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{{short description|Greek footballer and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| playername = Antonios Nikopolidis
| name = Antonis Nikopolidis
| image = [[Image:Antonios Nikopolidis 25-Mar-2008.jpg|150px|Nikopolidis playing for Olympiacos in 2008]]
| image = Antonios Nikopolidis 2018.jpg
| image_size =
| fullname = Antonios Nikopolidis
| caption = Nikopolidis playing in a legends match in 2018
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|01|14}}
| fullname = Antonios Nikopolidis
| cityofbirth = [[Arta]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|01|14|df=y}}
| countryofbirth = [[Greece]]
| birth_place = [[Arta, Greece|Arta]], Greece
| height = {{height|m=1.87}}
| height = 1.87 m
| currentclub =
| currentclub = [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]] (manager)
| clubnumber =
| position = [[Goalkeeper (football)|Goalkeeper]](retired)
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| youthyears1 =
| youthyears1 = 1985–1989
| youthclubs1 = [[Anagennisi Arta]]
| youthclubs1 = [[Anagennisi Arta F.C.|Anagennisi Arta]]
| years1 = 1987–1989
| years1 = 1987–1989
| clubs1 = [[Anagennisi Arta F.C.|Anagennisi Arta]]
| years2 = 1989–2004
| years3 = 2004–2011
| caps1 = 49
| goals1 = 0
| clubs1 = [[Anagennisi Arta F.C.|GAS Anagennisi Arta]]
| years2 = 1989–2004
| clubs2 = [[Panathinaikos FC|Panathinaikos F.C.]]
| clubs3 = [[Olympiacos F.C.]]
| clubs2 = [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]
| caps2 = 189
| caps1 = 49
| caps2 = 189
| goals2 = 0
| caps3 = 180
| years3 = 2004–2011
| clubs3 = [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]]
| goals1 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| caps3 = 180
| goals3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| totalcaps = 418
| nationalyears1 = 1999–2008
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalteam1 = [[Greece national football team|Greece]]
| nationalyears1 = 1999–2008
| nationalcaps1 = 90
| nationalteam1 = [[Greece national football team|Greece]]
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalcaps1 = 90
| pcupdate = {{date|2010-04-18}}
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2012–2013
| managerclubs1 = [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2013
| managerclubs2 = [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] (caretaker)
| manageryears3 = 2014–2015
| managerclubs3 = [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] (assistant)
| manageryears4 = 2015–2019
| managerclubs4 = [[Greece national under-21 football team|Greece U21]]
| manageryears5 = 2019–2020
| managerclubs5 = [[Olympiacos F.C. Youth Academy|Olympiacos U19]]
| manageryears6 = 2022–2023
| managerclubs6 = [[Proodeftiki F.C.|Proodeftiki]]
| manageryears7 = 2024–
| managerclubs7 = [[Panionios F.C.|Panionios]]
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|GRE}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2004 UEFA European Championship|2004]]|}}
}}
}}


'''Antonios Nikopolidis''' ({{lang-el|'''Αντώνης Νικοπολίδης'''}}; born 14 January 1971 in [[Arta, Greece|Arta]]) is a retired [[Greece|Greek]] [[Football (soccer)|football]] player playing at the position of [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. He's regarded as the best Greek goalkeeper of all time having been awarded the most caps in the national team and playing an integral part in the [[UEFA Euro 2004]] triumph.
'''Antonis Nikopolidis''' ({{langx|el|Αντώνης Νικοπολίδης}}; born 14 January 1971) is a Greek professional [[Association football|football]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] and former player.


He is regarded among the best Greek [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeepers]] of all time having been awarded the most goalkeeper caps in the [[Greece national football team|Greece national team]] and playing an integral part in the [[UEFA Euro 2004]] triumph.
==The first years and the move to Panathinaikos==
Nikopolidis made his first steps at his local team of [[Anagennisi Artas]], from which he was transferred to [[Panathinaikos FC|Panathinaikos]] in the summer of 1989, where he was a back-up for [[Józef Wandzik]]. He made his debut during the 1990–91 season in a match against his current club, [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]]. In 1995 he played five games as Panathinaikos won the [[1994-95 in Greek football|championship]] and three as they retained it the [[1995-96 in Greek football|following year]]. However, it wasn't until the 1997–98 season that he established himself as a regular goalkeeper at the age of 26. In the [[UEFA Champions League 2001-02|2002 Champions league]], he helped the club reach the quarter-finals but, in the [[2003-04 in Greek football|2003–04 season]], he lost his place to [[Konstantinos Chalkias]] when his contract negotiations broke down.


