What could of been. Four players who did not live up to early expectations
Every now and again a young gun comes through the ranks at our club which has filled us with excitement. The possibilities for club and country have been endless but as it turns out things didn’t go the way everyone wanted them to.
Here is a list of some of those players that could have been anything, but unfortunately have not hit the highs everyone expected them to.
Sotiris Ninis,
Sotiris burst on to the scene at Panathinaikos making his debut at the young age of 16 and had every big club in Europe was watching him. Second year syndrome hit with injuries as he was limited to a few games. The following year was a standout one that got him a new contract which included a hefty buyout clause. Besides some stunning one off games here and there, he would again get injured.
A move to Italian club Parma was disastrous, the club was in a financial mess and his career stagnated there. A loan move to PAOK got him some game time but he was chasing his tail by them.
After terminating his contract at Parma, he returned to Panathinaikos to resurrect his career but would never reach the highs of his earlier PAO days. Just when we thought he had started to rebuild his career in Belgium he was released by KV Mechelen only after moving to the club from Sporting Charleroi and took up a contract offer from Israeli side Maccabi Petah Tikva which from the limited information we have he again is hit and miss at his club.
Giorgios Katidis
Had it all, burst on to the scene at Aris and moved to AEK soon afterwards. He was destined for great things and ruined it all with one swell documented stupid mistake after scoring a goal in a match for AEK. Whilst his club coach at the time tried to support him calling him an ignorant young man who knows nothing about politics it seems the media and general opinion was relentless and pressure was coming from all angles which culminated with the EPO banning him from ever representing Greek again.
Suspended for the remainder of the season his time was up at AEK. After that he became a journeyman, and currently at the young age of 24 he is at his 8th club, Czech 2nd division team FK Olympia Prague which by all reports he is doing well.
Ioannis Fetfatzidis
Making his senior debut for Olympiakos at the age of 19 the pacey winger was a breath of fresh air, he could control the ball and burn opposition players with skills rarely seen by Greek players. For reasons unknown his career at club and country would be best described as stop/start and just couldn’t get things moving but this did not stop Genoa paying 4 million Euros to secure his services.
At Genoa he immediately impressed everyone and was touted for a bigger move overseas but nothing eventuated with his time there including a loan deal at Chievo Verona.
Whilst still young enough and good enough to get himself a move to a club in Europe, it can only be described that Ioannis decided to cash in and took up a lucrative deal to play for Saudi club Al Ahli. Three years later he is still at the club and has recently extended his time there for a further season. By all reports he is one of their best players and has recently been in fine goal scoring form.
Apostolos Giannou
A bit of a journeyman in his early career which included his senior playing debut for Australian club Oakleigh Cannons, and moves to clubs Apollon Kalamarias, Kavala, PAOK, Platanias (on loan) and Panionios he finally found his feet at Asteras Tripolis scoring 13 goals for his club in all competitions which was a new career high for him.
Unfortunately that’s when his career hit a crossroads as he was being chased by both the Ethniki Omada and the Australian national team. After a bit of a circus which had him make his senior debut for Greece in a friendly match he decided his allegiances would lay with Australia. Following that decision a big money move to the Chinese Super League would come his way but both the club and country move did not reap the footballing benefits as he received minimal game time for his Chinese club and has not scored a goal for Australia in the five matches he has placed so far. Recently released from his club in China he has moved to Cypriot club AEK Larnaca.
By George for Hellas Football
Here is a list of some of those players that could have been anything, but unfortunately have not hit the highs everyone expected them to.
Sotiris Ninis,
Sotiris burst on to the scene at Panathinaikos making his debut at the young age of 16 and had every big club in Europe was watching him. Second year syndrome hit with injuries as he was limited to a few games. The following year was a standout one that got him a new contract which included a hefty buyout clause. Besides some stunning one off games here and there, he would again get injured.
A move to Italian club Parma was disastrous, the club was in a financial mess and his career stagnated there. A loan move to PAOK got him some game time but he was chasing his tail by them.
After terminating his contract at Parma, he returned to Panathinaikos to resurrect his career but would never reach the highs of his earlier PAO days. Just when we thought he had started to rebuild his career in Belgium he was released by KV Mechelen only after moving to the club from Sporting Charleroi and took up a contract offer from Israeli side Maccabi Petah Tikva which from the limited information we have he again is hit and miss at his club.
Giorgios Katidis
Had it all, burst on to the scene at Aris and moved to AEK soon afterwards. He was destined for great things and ruined it all with one swell documented stupid mistake after scoring a goal in a match for AEK. Whilst his club coach at the time tried to support him calling him an ignorant young man who knows nothing about politics it seems the media and general opinion was relentless and pressure was coming from all angles which culminated with the EPO banning him from ever representing Greek again.
Suspended for the remainder of the season his time was up at AEK. After that he became a journeyman, and currently at the young age of 24 he is at his 8th club, Czech 2nd division team FK Olympia Prague which by all reports he is doing well.
Ioannis Fetfatzidis
Making his senior debut for Olympiakos at the age of 19 the pacey winger was a breath of fresh air, he could control the ball and burn opposition players with skills rarely seen by Greek players. For reasons unknown his career at club and country would be best described as stop/start and just couldn’t get things moving but this did not stop Genoa paying 4 million Euros to secure his services.
At Genoa he immediately impressed everyone and was touted for a bigger move overseas but nothing eventuated with his time there including a loan deal at Chievo Verona.
Whilst still young enough and good enough to get himself a move to a club in Europe, it can only be described that Ioannis decided to cash in and took up a lucrative deal to play for Saudi club Al Ahli. Three years later he is still at the club and has recently extended his time there for a further season. By all reports he is one of their best players and has recently been in fine goal scoring form.
Apostolos Giannou
A bit of a journeyman in his early career which included his senior playing debut for Australian club Oakleigh Cannons, and moves to clubs Apollon Kalamarias, Kavala, PAOK, Platanias (on loan) and Panionios he finally found his feet at Asteras Tripolis scoring 13 goals for his club in all competitions which was a new career high for him.
Unfortunately that’s when his career hit a crossroads as he was being chased by both the Ethniki Omada and the Australian national team. After a bit of a circus which had him make his senior debut for Greece in a friendly match he decided his allegiances would lay with Australia. Following that decision a big money move to the Chinese Super League would come his way but both the club and country move did not reap the footballing benefits as he received minimal game time for his Chinese club and has not scored a goal for Australia in the five matches he has placed so far. Recently released from his club in China he has moved to Cypriot club AEK Larnaca.
By George for Hellas Football
Comments
Post a Comment