Giannakopoulos returns to Ethniki

On Tuesday, it became known that 2004 European champion Stelios Giannakopoulos has returned to the Greek national team in the role of assistant coach, while the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) seem keen on playing two upcoming matches at the Karaiskakis Stadium.

Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage from AGONASport.com! 

Stelios Giannakopoulos, the former footballer who won UEFA Euro 2004 as a part of the Greek national team, has now made his official return to the Ethniki in the position of assistant to head coach Angelos Anastasiadis. The EPO confirmed his appointment with this following statement:

“The recruitment of former international footballer Stelios Giannakopoulos as the assistant to Mr. Anastasiadis in the men’s national team has been approved.”

Giannakopoulos, 44, enjoyed a successful playing career with Ethnikos Asteras, Paniliakos, Olympiacos, Bolton Wanderers, Hull City, AEL and the Greek national team, and he will look to help improve the Ethniki’s fortunes as the country aims to qualify for UEFA Euro 2020. The length of his contract with the EPO has not been stipulated.

ANASTASIADIS KEEN TO PLAY AT KARAISKAKIS IN JUNE

As previously reported on AGONAsport, the EPO confirmed that the Pankritio Stadium will be the national team’s new home for the next four years, but due to required works, the arena won’t be available for Greece’s two Euro 2020 qualifiers against Italy (June 8) and Armenia (June 11).

Initially, the Olympic Stadium was suggested to be the EPO’s favoured choice of stadium for the two games in question, but Anastasiadis is completely against the idea of playing at the OAKA. During the recent UEFA Nations League campaign, pitiful attendances were witnessed at the OAKA, and Anastasiadis has made it clear that he does not want the Ethniki to play at the arena again.

Anastasiadis’ priority is the Karaiskakis Stadium. However, in order to play at the Karaiskakis, permission from Olympiacos must be granted to the EPO, and the relationship between the two organisations isn’t the greatest after the federation decided to leave the stadium in Piraeus in late 2017. The fact of whether the Greek national team will play at the Karaiskakis in June depends on the amount of money the EPO is prepared to pay Olympiacos for the use of the arena.

VRANJES CAST ADRIFT FROM BOSNIAN NATIONAL TEAM

Ognjen Vranjes, who used to play for AEK before transferring to Anderlecht in the summer of 2018, has been cast adrift from the Bosnian national team after being involved in a sex scandal with well-known Serbian singer Jelena Karleusa. Bosnia will play Greece in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying.

Robert Prosinecki, manager of the Bosnian national side, revealed the decision:

“Vranjes has separated himself from the national team set-up. A player representing the country must behave excellently both on and off the pitch. The federation has already condemned his behaviour. Vranjes has previously been in conflict with fans surrounding his tattoos and now with his love life. We want to qualify for Euro 2020, and we don’t need any problems affecting us. Given his contribution to the national team, his absence causes a problem for us, but we will have to find a solution to this problem.”

29-year-old Vranjes has made 38 appearances for the senior Bosnian national team since making his debut in November 2010.

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: sport24.gr

Thank you for visiting AGONAsport.com, the only English based website for Greek sports fans across the world! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter for all the latest news in Greek Sports!