Liverpool FC are reportedly in the process of signing Greek international defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos. Here is some information about the new signing and a glimpse of what fans can expect of the player.
Age – 30
Height – 6’5
Position – Centre back
Career (Games/goals)
2008–2009 AEK Athens (27/0)
2006–2008 Eintracht Frankfurt (51/8)
2005–2006 Rangers (43/1)
1998–2004 Panathinaikos (60/5)
1999–2001 Agios Nikolaos (56/3)
2002 – Greece (49/4)
From his personal website:
Sotirios Kyrgiakos was born at Megalochori, Trikala on July 23, 1979 and he made his first football steps with a local team, Thyella Megalochoriou.
It didn’t 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.
From a small age he learned what it means to be a champion taking part in various tournaments abroad and winning many trophies with Panathinaikos.
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 Krete.
The centre-back injuries at his parent club, Panathinaikos, just before the 3rd Qualifying round matches with Sparta 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.
Since then he was ever-present for the club until January 2004 when he signed a contract with Rangers having earlier won the Greek League and Cup double in Greece.
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.
In July 2006 Sotirios Kyrgiakos signs a two year contract with Eintracht Frankfurt. In July 2008 Sotirios Kyrgiakos signs a contract with AEK FC in which he continues to play with.
Age – 30
Height – 6’5
Position – Centre back
Career (Games/goals)
2008–2009 AEK Athens (27/0)
2006–2008 Eintracht Frankfurt (51/8)
2005–2006 Rangers (43/1)
1998–2004 Panathinaikos (60/5)
1999–2001 Agios Nikolaos (56/3)
2002 – Greece (49/4)
From his personal website:
Sotirios Kyrgiakos was born at Megalochori, Trikala on July 23, 1979 and he made his first football steps with a local team, Thyella Megalochoriou.
It didn’t 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.
From a small age he learned what it means to be a champion taking part in various tournaments abroad and winning many trophies with Panathinaikos.
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 Krete.
The centre-back injuries at his parent club, Panathinaikos, just before the 3rd Qualifying round matches with Sparta 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.
Since then he was ever-present for the club until January 2004 when he signed a contract with Rangers having earlier won the Greek League and Cup double in Greece.
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.
In July 2006 Sotirios Kyrgiakos signs a two year contract with Eintracht Frankfurt. In July 2008 Sotirios Kyrgiakos signs a contract with AEK FC in which he continues to play with.
Big man and appears to be able to put the ball in the net from set pieces and corners . In the past without Sami on the pitch we'd have been better giving the ball back to the oppositions keeper as there was more chance of them going on a counter attack than us scoring! Could be a risk but beggers cant be choosers. Suppose its better than putting Sammy Lee on Jamie Carragers shoulders!!!
ReplyDeleteI like the look of him; just what we need after the departure of Sami - another tall, commanding centre-back, who is hopefully imperious when it comes to winning headers. His goal record is pretty good too.
ReplyDeleteI'd still rather we'd kept Sami though, but I would say that considering he's been my favourite player for years.
As an impartial Greek fan (do not support his former clubs Panathinaikos or AEK), I am convinced that Kyrgiakos can help Liverpool. He has considerable international experience, has played in the UK before (so there will be no settle problems), is suitable for Premiership playing styles, and has the spirit of a winner. On the downside, he receives many yellow and red cards.
ReplyDeleteKyriakos is a great signing. I watched him closely when he played in Eintracht Frankfurt and he was superb. He was one of the best CB in Bundesliga, tall and very strong and he is also keen on scoring with headers. A superb move from Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteHe is the greatest Defender of Greece,and I am a PAOK fan,hating his former clubs :p
ReplyDeleteHe could help our beloved Liverpool,because as mentioned before,he is great at headers and set pieces,skills that are what a good DC is made of.
Hi guys,
ReplyDeleteI am from Greece and an Olympiacos fan.
You got the best and bravest greek defender.
Be sure that his name will be a song in the Kop!!!
Rgrds,
Kostas
He is the best 3 million can buy ;)
ReplyDeletebe sure that he will challenge skrtel for the center back position. great signing.
