The Beginnings of Greek Football Aces (Part 2 of 2)
Nick Tsambouniaris takes a trip down memory lane to look back at the beginnings of the aces of Greek football, in the second of a two-part series.
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Every story has a beginning and it is no different in the lives of superstar footballers. In the first of a two-part piece, we will be taking a trip down memory lane to look at the first steps of some of Greek football’s best ever players. Recently, Gazzetta chose numerous stars of the past, some of whom the younger generations of today may not remember.
Interestingly, many household Greek names did not start out immediately at the top, instead playing for smaller clubs - and often in lower leagues - before they subsequently worked their way to the top.
Here are some superstars of the past decades who dazzled crowds in Greece:
Grigoris Georgatos
The combative left-back thoroughly earned the nickname “Trelos Karaflos”, which literally translates to the “Crazy Bald.”. He started at the top level with Panachaiki in 1991 as a teenager, staying in Patras for four years. He made 30 appearances and scored three goals in his debut season. Olympiacos then came calling in 1995 and his strong form subsequently led to a big move to Inter Milan, a team featuring Brazilian superstar Ronaldo. Georgatos then returned to Greece with Olympiacos and later enjoyed a brief stint at AEK before retiring in Piraeus. Post-football he worked in the administration of Panachaiki.
Demis Nikolaidis
The German-born forward moved to Greece at a young age with his family and made his name at local club Ethnikos Alexandroupolis. After a stunning debut season, which included five goals in 18 appearances, Nikolaidis moved south to Athens to sign with Apollon Smyrnis. He worked his way up the chain and his goal scoring abilities led to him signing with AEK (Olympiacos was heavily interested at the time), where he spent the best years of his career. He is still adored at the Enosi to this day and later became the Chairman of the club. He retired at a relatively young age at 31, but not before spending a season with Atletico Madrid and winning UEFA Euro 2004 with the Ethniki.
Michalis Kapsis
The son of former Panathinaikos captain Anthimos Kapsis, Michalis started out at Aris Nikeas and continued in the lower leagues with Anagennisi Artas. He first played in the Greek top flight with Ethnikos Piraeus in 1993, and by his second season he entrenched himself in the first team with 30 appearances. His finest moment was being a key member of the Euro 2004 squad, as he was the perfect partner at the heart of defence for Traianos Dellas. After a lengthy stay at AEK, he became somewhat of a journeyman playing for Bordeaux, Olympiacos, APOEL and Levadiakos, before retiring at Ethnikos Piraeus in 2011.
Takis Fyssas
The reliable left back had a slightly different route compared to some others, starting at Panionios in 1990 and staying at Nea Smyrni for eight years before signing with Panathinaikos. After good form at the Greens, he became a regular in the Ethniki set-up, as he was a vital player at Euro 2004. Benfica came calling in 2003 and then Hearts in 2005. Three years later, he retired at Panathinaikos, but he’s worked in football ever since - both with the Ethniki as a sporting director and then with the Trifylli overseeing the Academy.
Zisis Vryzas
The tall forward was born in Kavala and made his name at Xanthi after a strong five-year stint. In his debut season, he scored three markers in 12 matches, before grabbing seven goals in 33 appearances a season later. Vryzas signed for PAOK in 1996, etching his name into the club’s folklore with his match-winning goal over Arsenal at the historic Highbury Stadium. He played for various clubs in Italy and Spain before eventually retiring at PAOK. He scored a key goal at Euro 2004 in the 1-2 loss against Russia, if not for his goal Greece would have finished 3rd in the group. Vryzas has kept himself busy after football, working as the President, Chairman and Technical Director at PAOK, an assistant to Fernando Santos for the Ethniki, Chairman at Veria and also having been employed by the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO).
