Kostas Tsimakis: Debut with Liverpool Under Review

In the past, Greek footballers have built larger-than-life personas while playing in the Premier League and Championship in England. Not only have athletes shined in their respective positions given their technical skills, but they’ve also taken on the role of cult heroes (see: Sotirios Kyrgiakos).

Now that Sokratis is back with the Olympiacos, there’s only one Greek player in England’s top tier of football: Kostas Tsimakis. But he’s not necessarily playing the same game as other Greek footballers who battled in the Premier League. Stars from Greece in the early 2000s, like Nikos Dabizas and Stelios Giannakopoulos, weren’t subject to nearly as much statistical analysis as players today. 

Not only do clubs employ data analytics departments to look for a statistical edge, but fans and pundits are also taking a closer look at the numbers. Players are expected to maintain certain performance stats related to speed and technique during training and in games. Meanwhile, stats like Expected Goals forecast shot accuracy to help teams (and their fans) gauge their ability to capitalize on opportunities.

It may be a stats fan’s ultimate dream, but it’s added another element of pressure for debut players like Tsimakis. Even so, the young player hasn’t wavered with the Reds. The defender has even managed to impress the head coach of last year's Premier League Champions, Jurgen Klopp.

First Year with Premier League Champions

In August 2020, Tsimakis signed with Liverpool for £11.75 million. The contract runs until 2025, during which time the left-back will be working hard under starter Andy Robertson to someday inherit his position. After signing with the club, Tsimakis became the second Greek footballer to have called Anfield home.

The first was the aforementioned Kyrgiakos, whose cult hero status didn’t endure long with the Reds. So far, Tsimakis has made two appearances in his debut year. The first came in September 2020 in a 7-1 win against Lincoln City.

Tsimakis played the entire ninety minutes in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, in which fellow debut player Diogo Jota also saw playing time after being subbed in at the hour-mark. In a post-game interview, head coach Klopp said he was pleased with Tsimakis’ performance. Looking ahead, the 24-year-old needs to adjust to Liverpool’s style of play.

However, the Reds have been following Tsimakis for quite some time. According to Sky Sports, Liverpool first noticed the defender while on loan with a Dutch club in 2017/18. Liverpool’s analytics department has been closely following Tsimakis’ data reports, which indicate he has the talent to someday replace Andy Robertson rather than serve indefinitely as a backup.

Gaining Momentum in the Super League & Eredivisie

Prior to joining the Premier League, Tsimakis made a name in the Greek Super League playing for Olympiacos. He signed his first contract in 2015 before switching over to Danish club Esbjerg in 2016 on loan. While there, Tsimakis showed his first signs of maturing as a player by getting involved in the offense on set plays; he managed to score a goal in his debut game with Esbjerg.

In 2017, Tsimakis was sent on loan again to the Dutch top-tier Eredivisie. With club Willem II, Tsimakis garnered attention from nearby leagues—including Klopp’s Liverpool. He started 32 of 34 games and earned a Voetball International Goal of the Month nod from a bicycle kick goal against FC Utrecht in March 2018.

Following his momentous season in the Eredivisie, Tsimakis returned to Greece to play for Olympiacos. Though he performed well in the club’s Europe League group stage performance, even nabbing another award from UEFA as Team of the Week, Tsimakis saw limited playing time until he was eventually traded to Liverpool in 2020.

Tsimakis is also a member of the Greek national team. His last appearances with the Ethniki were during their 25 March World Cup Qualifier against Spain, which ended in a 1-1 tie, and the 31 March game against Georgia, which also ended in a 1-1 tie. At this time, Tsimakis’ is a fixture on the national team’s roster, where he plays with the number 21.