Now the family backing is helping him through his second injury lay-off in a year and keeping him in the good mood he says he needs to get back in action.
The Greece under-21 striker revealed his family background when quizzed by youngsters at Hangleton Primary School.
He had just been helping the youngsters hone their skills in that other great Greek sporting passion – basketball.
Stefanos Tzimas and Matt O'Riley take questions at Hangleton Primary School (Image: Hayden Baker/BHAFC)
Then the kids sat on the playground and fired questions.
Asked why he started playing football, Tzimas said it was because of his brother.
And his brother Chris has been there in good times, like the night he scored his first goal at Oxford, and bad, as he recovers from a serious knee ligament injury suffered on his first Prem start.
Tzimas, 20, told The Argus: “I live alone here, but my family visit me often.
“My brother has a really good connection and my friends visit me quite often.
“They come maybe once a month, it depends.
“After my injury, they were here a bit more to help me, because I could not walk and everything.
“He was at Oxford, he was also against Aston Villa with my friends.
“A tough moment for them as well because they were in the stands.”
Tzimas recalled after his first Prem goal, late at Nottingham Forest, that he signed for Albion on the weekend they lost 7-0 at the City Ground.
His own 2024-25 was cut short by an injury at Nuremberg so he has been through his current frustrations before.
Stefanos Tzimas scores his second goal at Oxford United (Image: Richard Parkes)
He said: “Last season, I also got an injury. It wasn’t so serious last year, but something didn't go (right) in communication so it was bigger than we expected.
“It's always tough when you are injured, it doesn't matter what you have.
“Now it’s a big injury so maybe it's a bit more difficult because it's plenty of time.
“But with a good mood and patience, everything will be okay.
“My recovery goes very well. In a week I will start on the pitch, to go out on the pitch.
“And then slowly, slowly, step by step.”
He recalls how time spent rehabbing with the Albion medical staff last year gave him time to get to know his new home area.
“I was already settling in very well because the whole summer, last year, I was here for rehab of my last injury.
“So I had a lot of time to explore the city, to go out, to walk.
“It's a really nice city, I really enjoy being here.”
Tzimas looked to be enjoying himself as he joined Matt O’Riley on his trip to Hangleton in support of the Albion Foundation charity.
They led a Premier League Primary Stars PE session as part of the programme which uses the positive power of professional football clubs to inspire children to be active, look after their wellbeing and develop important life skills.
Then it was time for autographs and questions – and Tzimas revealed his own childhood football inspiration.