==Club career==
Panathinaikos offered him [[Euro|€]]400K per year<ref>[http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=14073&m=A40&aa=1 Ôï ÂÇÌÁ onLine – ÁÈËÇÔÉÓÌÏÓ<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> which, although a pay-rise, he thought was not in line with his contributions to the team over the past 15 years nor with his current market value. As he did not immediately accept the offer the management became suspicious and decided to relegate him to the bench for the rest of the 2003–04 season. The Greek sports media and Panathinaikos fans at first took his side in the conflict and criticised president Vardinogiannis.<ref>[http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_sport_1_25/01/2004_91444 kathimerini.gr |<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


===Anagennisi Arta===
Just before [[UEFA Euro 2004]], rumours were circulating that Nikopolidis had been approached by arch-rivals [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]]. It was discovered later that he had signed an agreement just before the tournament begun earning him [[Euro|€]]600K per year for three years. After that, the fans' disappointment in him was displayed during the celebrations following the team's 2003–04 season double when Nikopolidis, while raising the trophy, was booed by the majority of the crowd.
Nikopolidis made his first steps at his local team of [[Anagennisi Arta F.C.|Anagennisi Arta]], from which he was transferred to [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] in the summer of 1989.


==From Panathinaikos to Olympiacos==
===Panathinaikos===
He made his debut during the 1990–91 season in a match against his future club, [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]]. In his early years as a Panathinaikos player, he was a back-up for [[Józef Wandzik]]. In 1995, he played five games as Panathinaikos won the [[1994-95 in Greek football|championship]] and three as they retained it the [[1995-96 in Greek football|following year]]. However, it wasn't until the 1997–98 season that he established himself as the first choice goalkeeper at the age of 26. In the [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League|2002 Champions league campaign]], he helped the club reach the quarter-finals. In the [[2003–04 in Greek football|2003–04 season]], he lost his place to [[Konstantinos Chalkias]] when his contract negotiations broke down.
Soon after being instrumental in [[UEFA Euro 2004]] helping [[Greece national football team|Greece]] to lift the trophy, Nikopolidis joined Olympiacos F.C. making an immediate impact for his once rival team. Keeping a clean sheet in the first derby against his former club in the process, he went on to win two [[The Double|Doubles]] in a row, making him the only Greek player to win three consecutive doubles with two different clubs. At his new team, Nikopolidis also earned a reputation for making game-winning saves in the most important games. Displaying his [[Penalty kick|penalty]]-saving abilities, Nikopolidis saved three penalty kicks against [[A.S. Roma|Roma]], [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]], and [[Rosenborg BK]], making him undefeated from the penalty spot in UEFA Champions League football in the Olympiacos shirt. In the [[2007-08 in Greek football|2007–08 season]], he also equaled the Greek league record for the most penalty kicks saved in one season, which included saves against [[PAOK F.C.|PAOK]] and former club Panathinaikos. Nikopolidis announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2009–10 season.<br>
However, he took back his decision to stop his career after [[Socrates Kokkalis|Socrates Kokkalis's]] insistence. The veteran goalkeeper stated that he would delay his retirement for one more year, to retire as champion. He signed an extension on June 16 that will keep him at [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] for the 2010–11 season.<br>
He also took part in the international match "8th Match Against Poverty", in 14 December 2010, in [[Karaiskakis Stadium|G. Karaiskakis Stadium]] in Greece, as the UNDP team's goalkeeper.<br>
In January 2011, IFFHS released a list with the best goalkeepers of the first decade, and Nikopolidis was in.<ref>[http://www.iffhs.de/?388d85ff8b00388f05e91a55285fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb88602]</ref> He is also in the list with the best goalkeepers of the years 1987-2011.<ref>[http://www.iffhs.de/?388d85ff8b00388f05f4cbc0385fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb88419]</ref><br>
At 20 March 2011, Olympiacos won the championship, in a 6-0 win against city rivals [[AEK Athens F.C.]], in [[Karaiskakis Stadium|G. Karaiskakis Stadium]].<br>
He made his final appearance on 17 April 2011 in a home 6-0 victory against [[Larissa F.C.]] in [[Karaiskakis Stadium|G. Karaiskakis Stadium]]. As a final curtain call, he was replaced by [[Balazs Megyeri]] in the last minutes, so he could wave goodbye to the Olympiacos fans.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmyjdemi1ic]</ref><br>
As the Olympiacos Captain, he was the player to accept the championship trophy, after the match.
==Greek national team==
He made his debut for the [[Greece national football team]] on 18 August 1999 against [[El Salvador national football team|El Salvador]].


Panathinaikos offered him [[Euro|€]]400K per year<ref>[http://tovima.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=B&f=14073&m=A40&aa=1 Ôï ÂÇÌÁ onLine – ÁÈËÇÔÉÓÌÏÓ<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> which, although a pay-rise, he thought was not in line with his contributions to the team over the past 15 years nor with his current market value. As he did not immediately accept the offer the management became suspicious and decided to relegate him to the bench for the rest of the 2003–04 season. The Greek sports media and Panathinaikos fans at first took his side in the conflict and criticised president Vardinogiannis.<ref>[http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_sport_1_25/01/2004_91444 kathimerini.gr |<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928092025/http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_sport_1_25/01/2004_91444 |date=28 September 2011 }}</ref>
He played in the qualifying rounds of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2002 FIFA World Cup]] and Euro 2004 where he excelled as Greece qualified for the finals. Nikopolidis was one of the cornerstones of the Greek win in [[Portugal]], where he kept six clean sheets and did not let in a goal in the three knockout games as he claimed a winners' medal. He also earned a place in the All-Star Squad, and was voted goalkeeper of the Euro 2004 All Star team.


Just before [[UEFA Euro 2004]], rumours were circulating that Nikopolidis had been approached by arch-rivals Olympiacos. It was discovered later that he had signed an agreement just before the tournament begun earning him [[Euro|€]]600K per year for three years. After that, the fans' disappointment in him was displayed during the celebrations following the team's 2003–04 season double when Nikopolidis, while raising the trophy, was booed by the majority of the crowd.
He became team captain after the retirement of [[Theodoros Zagorakis]].<br>
He has featured in a World XI game in 2002, a rare honour for a Greek player.<br>
Nikopolidis is first among all goalkeepers in the history of the national team with the most caps (90 after his retirement).<br>
On 15 June 2008, Nikopolidis announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2008, claiming that he had made this decision before the tournament started, and also stating that it is about time for a major change in the Greek national squad.<ref>[http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=718119.html Greece stalwarts hand in their notice]</ref>


==Trivia==
===Olympiacos===
[[File:Antonios Nikopolidis 25-Mar-2008.jpg|150px|thumb|Nikopolidis with Olympiacos in 2008]]
Due to his grey hair, Nikopolidis bears a striking resemblance to Hollywood actor [[George Clooney]] and earned the nickname "George Clooney" from European media during the Euro 2004 competition.<ref>[http://www.virginmedia.com/sport/euro2008/galleries/euro-lookalikes.php?ssid=7 Euro 2004 lookalikes] Virgin Media, June 2004</ref>


Soon after being instrumental in [[UEFA Euro 2004]] helping [[Greece national football team|Greece]] to lift the trophy, Nikopolidis joined Olympiacos, making an immediate impact for his once rival team. Keeping a clean sheet in the first derby against his former club in the process, he went on to win two [[Double (association football)|Doubles]] in a row, making him the only Greek player to win three consecutive doubles with two different clubs.
==Career statistics==
<ref>[http://www.level-k.com/player/A_Nikopolidis.htm Antonis NIKOPOLIDIS(ƒAƒ“ƒgƒjƒX EƒjƒRƒ|ƒŠƒfƒBƒX) @ LEVEL-K<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


At his new team, Nikopolidis also earned a reputation for making game-winning saves in the most important games. Displaying his [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]]-saving abilities, Nikopolidis saved three penalty kicks against [[A.S. Roma|Roma]], [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]], and [[Rosenborg BK]], making him undefeated from the penalty spot in UEFA Champions League football in the Olympiacos shirt. In the [[2007–08 in Greek football|2007–08 season]], he also equaled the Greek league record for the most penalty kicks saved in one season, which included saves against [[PAOK F.C.|PAOK]] and former club Panathinaikos. Nikopolidis announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2009–10 season.
''Statistics correct as of 20 March 2011''

{{Football player statistics 1|YY}}
However, he took back his decision to stop his career after [[Sokratis Kokkalis]]'s insistence. The veteran goalkeeper stated that he would delay his retirement for one more year, to retire as champion. He signed an extension on 16 June that would keep him at Olympiacos for the 2010–11 season.
{{Football player statistics 2|GRE|YY}}

He also took part in the international match "8th Match Against Poverty", on 14 December 2010, in [[Karaiskakis Stadium]] in Greece, as the UNDP team's goalkeeper.

In January 2011, IFFHS released a list with the best goalkeepers of the first decade, and Nikopolidis was in.<ref>[http://www.iffhs.de/?388d85ff8b00388f05e91a55285fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb88602 IFFHS]. Iffhs.de. Retrieved on 19 December 2011.</ref> He was also listed as one of the best goalkeepers of the years 1987 to 2011.<ref>[http://www.iffhs.de/?388d85ff8b00388f05f4cbc0385fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb88419 IFFHS]. Iffhs.de. Retrieved on 19 December 2011.</ref>

On 20 March 2011, Olympiacos won the championship in a 6–0 win against rivals [[AEK Athens F.C.]], in Karaiskakis Stadium.

He made his final appearance on 17 April 2011 in a home 6–0 victory against [[Larissa F.C.]] in Karaiskakis Stadium. As a final curtain call, he was replaced by [[Balázs Megyeri]] in the last minutes, so he could wave goodbye to the Olympiacos fans.

As the Olympiacos captain, he was the player to accept the championship trophy, after the match.

==International career==
Nikopolidis made his debut for the [[Greece national football team]] on 18 August 1999 against [[El Salvador national football team|El Salvador]].

He played in the qualifying rounds of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2002 FIFA World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]] where he excelled as Greece qualified for the finals. Nikopolidis was one of the cornerstones of the Greek win in Portugal, where he kept three clean sheets in the knockout stages. He was also voted goalkeeper of the Euro 2004 All Star team.

On 15 June 2008, Nikopolidis announced his retirement from international football after [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]], claiming that he had made this decision before the tournament started, and also stating that it is about time for a major change in the Greece national team.<ref>[http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=718119.html Greece stalwarts hand in their notice] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217154249/http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind%3D1/newsid%3D718119.html |date=17 February 2009 }}</ref>

==Managerial career==
After retirement, Nikopolidis became the assistant manager of [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] in 2012.

He was promoted to manager in January 2013 on an interim basis following the dismissal of [[Leonardo Jardim]].<ref>[http://www.olympiacos.org/en/article/19419/olympiacos-fc-statement Olympiacos F.C. Statement]</ref> After the arrival of [[Míchel (footballer, born 1963)|Míchel]], he remained in the team as his assistant.

After the end of [[2012–13 Superleague Greece|2012–13]] season, Nikopolidis left Olympiacos<ref>[http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/Superleague/olympiacos/telos-o-nikopolidhs.2263835.html Announcement (Greek)]</ref> in order to start his career as a head coach.

On 1 October 2015, he was named as manager of the [[Greece national under-21 football team]].

==Style of play==
Despite not being particularly tall or agile, his excellent positional sense made him an effective shot-stopper and his ability to read and understand the game helped him rush quickly off his line in order to face one on one situations or act as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)#Sweeper-keeper|sweeper-keeper]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2202983.html |title=Saving grace: Europe's favourite goalkeepers |publisher=UEFA.com |date=30 January 2015 |access-date=14 March 2020 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.level-k.com/player/A_Nikopolidis.htm |title=Antonis NIKOPOLIDIS(ƒAƒ“ƒgƒjƒX EƒjƒRƒ{{!}}ƒŠƒfƒBƒX) @ LEVEL-K<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=19 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714204021/http://www.level-k.com/player/A_Nikopolidis.htm |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
|1987–88||rowspan="2"|[[Anagennisi Arta F.C.|Anagennisi Arta]]||rowspan="2"|[[Football League 2 (Greece)|Football League 2]]||16||0||||||||||||||||
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|1988–89||33||0||||||||||||||||
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Anagennisi Arta F.C.|Anagennisi Arta]]
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1989-90|1989–90]]||rowspan="15"|[[Panathinaikos FC|Panathinaikos]]||rowspan="15"|[[Super League Greece|Super League]]||5||0||||||||||||||||
|1987–88
|rowspan="2"|[[Football League 2 (Greece)|Football League 2]]
||16||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1990-91|1990–91]]||0||0||||||||||||||||
|1988–89||33||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|rowspan="15"|[[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1991-92|1991–92]]||0||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1989-90|1989–90]]
|rowspan="15"|[[Alpha Ethniki]]
||5||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1992-93|1992–93]]||0||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1990-91|1990–91]]
||0||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1993-94|1993–94]]||0||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1991-92|1991–92]]
||0||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1994-95|1994–95]]||5||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1992-93|1992–93]]
||0||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1995-96|1995–96]]||3||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1993-94|1993–94]]
||0||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1996-97|1996–97]]||7||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1994-95|1994–95]]
||5||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1997-98|1997–98]]||25||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1995-96|1995–96]]
||3||0||||||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1998-99|1998–99]]||19||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1996-97|1996–97]]
||7||0||1||0||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1999-2000|1999-00]]||28||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1997-98|1997–98]]
||25||0||2||0||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2000-01|2000–01]]||25||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1998-99|1998–99]]
||19||0||1||0||||||||
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2001-02|2001–02]]||26||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 1999-2000|1999–00]]
||28||0||2||0||6||0||36||0
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2002-03|2002–03]]||28||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2000–01|2000–01]]
||25||0||2||0||9||0||34||0
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2003-04|2003–04]]||18||0||||||||||||||||
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2001–02|2001–02]]
||26||0||2||0||16||0||44||0
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2002–03|2002–03]]
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2004-05|2004–05]]||rowspan="7"|[[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]]||rowspan="7"|[[Super League Greece|Super League]]||29||0||6||0||||||10||0||45||0
||28||0||1||0||10||0||39||0
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2005-06|2005–06]]||29||0||7||0||||||5||0||41||0
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2003–04|2003–04]]
||18||0||1||0||5||0||24||0
|-
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]]
|[[Super League Greece 2006-07|2006–07]]||28||0||2||0||||||6||0||36||0
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2004–05|2004–05]]
|rowspan="2"|Alpha Ethniki
||29||0||6||0||10||0||45||0
|-
|-
|[[Alpha Ethniki 2005–06|2005–06]]
|[[Super League Greece 2007-08|2007–08]]||28||0||3||0||||||8||0||39||0
||29||0||7||0||5||0||41||0
|-
|-
|[[Super League Greece 2008-09|2008–09]]||28||0||7||2||||||6||0||41||2
|[[Super League Greece 2006–07|2006–07]]
|rowspan="5"|[[Super League Greece|Super League]]
||28||0||2||0||6||0||36||0
|-
|-
|[[Super League Greece 2009-10|2009–10]]||32||0||0||0||||||12||0||44||0
|[[Super League Greece 2007–08|2007–08]]
||28||0||3||0||8||0||39||0
|-
|-
|[[Super League Greece 2008–09|2008–09]]
|[[2010–11 Superleague Greece|2010–11]]||6||0||3||0||||||3||0||12||0
||28||0||7||0||10||0||45||0
|-
|-
|[[Super League Greece 2009–10|2009–10]]
{{Football player statistics 3|1|GRE}}414||0||||||||||||||||
{{Football player statistics 5}}414||0||||||||||||||||
||32||0||0||0||12||0||44||0
|-
{{Football player statistics end}}
|[[2010–11 Superleague Greece|2010–11]]
||6||0||3||0||3||0||12||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!418!!0!!40!!0!!100!!0!!558!!0
|}


== Honours ==
===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
'''[[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]'''
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/nikopolidis-intl.html|title=Antonis Nikopolidis - International Appearances|website=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref>
*[[Greek Super League|Greek Championship]]: 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2004
|-
*[[Greek football Cup|Greek Cup]]: 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2004
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
*[[Greek Super Cup]]: 1993, 1994
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[Greece national football team|Greece]]
|1999||5||0
|-
|2000||7||0
|-
|2001||5||0
|-
|2002||10||0
|-
|2003||11||0
|-
|2004||16||0
|-
|2005||13||0
|-
|2006||9||0
|-
|2007||7||0
|-
|2008||7||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!90!!0
|}


===Managerial statistics===
'''[[Olympiacos F.C.]]'''
{{Updated|match played 6 June 2019.}}
*[[Greek Super League|Greek Championship]]: 2005 , 2006 , 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
*[[Greek football Cup|Greek Cup]]: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
*[[Greek Super Cup]]: 2007


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
'''[[Greece national football team|Greece]]'''
|-
*[[UEFA European Football Championship|European Championship]]: [[2004 UEFA European Football Championship|2004]]
!rowspan="2"| Team
!rowspan="2"| From
!rowspan="2"| To
!colspan="9"| Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|M|Matches managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
!{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] (caretaker)
| 19 January 2013
| 4 February 2013
{{WDL|4|3|0|1}}
|-
| Olympiacos (caretaker)
| 6 January 2015
| 8 January 2015
{{WDL|1|1|0|0}}
|-
| [[Greece national under-21 football team|Greece U21]]
| 1 October 2015
| 6 June 2019
{{WDL|31|14|5|12}}
| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/greece/greece-under-21/4363/|title=GREECE UNDER 21 |access-date=21 May 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Proodeftiki F.C.|Proodeftiki]]
| 6 December 2022
| 9 March 2023
{{WDL|6|2|1|3}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|42|20|6|16}}
!—
|}


==Honours==
'''Individual'''
*[[Greek Footballer of the Year#Best young player|Greek Best Goalkeeper]]: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009


===Player===
'''[[Panathinaikos FC|Panathinaikos]]'''
'''Panathinaikos'''
*[[Greek Cup]]: Runners up 1998–99
*[[Super League Greece]]: [[1989–90 Alpha Ethniki|1989–90]], [[1990–91 Alpha Ethniki|1990–91]], [[1994–95 Alpha Ethniki|1994–95]], [[1995–96 Alpha Ethniki|1995–96]], [[2003–04 Alpha Ethniki|2003–04]]
*[[Greek Football Cup|Greek Cup]]: [[1990–91 Greek Football Cup|1990–91]], [[1992–93 Greek Football Cup|1992–93]], [[1993–94 Greek Football Cup|1993–94]], [[1994–95 Greek Football Cup|1994–95]], [[2003–04 Greek Football Cup|2003–04]]
*[[Greek Super Cup]]: 1993, 1994
'''Olympiacos'''
*Super League Greece: [[2004–05 Alpha Ethniki|2004–05]], [[2005–06 Alpha Ethniki|2005–06]], [[2006–07 Super League Greece|2006–07]], [[2007–08 Super League Greece|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Super League Greece|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Super League Greece|2010–11]]
*Greek Cup: [[2004–05 Greek Football Cup|2004–05]], [[2005–06 Greek Football Cup|2005–06]], [[2007–08 Greek Football Cup|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Greek Football Cup|2008–09]]
*Greek Super Cup: 2007


'''[[Olympiacos F.C.]]'''
'''Greece'''
*[[Greek Super League|Greek Championship]]: Runners up 2009-10
*[[UEFA European Football Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004]]


'''Individual'''
'''[[Greece national football team|Greece]]'''
*[[Greek Footballer of the Year#Best young player|Greek Best Goalkeeper]] (8): 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09 (Record)
*[[2004 UEFA European Football Championship|European Championship 2004]]: UEFA Team of the Tournament Member
*[[UEFA European Championship awards#Team of the Tournament|UEFA European Football Championship Team of the Tournament Member]]: [[UEFA Euro 2004#Awards|2004]]


== References ==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Soccerway}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{Super League Greece Goalkeeper of the Year}}
{{UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament}}
}}
{{Navboxes colour
{{Navboxes colour
|title=Greece squads
|title=Greece squads
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{{Greece Squad 2005 Confederations Cup}}
{{Greece Squad 2005 Confederations Cup}}
{{Greece Squad 2008 Euro Cup}}}}
{{Greece Squad 2008 Euro Cup}}}}
{{Navboxes

|title= Managerial positions
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
|list1=
| NAME = Nikopolidis, Antonios
{{Olympiacos F.C. managers}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
{{Greece national under-21 football team managers}}
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
{{Proodeftiki F.C. managers}}
| DATE OF BIRTH = 14 January 1971
{{Panionios F.C. managers}}
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Arta]], [[Greece]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikopolidis, Antonios}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nikopolidis, Antonios}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Arta Prefecture]]
[[Category:Footballers from Arta, Greece]]
[[Category:Association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Greek footballers]]
[[Category:Anagennisi Arta F.C. players]]
[[Category:Greek men's footballers]]
[[Category:Olympiacos F.C. players]]
[[Category:Olympiacos F.C. players]]
[[Category:Panathinaikos footballers]]
[[Category:Panathinaikos F.C. players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:European champions for Greece]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:UEFA European Football Championship-winning players]]
[[Category:UEFA European Championship–winning players]]
[[Category:Greece international footballers]]
[[Category:Greece men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Superleague Greece players]]
[[Category:Super League Greece players]]
[[Category:Greek football managers]]

[[Category:Proodeftiki F.C. managers]]
[[ar:أنتونيوس نيكوبوليدس]]
[[Category:Panionios F.C. managers]]
[[ca:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[da:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[de:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[et:Antónios Nikopolídis]]
[[el:Αντώνης Νικοπολίδης]]
[[es:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[fr:Antónios Nikopolídis]]
[[hr:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[id:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[it:Antonis Nikopolidis]]
[[he:אנטוניוס ניקופולידס]]
[[lt:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[hu:Andónisz Nikopolídisz]]
[[mr:अँतोनियोस निकोपोलिडिस]]
[[nl:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[ja:アントニス・ニコポリディス]]
[[no:Antonis Nikopolidis]]
[[pl:Andonios Nikopolidis]]
[[pt:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[ru:Никополидис, Антониос]]
[[simple:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[sk:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[fi:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[sv:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[tr:Antonios Nikopolidis]]
[[uk:Антоніс Нікополідіс]]
[[zh:安托尼奥斯·尼科波利迪斯]]

Latest revision as of 16:23, 2 November 2024

Antonis Nikopolidis
Nikopolidis playing in a legends match in 2018
Personal information
Full name Antonios Nikopolidis
Date of birth (1971-01-14) 14 January 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth Arta, Greece
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Panionios (manager)
Youth career
1985–1989 Anagennisi Arta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1989 Anagennisi Arta 49 (0)
1989–2004 Panathinaikos 189 (0)
2004–2011 Olympiacos 180 (0)
Total 418 (0)
International career
1999–2008 Greece 90 (0)
Managerial career
2012–2013 Olympiacos (assistant)
2013 Olympiacos (caretaker)
2014–2015 Olympiacos (assistant)
2015–2019 Greece U21
2019–2020 Olympiacos U19
2022–2023 Proodeftiki
2024– Panionios
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Greece
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2004
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Antonis Nikopolidis (Greek: Αντώνης Νικοπολίδης; born 14 January 1971) is a Greek professional football manager and former player.

He is regarded among the best Greek goalkeepers of all time having been awarded the most goalkeeper caps in the Greece national team and playing an integral part in the UEFA Euro 2004 triumph.

Club career

[edit]

Anagennisi Arta

[edit]

Nikopolidis made his first steps at his local team of Anagennisi Arta, from which he was transferred to Panathinaikos in the summer of 1989.

Panathinaikos

[edit]

He made his debut during the 1990–91 season in a match against his future club, Olympiacos. In his early years as a Panathinaikos player, he was a back-up for Józef Wandzik. In 1995, he played five games as Panathinaikos won the championship and three as they retained it the following year. However, it wasn't until the 1997–98 season that he established himself as the first choice goalkeeper at the age of 26. In the 2002 Champions league campaign, he helped the club reach the quarter-finals. In the 2003–04 season, he lost his place to Konstantinos Chalkias when his contract negotiations broke down.

Panathinaikos offered him €400K per year[1] which, although a pay-rise, he thought was not in line with his contributions to the team over the past 15 years nor with his current market value. As he did not immediately accept the offer the management became suspicious and decided to relegate him to the bench for the rest of the 2003–04 season. The Greek sports media and Panathinaikos fans at first took his side in the conflict and criticised president Vardinogiannis.[2]

Just before UEFA Euro 2004, rumours were circulating that Nikopolidis had been approached by arch-rivals Olympiacos. It was discovered later that he had signed an agreement just before the tournament begun earning him €600K per year for three years. After that, the fans' disappointment in him was displayed during the celebrations following the team's 2003–04 season double when Nikopolidis, while raising the trophy, was booed by the majority of the crowd.

Olympiacos

[edit]
Nikopolidis with Olympiacos in 2008

Soon after being instrumental in UEFA Euro 2004 helping Greece to lift the trophy, Nikopolidis joined Olympiacos, making an immediate impact for his once rival team. Keeping a clean sheet in the first derby against his former club in the process, he went on to win two Doubles in a row, making him the only Greek player to win three consecutive doubles with two different clubs.

At his new team, Nikopolidis also earned a reputation for making game-winning saves in the most important games. Displaying his penalty-saving abilities, Nikopolidis saved three penalty kicks against Roma, Real Madrid, and Rosenborg BK, making him undefeated from the penalty spot in UEFA Champions League football in the Olympiacos shirt. In the 2007–08 season, he also equaled the Greek league record for the most penalty kicks saved in one season, which included saves against PAOK and former club Panathinaikos. Nikopolidis announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2009–10 season.

However, he took back his decision to stop his career after Sokratis Kokkalis's insistence. The veteran goalkeeper stated that he would delay his retirement for one more year, to retire as champion. He signed an extension on 16 June that would keep him at Olympiacos for the 2010–11 season.

He also took part in the international match "8th Match Against Poverty", on 14 December 2010, in Karaiskakis Stadium in Greece, as the UNDP team's goalkeeper.

In January 2011, IFFHS released a list with the best goalkeepers of the first decade, and Nikopolidis was in.[3] He was also listed as one of the best goalkeepers of the years 1987 to 2011.[4]

On 20 March 2011, Olympiacos won the championship in a 6–0 win against rivals AEK Athens F.C., in Karaiskakis Stadium.

He made his final appearance on 17 April 2011 in a home 6–0 victory against Larissa F.C. in Karaiskakis Stadium. As a final curtain call, he was replaced by Balázs Megyeri in the last minutes, so he could wave goodbye to the Olympiacos fans.

As the Olympiacos captain, he was the player to accept the championship trophy, after the match.

International career

[edit]

Nikopolidis made his debut for the Greece national football team on 18 August 1999 against El Salvador.

He played in the qualifying rounds of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2004 where he excelled as Greece qualified for the finals. Nikopolidis was one of the cornerstones of the Greek win in Portugal, where he kept three clean sheets in the knockout stages. He was also voted goalkeeper of the Euro 2004 All Star team.

On 15 June 2008, Nikopolidis announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2008, claiming that he had made this decision before the tournament started, and also stating that it is about time for a major change in the Greece national team.[5]

Managerial career

[edit]

After retirement, Nikopolidis became the assistant manager of Olympiacos in 2012.

He was promoted to manager in January 2013 on an interim basis following the dismissal of Leonardo Jardim.[6] After the arrival of Míchel, he remained in the team as his assistant.

After the end of 2012–13 season, Nikopolidis left Olympiacos[7] in order to start his career as a head coach.

On 1 October 2015, he was named as manager of the Greece national under-21 football team.

Style of play

[edit]

Despite not being particularly tall or agile, his excellent positional sense made him an effective shot-stopper and his ability to read and understand the game helped him rush quickly off his line in order to face one on one situations or act as a sweeper-keeper.[8]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[9]
Club Season League Greek Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Anagennisi Arta 1987–88 Football League 2 16 0
1988–89 33 0
Panathinaikos 1989–90 Alpha Ethniki 5 0
1990–91 0 0
1991–92 0 0
1992–93 0 0
1993–94 0 0
1994–95 5 0
1995–96 3 0
1996–97 7 0 1 0
1997–98 25 0 2 0
1998–99 19 0 1 0
1999–00 28 0 2 0 6 0 36 0
2000–01 25 0 2 0 9 0 34 0
2001–02 26 0 2 0 16 0 44 0
2002–03 28 0 1 0 10 0 39 0
2003–04 18 0 1 0 5 0 24 0
Olympiacos 2004–05 Alpha Ethniki 29 0 6 0 10 0 45 0
2005–06 29 0 7 0 5 0 41 0
2006–07 Super League 28 0 2 0 6 0 36 0
2007–08 28 0 3 0 8 0 39 0
2008–09 28 0 7 0 10 0 45 0
2009–10 32 0 0 0 12 0 44 0
2010–11 6 0 3 0 3 0 12 0
Career total 418 0 40 0 100 0 558 0

International

[edit]
Appearances and goals by national team and year[10]
National team Year Apps Goals
Greece 1999 5 0
2000 7 0
2001 5 0
2002 10 0
2003 11 0
2004 16 0
2005 13 0
2006 9 0
2007 7 0
2008 7 0
Total 90 0

Managerial statistics

[edit]
As of match played 6 June 2019.
Team From To Record
M W D L Win % Ref.
Olympiacos (caretaker) 19 January 2013 4 February 2013 4 3 0 1 075.00
Olympiacos (caretaker) 6 January 2015 8 January 2015 1 1 0 0 100.00
Greece U21 1 October 2015 6 June 2019 31 14 5 12 045.16 [11]
Proodeftiki 6 December 2022 9 March 2023 6 2 1 3 033.33
Total 42 20 6 16 047.62 —

Honours

[edit]

Player

[edit]

Panathinaikos

Olympiacos

Greece

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ôï ÂÇÌÁ onLine – ÁÈËÇÔÉÓÌÏÓ[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ kathimerini.gr | Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ IFFHS. Iffhs.de. Retrieved on 19 December 2011.
  4. ^ IFFHS. Iffhs.de. Retrieved on 19 December 2011.
  5. ^ Greece stalwarts hand in their notice Archived 17 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Olympiacos F.C. Statement
  7. ^ Announcement (Greek)
  8. ^ "Saving grace: Europe's favourite goalkeepers". UEFA.com. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Antonis NIKOPOLIDIS(ƒAƒ"ƒgƒjƒX EƒjƒRƒ|ƒŠƒfƒBƒX) @ LEVEL-K". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2008.
  10. ^ "Antonis Nikopolidis - International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  11. ^ "GREECE UNDER 21". Retrieved 21 May 2017.
[edit]
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