ReplyDeletethis guy looks awesome ! his aggresiveness is quality. just what the prem needs
ReplyDeleteThe ideal defender for UK football.Tall,strong,brave and generally beats the hell out of the opponents
ReplyDeleteHey guys I'm from north of the border up in scotland, saw this guy playing reguarly for Rangers, Rangers didnt even decide to ratain him. When I heard he went to Frankfurt and was doing well I was VERY surprised, he was an average defender for Rangers, he was a moaner, a diver, and a cheat really was not a fan when i saw the report i was like.....naw, naw its not the same guy is it? :s
ReplyDeletesaying that i thought he was near 30 when he played for Rangers and that was near enough 4 years ago surprised to hear he's only 30, it looks like he's done something right in the last few years, looks like he's thought of in high regard in Greece
.....but desperate times.....waaaa I want Silva.......why wont they just stop bein so stubborn, go into administration and give us Silva!?
you mean "heart"
ReplyDeleteKYRGIAKOS IS A VERY GREAT SIGNING. BE SURE ABOUT THAT. AS A PANATHINAIKOS FAN, I ALWAYS ADMIRED HIM. HE DESERVES BEING IN THE LIVERPOOL SQUAD AND HE WILL PROVE THAT.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm from Greece and have been a fan of the Reds since early 80's (Lee, Sooness, Dalglish, O' Neal, Ian Rush etc).
Kyrgiakos fits perfectly to the physical game UK style.
Putting the record straight, he's no John Terry, not Cannavaro either, but he can seriously challenge players like Agger and Skrkel for the basic XI in my opinion.
Kyrgiakos sucks , his only objective is to complaint to referees and injur other players with extremely dirty tacklings...
ReplyDeleteHe was good at Rangers and could well be an ideal solution for the 4th centre back due to the lack of cash from those amercan $ankers
ReplyDeletei dont know this guy that much..but after seeing the comments over here and reading the article,i can see he can be a great signing for us..LONG LIVE LIVERPOOL..LIVERPOOLIANS ROCKS !!!!
ReplyDeleteI am a panathinaikos fun and i think guys that you almost won the lottery with this signing.My opinion is that he is the best greek player still playing.
ReplyDeleteoh and something more he is a lot better than hyppia
ReplyDeleteNo chance. Hyypia has been consistently brilliant for 10 years at the highest level.
ReplyDeletelike yes this guy will stop micheal owen and drogba
ReplyDeleteyes he tuely has this dude will kill arsenal attack
ReplyDeleteJaimie Kanwar you will remember my words and you will tell yes that guy was fairly wright.He is a sweeper and a strong CB in one.I know it sounds strange to you but he is too good for 3 million euros..
ReplyDeleteOh and that guy that you say tha he is not so good has stopped Thiery Henry when he was at his best shape in the matches between panathinaikos and arsenal(panathinaikos-arsenal 1-0)
ReplyDeleteand a last but not least comment :)
ReplyDeleteHe can't be as bad as Skrtel or Agger.Please see a match of him with the greek national flag or AEK athens and you will agree with me.
ha jamie, just wondering, do you not worry about the fact he has never played in one of the top leagues so despite the fact he may have been good for other teams he may not be good enough for the premiership, just my own thoughts. also he is not young so its not as if he has a few years to adjust, and in the past we have signed players like this morientes and pelegrino being my prime examples and they couldn't cope with the pace of this league. like to hear your thoughts on these points.
ReplyDeleteHi Kopfan - yes, I've thought about the things you highlighted, but I tend to think that if he's good enough for the national team, he must be good enough to make it in the premiership. He's tall and strong, which will is a necessary requirement for an effective PL defender. I think he'll do well.
ReplyDeletewe have to point the fact that he is the best greek CB for years in a country which has at least good CBs and DMs such as CB:Moras(Bologna),Papastathopoulos(Genoa) and the best CB at his age 3rd choice after Melberg and A.Papadopoulos the 17 year old K.Papadopoulos(Do not forget Newcastle's N.Dabizas who is a lot worst than Kirgiakos and made a decent Career in PL)
ReplyDeleteKirgiakos is far better than all of them including Melberg in my opinion and he can make worth every euro spend for him.
