Gifted pair Limnios and Giannoulis enjoying superb season
Both Dimitris Limnios and Dimitris Giannoulis are enjoying a wonderful season in Thessaloniki, standing out with their excellent performances for PAOK and the senior Greek national team. AGONAsport investigates.
Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage with Go Greek TV!
The talented duo have impressed PAOK boss Abel Ferreira, with the Portuguese technician giving them critical roles to play and trusting them in big games. National team head coach, John van 't Schip, has gone down a new approach by blooding youngsters into the Ethniki Omada set-up in order to prepare the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
The undoubted quality of the PAOK pair was on full display in the Ethniki’s most recent UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers, with Giannoulis supplying the assist for Limnios’ winning goal against Armenia in Yerevan. They have already become an integral part of the senior national side.
Limnios was signed by PAOK as an 18-year-old for 900,000 euros with a 15% resale rate from Atromitos. Giannoulis also joined the Dikefalos tou Vorra when 19, however, his journey to the senior team has been a longer one with several loan spells in Greece and Cyprus.
The administration of PAOK have for a long time highly regarded both Limnios and Giannoulis, providing them with the opportunity to display their obvious potential. It is clear that PAOK have played a major role in the development of the two players, instilling trust in them to deliver in a high functioning and quality squad. They have both had to work hard for their opportunities but are now regular starters in Ferreira’s starting line-ups.
Limnios is a player with incredible energy, which enables him to play with the same intensity for the entire game both in attack as well as in defence. This is what makes him coachable and loved by Ferreira and Van ‘t Schip. Limnios’ ability to use his pace and dribble past defenders makes him an exciting prospect.
Dimitris Limnios statistics this season for club and country:
Games: 17
Goals: 4
Assists: 4
Dimitris Giannoulis was described by Abel Ferreira as a ‘world class defender’, which has been evident this season with his increased consistency Giannoulis produces quality attacks going forward on the left flank, and he has already provided six assists in the current campaign. The 24-year-old has been able to lock down the left-back position even with competition from Vieirinha who has now returned from a long-term injury. Giannoulis has recently caught the eye of Turkish club Fenerbahce and Scottish outfit Celtic.
Dimitris Giannoulis statistics this season for club and country:
Games: 21
Goals: 1
Assists: 6
