Antonios Nikopolidis
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antonios Nikopolidis | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Olympiacos | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 March 2008 (UTC) | |||
Antonios Nikopolidis (Greek: Αντώνης Νικοπολίδης, born 14 October 1971 in Arta) is a Greek football player, a goalkeeper for Olympiacos and the Greek national football team. He's regarded as one of the best Greek goalkeepers of all time having been the one with the most caps in national team and being an integral part in the Euro 2004 triumph.
The first years and the move to Panathinaikos
His made his first steps at his local team ,Anagennisi Artas, from which he was transferred to Panathinaikos in the summer of 1989, where he waited was a back-up for Józef Wandzik. He made his debut during 1990/1991 season in a match against his current club, Olympiacos. In 1995 he played five games as Panathinaikos won the championship in 1994/95 and three as they retained it the following year gradually becaming a regular. