Georgios Katsikas

Georgios Katsikas (Greek: Γεώργιος Κατσικάς; born 14 June 1990)[1] is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Nea Salamis Famagusta.

Georgios Katsikas
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-06-14) 14 June 1990
Place of birth Thessaloniki, Greece
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Nea Salamis Famagusta
Youth career
1998–2008 Iraklis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Iraklis 14 (0)
2008–2009 → Olympiakos Volos (loan) 19 (1)
2011–2015 PAOK 40 (4)
2015–2016 Twente 7 (0)
2016 → Jong Twente 4 (1)
2017 Esbjerg 10 (1)
2017–2018 Dinamo București 41 (3)
2019–2020 Dinamo Brest 6 (0)
2021–2022 Lokomotiv Sofia 27 (0)
2022–2023 Nea Salamis Famagusta 19 (0)
2023 Levadiakos 0 (0)
2023– Nea Salamis Famagusta 0 (0)
International career
2008–2009 Greece U19 4 (0)
2010–2012 Greece U21 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 September 2023

Club career

Iraklis

Katsikas started his career in the youth ranks of Iraklis.[2] He was brought there, when he was eight years old, by his father, a former player of Iraklis.[2]

In the summer of 2008 he was loaned out to Olympiakos Volos, then playing in Beta Ethniki, to gain first team experience.[2] He debuted for Olympiakos Volos in the opening game of the 2008-09 season, a 0–0 away draw against Pierikos. He even managed to score for Olympiakos Volos, to help the club grab a 1–1 home draw against Veria. Until the end of the season he totally featured in 19 matches not managing to score any other goals. After his loan spell in Volos Katsikas returned to Iraklis for the 2009-10 season.[2] He could not break into the starting lineup, but nevertheless he made his debut for Iraklis in a cup against Gamma Ethniki side Trikala. Katsikas was sent off in his debut and eventually Iraklis got eliminated by the Cup after losing the contest by a 1–0 scoreline. In that season he also made his league debut for Iraklis, as he came in for teammate Achilleas Sarakatsanos in the 84th minute, in a 2–0 away defeat from Panathinaikos.[3] In his second season for Iraklis Katsikas featured regularly in the playing squad of the club, playing in 13 of the club's league matches until February. On 9 February 2011 Katsikas suffered a torn cruciate ligament, in a friendly match of Greece U-21, and lost the remainder of the season.[4][5][6]

PAOK

On 14 October 2011 Katsikas signed a four years contract with PAOK,[7] after he was released from Iraklis. On 4 January 2012 he made his debut for the club in 3–1 home win against Levadiakos. He scored his first goal for PAOK against Rapid Wien in August 2012, while his first league goal came into the local derby between PAOK and Aris in a 4–1 win for PAOK. On 3 April 2015 George Katsikas along with Fanis Tzandaris have solved their contracts with PAOK, receiving his payment until the end of the season.[8]

Twente

On 2 July 2015, Katsikas signed a year contract with the Dutch club Twente for an undisclosed fee.[9] Twente coach Alfred Schreuder was pleased with this transfer as he could build on Katsikas' experience.[10] On 9 September 2015 in the training, Katsikas has suffered a cruciate ligament rupture and he is going to undergo a surgery which makes him miss the remainder of the season. The Greek centre back is expected to stay on the sidelines for six to nine months missing potentially the start of Twente's pre-season over the summer 2016. On 21 August, Katsikas made his comeback in the awaygame against FC Groningen.[11]

Esbjerg fB

Katsikas joined for Danish Superliga-side Esbjerg fB on 23 January 2017.[12]

Dinamo București

On 28 June 2017, the European adventure continues for the Greek centre back, after Dinamo București announced his acquisition for the next two years for an undisclosed fee. The 27-year-old centre back is a personal choice of the Romanian team's coach, Cosmin Contra, who sees a remarkable addition for his club. Dinamo București ended in third place in the 2016-17 Romanian Championship, behind FC Viitorul Constanța and FC Steaua București, taking the Europa League ticket.[13] On 16 October 2017, he scored a brace in a 3–0 home win game against SC Juventus București. On 11 December 2017, he scored the second goal sealing a 2–0 home win game against FC Voluntari.

Dinamo Brest

On 12 February 2019, he signed a two years contract with Dinamo Brest for an undisclosed fee.[14]

Lokomotiv Sofia

On 17 July 2021, The 31-year-old defender signed a year contract with Lokomotiv Sofia. Katsikas is destined to be a key player for the club, as after his presentation, the coach Ivan Kolev, stated that he intended to be among the starting XI against Beroe.[15]

International career

He was a member of the Greek U-21 team that participated in the 2009 Mediterranean Games and he played in the matches against Syria, Italy and Turkey.[16][17][18]

References
  1. "Giorgos Katsikas profile". Iraklis FC Official site. Archived from the original on 2 January 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  2. Γιώργος Κατσικάς: Γέννημα-θρέμμα Ηρακλής (in Greek). Bluearena.gr. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  3. Παναθηναϊκός-Ηρακλής 2-0 (in Greek). Contra.gr. 11 April 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  4. Ρήξη χιαστού ο Κατσικάς, χάνει το υπόλοιπο της σεζόν (in Greek). Contra.gr. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  5. Σοκ με Κατσικά-Χάνει τη σεζόν (in Greek). Bluearena.gr. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  6. Εξι μήνες (τουλάχιστον) εκτός ο Γιώργος Κατσικάς (in Greek). Iraklis F.C. Official site. 10 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  7. "PAOK FC signs Katsikas". paokfc.gr. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  8. "Τέλος Τζανδάρης και Κατσικάς". sport24.gr. 3 April 2015.
  9. "Και επισήμως στην Τβέντε ο Κατσικάς". sport24.gr. 2 July 2015.
  10. "FC Twente vangt vertrek Bjelland op met Katsikas". vi.nl. 2 July 2015.
  11. "Τραυματισμός-σοκ για Κατσικά!". onsports.gr. 10 September 2015.
  12. Græsk midterforsvarer fra TC Twente til EfB‚ efb.dk, 23 January 2017
  13. Στην Ντιναμό Βουκουρεστίου ο Κατσικάς‚ www.sport24.gr, 28 June 2017
  14. Ο Γιώργος Κατσικάς στη Ντινάμο Μπρεστ‚ www.sport24.gr, 12 February 2019
  15. Στη Λοκομοτίβ Σόφιας ο Κατσικάς‚ www.sport-fm.gr, 17 July 2021
  16. "Match Report Greece Syria 4-0" (PDF). pescara2009.it. 27 June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  17. "Match Report Italy Greece 3-1" (PDF). pescara2009.it. 29 June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  18. "Match Report Greece Turkey 1-1" (PDF). pescara2009.it. 3 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
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