Sotirios Kyrgiakos

Infobox Football biography
playername = Sotiris Kyrgiakos


fullname = Sotirios Kyrgiakos
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|7|23
cityofbirth = Trikala
countryofbirth = Greece
height = height|m=1.93
position = Centre back
currentclub = AEK Athens
clubnumber = 25
youthyears =
1997-1998
youthclubs = Thyella Megalochoriou
Panathinaikos
years = 1998-2004
1999-2001
2005–2006
2006–2008
2008-
clubs = Panathinaikos
→ Agios Nikolaos (loan)
Rangers
Eintracht Frankfurt
AEK Athens
caps(goals) = 059 (5)
056 (3)
043 (1)
051 (8)
005 (0)
nationalyears = 2002-
nationalteam = Greece
nationalcaps(goals) = 045 0(4)
pcupdate = 5 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 11 October 2008 (UTC)

Sotirios "Sotiris" Kyrgiakos ( _el. Σωτήρης Κυργιάκος) (born on 23 July 1979 in Trikala Greece) is a Greek international football player currently playing as a centre back for AEK Athens in the Greek Super League.

Club career

Panathinaikos

Kyrgiakos made his first football steps with a local team, Thyella Megalochoriou. It did not take long for him to be recognized. At the start of the 1996-97 season he became a member of the Panathinaikos soccer academy. He lived and played soccer at the Paiania athletic complex, the club’s training ground.

In the wake of the 1999-2000 season he became a member of Agios Nikolaos, a second division club and won the respect of president Lampros Maris whom Sotirios considers as his second father. He stayed with Agios Nikolaos for two years and in 2001 he took part in the pre-season camp at OFI Crete. The centre-back injuries at his parent club, Panathinaikos, just before the 3rd Qualifying round matches with Slavia Prague for the 2000-2001 Champions League meant that he had to return to Paiania and become a regular member of the starting line-up. In a crucial match against rivals Olympiacos, Kyrgiakos famously provoked opposing striker Giovanni to such an extent that the Brazilian star kicked him back and was consequently sent off, while the referee turned a blind eye on Kyrgiakos' behaviour. Panathinaikos went on to score and win that year's title.

Rangers

The following January, he joined Rangers on loan during season 2004-05 with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the season. With his new club he won a second consecutive championship and also the Scottish League Cup scoring two goals in the 5-1 win against Motherwell in the final. He initially failed to agree terms with Rangers and held talks with Everton, Portsmouth and Schalke before finally agreeing a one year deal with Rangers [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2354086/Rangers-finally-sign-Kyrgiakos.html Gers sign Kyrgiakos] ] , he scored a famous winning goal against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League that year [ [http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2005/round=2201/match=1100264/index.html Rangers hold off Porto push] ] .He was released in May 2006 after the contract ran out [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4758643.stm Gers release Soto] ] .

Eintracht Frankfurt

On June 2006 Sotiris signed a 2 year deal for Eintracht Frankfurt [ [http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=433279.htmlEintacht for Sotiri] ] . In his first season, he proved to be a fan favourite with some great performances and crucial goals which helped the team avoid relegationIn his secomd season with the club with more excellent performances he helpedthe team finish in 9th position.On July 1 2008, after his 2 year deal expired, Kyrgiakos decided not to renew his contract with the German club, and so was released.

AEK Athens

On August 1 2008, Sotiris agreed to sign for AEK Athens on a five year deal [ [http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=74&n_id=4309 AEK FC sign Kyrgiakos] ] .He chose to wear the number 25, the number he also uses for the national team. Sotiris Kyrgiakos will be earning 1.4 Million per year. Sotiris Kyrgiakos is also the current AEK captain.

International career

Kyrgiakos made his senior international debut on February 13 2002 against Sweden,and scored his first goal against Norway national football team 1 year later on February 13 2003.He was unlucky to miss their Euro 2004 victory through injury, which ironically was a knee injury sustained against Rangers team-mate Stefan Klos. He scored two goals in their Euro 2008 qualifiers and was selected in the final squad to represent Greece in the final tournament [ [http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=702185.html#greeces+papastathopoulos+drops Papastaopoulos doesnt make final cut] ] .

Honours

Panathinaikos
*Greek League: 2004
*Greek Cup: 2004

Rangers
*Scottish Premier League: 2005
*Scottish League Cup: 2005

References

External links

* [http://www.kyrgiakos.gr/ Official website] languageicon|gr/en|Greek & English
* [http://www.eintracht.de/saison/mannschaft/kyrgiakos/ Profile at Eintracht Frankfurt's Official Website]
* [http://www.eintracht-archiv.de/kyrgiakos.html Sotirios Kyrgiakos at eintracht-archiv.de]
* [http://www.pao-13.com/player_16 Profile at Panathinaikos fansite]
* [http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/spieler/9706/kyrgiakossotirios/profil.html Profile at Transfermarkt.de]

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Persondata
NAME = Kyrgiakos, Sotiris
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Greek international footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = July 23 1979
PLACE OF BIRTH = Trikala, Greece
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =