Football.
