Nikos Spyropoulos

Nikos Spyropoulos (Greek: Νίκος Σπυρόπουλος; born 10 October 1983) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

Nikos Spyropoulos
Spyropoulos in 2009
Personal information
Full name Nikolaos Spyropoulos
Date of birth (1983-10-10) 10 October 1983
Place of birth Ioannina, Greece
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 PAS Giannina 33 (1)
2004–2008 Panionios 68 (1)
2008–2013 Panathinaikos 128 (1)
2013 Chievo Verona 2 (0)
2013–2015 PAOK 19 (0)
Total 250 (3)
International career‡
2007–2013 Greece 35 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 April 2015
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 April 2015 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Spyropoulos began his career with PAS Giannina in 2001, where he celebrated a promotion to the Alpha Ethniki during his first season.[1] In three years, he made a total of 33 appearances for the club, all of which in the Beta Ethniki.[2]

Panionios

In summer 2004 he signed for Greek Superleague side Panionios. Eight months later, and while he was about to be transferred to Panathinaikos along with his teammates Alexandros Tziolis and Evangelos Mantzios, he tested positive for elevated testosterone and was initially suspended for two years.[3] This was later attributed to natural causes, but his transfer was cancelled nevertheless. He returned to action one year later and went on to play for 3,5 years for Panionios, earning the reputation of being one of the best left-backs in the Greek championship.[4]

During the summer transfer period of 2007 and the winter period of 2008, Spyropoulos attracted the interest of clubs such as AEK Athens, Olympiacos and Werder Bremen – however a move did not materialize.[5][6]

Panathinaikos

In January 2008, Spyropoulos moved to Panathinaikos FC for a reported fee of 2 million Εuros.[7]

After some impressive displays during the second half of 07–08 season, Spyropoulos has started the 08–09 season as the main left back for Panathinaikos FC. Henk Ten Cate, the manager had praised his ability by asking a "Spyropoulos for the right side" too, during the pre-season. Spyropoulos main assets are his speed, stamina and the ability to go forward whenever possible. Due to a clause he was not able to play against his previous team Panionios for two years after his transfer to Panathinaikos FC.

Chievo Verona

Two days before the winter transfer window closes, the Greek defender Nikolaos Spyropoulos was presented to the press today at Peschiera's Parc Hotel. signing for the Italian Serie A side A.C. Chievo Verona. Spyropoulos said: "I'm here too to play my part. I'll try to settle in as quickly as possible, to help Chievo reach their target. I'm a defender but I can play in many positions and I like attacking play. I thank Chievo for giving me the chance to play in Italy. I'll do my best to repay the trust of the chairman and the club."[8] He made two appearances for the club before missing the remainder of the season through injury.

PAOK

An announcement on PAOK’s official Twitter profile confirmed the acquisition of Spyropoulos, who spent the last six months in Italy with Chievo Verona after leaving Panathinaikos during last January’s transfer window. No financial details of Spyropoulos’ contract or terms were revealed by the club, but the Greek international will join the first team for its training camp in Austria starting on Monday. [9] [10] He made his debut with the club in December 2013 in a 2-0 away win against PAS Giannina. On 15 April 2015, his contract was terminated.[11]

International career

His talent was initially ignored by Otto Rehhagel, but in 2007 the elector capped him. Spyropoulos is left-footed and is distinguished by a combination of speed, strength, agility and endurance.

On 17 November 2007 he made his national team debut in the 5–0 Euro 2008 qualifier defeat of Malta coming on for Vasilis Torosidis in the 46th minute.

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.3 September 2010Piraeus, Greece Georgia1–1DrawUEFA Euro 2012 qualifier
2.7 September 2012Riga, Latvia Latvia1–2Win2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Career statistics
As of 3 January 2015[12][13][14]
Club Season League[A] Cup[B] Continental[C] Others[D] Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
PAS Giannina2001–02 Football League60––––––60
2002–03 Super League Greece00––––––00
2003–04 Football League27110––––281
Total 33110––––341
Panionios2004–05 Super League Greece1601030––200
2005–06110––––––110
2006–0724110––––251
2007–081701040––220
Total 6813070––781
Panathinaikos2007–08 Super League Greece100––––––100
2008–0930030100--430
2009–1025010100––360
2010–11221305020321
2011–12240109020360
2012–131701090––270
Total 128190430401841
Chievo2012–13 Serie A2000--––20
Total 20--––––20
PAOK2013–14 Super League Greece13020--––150
2014–15601030––100
Total 1903030––250
Career total2503160530403233

Honours

Panathinaikos

PAOK

Notes
A. ^ Includes appearances in the Superleague Greece (Alpha Ethniki until 2006) and Beta Ethniki.
B. ^ Includes appearances in the Greek Cup.
C. ^ Includes appearances in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League (UEFA Cup until 2009).
D. ^ Includes appearances in the Superleague Greece play-offs.

References
  1. "Nikos Spyropoulos". uefa.com. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  2. "Spyropoulos Nikos profile" (in Greek). Insports.gr. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  3. "Ένοχος για ντόπινγκ κρίθηκε ο Σπυρόπουλος, τιμωρείται με 2 χρόνια αποκλεισμό (Spyropoulos guilty for doping, punished with a two-year ban)" (in Greek). Athens: In.gr. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  4. Karpetopoulos, Antonis (29 January 2008). "Οι οπαδοί εκτιμούν τις καλές πωλήσεις (Fans appreciate good sells)". Kathimerini (in Greek). Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  5. ""Παρέλαση" ονομάτων από την εγχώρια μεταγραφική αγορά για την ΑΕΚ ("Parade" of names from domestic market for AEK)" (in Greek). Athens: In.gr. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  6. "ΠΑΝΙΩΝΙΟΣ: Σπυρόπουλος προς Βέρντερ (PANIONIOS: Spyropoulos towards Werder)". Kathimerini (in Greek). 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  7. "Spyropoulos joins Panathinaikos". uefa.com. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  8. "Good luck to Ujkani and Spyropoulos". mondochievo.it. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  9. ΠΑΟΚ: "Κάτοικος" Τούμπας ο Νίκος Σπυρόπουλος (in Greek). betarades.gr. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  10. Συνεχίζει στον ΠΑΟΚ ο Σπυρόπουλος (in Greek). sport-fm.gr. 2 September 2013.
  11. Παρελθόν ο Σπυρόπουλος από τον ΠΑΟΚ (in Greek). sport24.gr. 15 April 2015.
  12. "Nikos Spyropoulos". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  13. "Nikos Spyropoulos profile". Footballzz. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  14. "Nikos Spyropoulos profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
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