In 1963 he, alongside his brother, Panagiotis, took over from their father, Ioannis, the ownership of his sporting goods company "Zita Hellas", which during its heyday was the largest of this sector in Greece.
[2] After the resignation of Loukas Barlos from the ownership of AEK Athens in June 1981 Zafiropoulos stepped in and took the wheel of the club.
With the overwhelming majority of the fans against, he handed over the management of club to the nightclub owner, Stratos Gidopoulos in June 1988.
In his first season at the club AEK also won the Championship, sealing the title in the penultimate matchday with the famous 0–1 away victory over Olympiacos, with a goal by Takis Karagiozopoulos.
[8] In 1987, Zafiropoulos and the then coach of AEK, Nikos Alefantos, were accused by a section of the fans, of having organized and methodized, with disparaging statements and publications, the expulsion of Thomas Mavros from the team.
[9] On 15 May 1988, during the last match of the season at Nea Filadelfeia against Iraklis, the ultras had enough with Zafiropoulos, who considered him unable to lift the "weight" of handling the club.