The greek market is a good market for CBs and DMs(Katsouranis:Benfika fan's favourite for years and now Panathinaikos's player
ReplyDeleteOh for the 17 year old K. Papadopoulos,he is the best player at his age in Europe.You have to see him and Rafa has to see him as well.
ReplyDeleteHyppia wanted to play regularly in the twilight of his career which was understandable and Rafa didn't think he could offer him that, although given 20/20 hindsight and the rash of injuries I suspect we could have given him 25-30 games this season which would have been plenty so it is a shame to have lost a legend, let's hope he returns in some capacity when his playing career is over.
ReplyDeleteHowever I'm disappointed that we've felt the need to bring in another experienced CB.. how are players like Ayala and in my opinion the even more promising Martin Kelly, going to get a chance!? It's a long time since we brought through any youngsters and CB is the one position where we have some promising young blood but instead we have to have four experienced CB's competing for two positions all season!? Agger isn't going to get the games he deserves, Skyrtel and this Greek lad are going to be fighting it out - basically 3 players for 1 position as Carra is rarely rested or rotated.. none of them are going to be settled and completely happy.. surely we could have coped with Ayala/Kelly in the short term. Kelly looks especially exciting and to my eye looks to have everything that Jonny Evans has and then some.. yet I fear he'll never get a genuine opportunity to prove it, certainly not this season.. Nothing against the Greek lad, could be a sound bit of business but come on Rafa, have a little faith in the youngsters.. 3 experienced + 2 strong kids isn't exactly threadbare, even with a couple of injuries.
I'm Greek, Panathinaikos supporter, BUT MY HEART BELONGS TO LIVERPOOL. This man, Kyrgiakos, if he jumps with Terry for a high ball he can send him in ORBIT.
ReplyDeleteTHE STRONGEST MAN OUR BACK LINE EVER HAD. HE'S SO GOOD IN THE AIR, and always pockets 4-5 goal after a corner or set ball. I can't imagine Gerrard sending him balls in the opponent's area !!!!!!
YNWA, THIS IS OUR YEAR. IT'S US AND CHELSEA, THE MANCS MIGHT NOT ENTER THE BIG-4 !!!
DEMETRIS
From above replying, he is good at heading, but a player can score by shooting. Is he good on the land?
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the inside info from fans who've seen Kyrgiakos in action :) It sounds like we've made a good buy. Hopefully we'll see him in action very soon.
ReplyDeleteIs Van Der Vaart another rubbish rumour? You'd have think that he would have been negotiated in the Alonso deal if Rafa was interested.
ReplyDeleteKyrgiakos is a top class defender. If Dabizas can play in the premerieship Kyrgiakos is an easy shoo-in. The fans will love this guy. No BS type of player. Extremely physical, will earn his money every day on every play. No comparisson with Hyypia and some of these characters. This guy is that good and is extremely dangerous on set pieces.
ReplyDeleteApart from the aforementioned stuff, BE sure of one thing: Kyrgiakos will NOT be afraid of anything, and of anyone. Even if he has to face the most difficult attacker in the world, he is ready to do it. And he will not at all lose his self-confidence, even if he makes a mistake in some moment. I wish him good luck, although i am a fan of Olympiacos (not of Panathinaikos or AEK, his main past greek clubs).
ReplyDeletekiriako good luck aek athens metamorfosi!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletekyriako kali epitixia!aek athens.....
ReplyDeleteunfair critisism for kirgiakos. At least he performes exellently in Frankfurt which is a better team than Rangers.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, who are the defenders of Rangers at the moment?
he is great in arial battle but could still improve on ground defending nd tackling but still a good signing
ReplyDeleteLiverpool's wanted Kyrgiakos for a very long time and while he was still with Panathinaikos's 'gold team' (as was the majority of the players who won the Euro 2004 Cup). It took a few years to bring him over but the guy, only in his second week in the UK, was thrown in a game and did very good and proved what he is, a solid physical defender and the only player. Lets hope that things can only get better for him and Liverpool. ;)
ReplyDeleteHe has just scored his first goal at Stoke.
ReplyDeleteHe has just scored his first goal for Liverpool against Stoke City.
ReplyDelete