Stelios Giannakopoulos
The winger made his debut for Ethnikos Asteras in the lower leagues and then moved to Paniliakos. After three strong years, Olympiacos came calling in 1996, and the rest is history. During his hugely successful seven-year stay in Piraeus, Giannakopoulos won the league title seven seasons on the bounce. He subsequently forg3d a successful name in England with Bolton Wanderers, where he was a key player. After a brief stint at Hull City, he retired at Larissa. His greatest career moment came in the summer of 2004, where he was a vital player in the historical Ethniki triumph. Since retiring, he has moved into coaching, working with Angelos Anastasiadis with the senior national team.
Akis Zikos
Born in Athens, the defensive midfielder travelled north to receive his first opportunity and make his debut for Xanthi in 1993 at the age of 19. He made 10 appearances in the top flight in his debut season, later signing with AEK in 1998 after five strong years at Xanthi. Zikos then moved to French side Monaco and holds the honour of being the first ever Greek to feature in a UEFA Champions League final. He retired at the Enosi in 2008, but he competed in 18 games for the Ethniki as he fell out of favour with Otto Rehhagel prior to Euro 2004.
Nikos Lymberopoulos
The tall striker started out at local side Erani Filiatron in 1991, but he made his name at Kalamata after joining in 1993. He led Kalamata to promotion and impressed in his first season in the top flight in 1995. By this stage, AEK and Olympiacos had tried signing him, but he opted to join Panathinaikos. His time at the Greens is fondly remembered and he then went on to also become a fan favourite at AEK over two stints. He announced his retirement at 37 after playing for the Ethniki in the Euro 2012 quarter final against Germany. He has been working in football ever since, with spells at Panathinaikos and AEK as Technical Director.
Dimitris Mavrogenidis
The right back was born in Uzbekistan but rose through the ranks at Aris and made his professional debut at 17 in 1994. He made 27 appearances in his debut season and scored twice. He then went on to play for Aris in the UEFA Cup, but he is best known for his time at Olympiacos, where he was a key player in the Reds’ dominance - winning eight league titles and three Greek Cups. Mavrogenidis later played for Iraklis and retired after one season at Thrasyvoulos in 2009.
Traianos Dellas
There were huge wraps on Dellas from the beginning as he emerged as a good prospect from the Ethniki Elpides side in 1998. However, he was not alone as a host of other household names were in that team. Dellas rose through the ranks at the Aris Academy and went out on loan to Panserraikos in the lower leagues. After impressing at Aris, he represented Sheffield United for two seasons before joining AEK, where he would go on to become a fan favourite. He retired at the Enosi in 2012, but in between that the commanding centre-back was a key player for Roma and also played for Perugia and Anorthosis. His greatest moment came in the summer of 2004, where he made the Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament. He has the honour of scoring the only ever silver goal at a major tournament - his goal against the Czech Republic in the semi final which catapulted the Ethniki into the Euro 2004 final. The man known as the “Colossus” became a manager after retiring, coaching AEK, Atromitos and Panetolikos.
Vassilis Lakis
The pacy winger started out at Naoussa in the second tier in 1992, gaining promotion in the same season. In the 1993-94 season, he made 17 appearances and scored twice in the top flight. Lakis then moved to Paniliakos where he stayed for two seasons. He made his name at AEK after joining in 1998. He featured for the Ethniki at Euro 2004, with his strong performances persuading Crystal Palace to snap him up. He stayed in England for one season, before returning to Greece to play for AEK, PAOK and Kavala.
Paraskevas Antzas
The defender made a difference for every team he played for but announced his retirement due to family reasons prematurely in 2003. He did not play at Euro 2004, even though he helped the team qualify for the showpiece tournament. Antzas started at local club Pandramaikos in the third tier before signing with Xanthi in 1995. After 68 appearances, he signed with Olympiacos in 1998, where he made his name. He played for Doxa Drama in 2003 after coming out of retirement and then Xanthi, however, he retired at Olympiacos in 2009. He featured for the Ethniki at the unsuccessful Euro 2008 tournament and won seven championships with Olympiacos.
Giorgos Karagounis
Where does one begin with the man considered by many to be the greatest player of all time for the Ethniki?
