Sotiris Balafas

Football player infobox
playername= Sotiris Balafas


fullname = Sotiris Balafas
ickname =
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1986|8|19|mf=y
cityofbirth = flagicon|Greece Arta
countryofbirth = Greece
height = 188 cm (6 ft 16 in)
currentclub = PAOK
clubnumber = 25
position = Midfielder/ Defensive Midfielder
years = 2003-2005
2005-
clubs = Anagennisi Artas
PAOK
caps(goals) = 21 (2)
64 (5)
nationalyears = 2006-present
nationalteam = Greece U21
nationalcaps(goals) = ??? (?)|

Sotiris Balafas (born August 19, 1986 in Arta) is a Greek footballer currently playing for PAOK. He plays as a defensive midfielder. He is known for his defensive awareness, his tackling and heading skills as well as his pace and strength.

Club Career

He started his career in Anagennisi Artas where he became integral part of the team at very young age. Interestingly enough, he was mostly performing the duties of a centre back in his old club in contrary to his role in PAOK. In the summer of 2005 he was picked up by PAOK for a tranfer fee of 80.000 e. After a while he became a first-team option. In the 2007-2008 season he was the first choice defensive midfiedler for most part of the season and was cooperating well with newcomer Ricardo Matias Verón.

International career

He is a basic part of the Greece national under-21 football team along with teammates Stelios Iliadis and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, being capped for more than 10 times.