Dimitris Emmanouilidis - the Name on the Lips of European Scouts

Born on the 24th of October, 2000 in Leftktra, Boeotia Dimitris Emmanouilidis has attracted the attention of Europe’s top scouts. He was already known before his amazing start to the season for Panathinaikos, but after the first two Matchdays, his stocks have soared to new levels.

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With Panathinaikos in the midst of the toughest period of its history, manager Giorgos Donis has turned his attention to giving youth a chance and promoting talented footballers from the club’s famed Academy. This approach has paid dividends so far with Emmanouilidis only one of many to have hit the ground running and the Greens winning football games playing with a style easy on the eye.

In the curious case of Emmanouilidis, he always showed he possessed the desire and hunger to succeed but it was fueled on by initial rejections from the Big 4. All 4 clubs opted not to sign him after testing him, but that changed in December 2015 when Panathinaikos gave him a chance after his second trial. He has not looked back ever since.

Emmanouilidis started out in the U16 team and impressed so much that Olympiakos tried to lure him away from the Greens at one point. A season later, he made the natural progression to the U17 team. This is where he really made a name for himself. He scored a total of 16 goals (2 of which came in a 3-2 win over Olympiakos), to be the team’s leading scorer. He was the second leading scorer in the League. The scary thing was that he was not even 17 yet.

As a result of dominating for Panathinaikos, he received his first call up in the Greek National Team youth set up. He made a total of 14 appearances for the Greece U17 team. However, it has not always been smooth sailing for the tenacious youngster. He then tragically lost his mother to cancer, but displayed his fighting spirit a few days later when he turned out for the team in a game against Atromitos U17. He scored in this game and honoured his mother.

Last season, his outstanding form continued which prompted his promotion to the U20 team at the tender age of 16. On the 13th of June, 2017 he signed his first professional contract with Panathinaikos. He took part in last season’s preseason training camp under Marinos Ouzounidis and got his senior debut in last season’s Greek Cup match against Panachaiki. He made his League debut shortly after in a League game against Panionios.

Over the summer, he attracted the interest of Europe’s top scouts at the Mediterranean Games where he scored 2 goals for the Greece U18 team as Greece finished top of the group ahead of Turkey and France and made the semi finals. Emmanouilidis scored against both of these countries. Interest from overseas teams peaked but Panathinaikos helf firm and kept him. This came after he scored a whopping 19 goals for the Panathinaikos U20 team.

Under Donis, his game has gone to a new level, flourishing as a ‘super sub’. He has come on to torment both Xanthi and Lamia in the opening two games of the season. He could have had a double at Xanthi but was denied by great goalkeeping. He broke down in tears at full time thinking he let the team down. This symbolises his tenacity and desire to succeed more than anything. He repaid the faith and scored his first senior goal against Lamia. This sparked wild celebrations, where he ran straight to Donis and embraced him. Consequently, he became the first ever player born in the year 2000 or after to score in the Super League.

Emmanouilidis has an eye for goal but the most pleasing aspect of his game is his energy and endless running. He wears his heart on his sleeve and epitomises what it means to play for Panathinaikos by embodying the ‘fighting spirit’. His passion and hunger to succeed will make him a fan favourite in no time. His excellent technique and ‘tsambouka’ has led to many already asking what it will cost for the Greens to keep him. He will not be going anywhere for the foreseeable future, but if he continues, the sky is genuinely the limit.
 

by Nick Tsambouniaris

Image Source: to10.gr

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