Karagounis is a rare player on this list in the sense that he started out at the academy of such a big club in the form of Panathinaikos. However, he was sent out on loan to Apollon Smyrnis in 1996, and this is where he started making his name. He stayed at the Rizoupoli-based club for two seasons before returning to Panathinaikos, scoring nine goals in 55 games for Apollon. As we know, he would go on to become a club icon at the Trifylli, notching over 200 appearances and featuring in prominent European moments for the club. He also played for Inter Milan, Benfica and retired at Fulham. His best moments came for the Ethniki - he scored the opening goal at Euro 2004 with a stunning long range drive, he scored a crucial goal against Russia at Euro 2012 to propel the team to the quarter finals and even led the team at the 2014 World Cup at the age of 37. He is the all-time record appearance holder for Greece with a whopping 139 caps.
Kostas Katsouranis
Another great of Greek football who achieved it all.
Katsouranis started at local club Panachaiki, competing in 11 games and scoring twice in the top flight. He stayed at his local team in Patras until 2002, when AEK came calling. After becoming a key player at the Enosi, he signed with Benfica, where he stayed for three years. He then returned to Greece to play for Panathinaikos and won his only Super League title in 2010. He was a part of the all-conquering Euro 2004 squad at a relatively young age and went on to make 116 appearances at international level and featuring in a grand total of five major tournaments. He was the Technical Director at Panachaiki for numerous years after retiring.
Giourkas Seitaridis
Coming from a footballing family, Seitaridis was a crucial member of the Euro 2004 squad. He began his playing career at PAS Giannina as a 17-year-old and made 40 appearances and scored five goals in the second tier, developing into a quality right-back. Panathinaikos signed him in 2001 and his career rapidly took off. He went on to play for the likes of Porto, Dynamo Moscow and Atletico Madrid, before returning to the Greens where he retired in 2013 after injuries took their toll. He made the Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament.
Fanis Gekas
The third highest goal scorer in Ethniki history, Gekas rose through the ranks at his hometown club Larissa in 1998 until 2001. He then signed with Kallithea who were in the second tier at the time, but got his first taste of top flight action one season later. His best moment at Kallithea came in a big 3-2 away win at Toumba scoring in the match. Panathinaikos secured his signature in 2005, and he then became somewhat of a journeyman - playing in Germany - where he enjoyed success -, Turkey, Spain, England and Switzerland. He was a part of three major tournaments for Greece and his best moment came in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, where he was the leading scorer in the European qualifying section.
Vasilis Torosidis
The reliable right-back spent five strong seasons at local club Xanthi and opted to join Olympiacos in 2007, amid interest from AEK and Panathinaikos. He made his debut for Xanthi as an 18-year-old and never looked back. After winning an impressive six league titles at the Reds, even captaining the side at stages, Torosidis opted for a new challenge by joining Italian heavyweights Roma in 2013. Bologna then signed him in 2016, but he is now on Olympiacos’ books at the age of 34. The veteran of four major competitions has scored some crucial international goals in the past, captaining the Ethniki Omada through challenging times.
Kostas Manolas
The nephew of AEK legend Stelios Manolas, Kostas started playing football for local side Pannaxiakos on the island of Naxos, a rare player to make it big from the islands. He made his top flight debut for Thrasyvoulos in 2008, where he played in five matches in the 2008-09 campaign. Manolas transferred to AEK in 2009 and stayed for three seasons, but he has since enjoyed a frosty relationship with fans of the Enosi. He signed with Olympiacos in 2012, scoring vital goals in the Champions League against PSG and Benfica. After thoroughly impressing at the 2014 World Cup, Manolas signed with Roma, remaining in the Italian capital for five years. He scored another memorable Champions League goal for the Italian club against Barcelona in 2018 that sent them to the semifinals of the competition. He opted for a new challenge last summer by penning a new deal with Napoli. At 28, he is at his peak and should he impress Ethniki boss John van’t Schip, there should be plenty of good moments at international level remaining.
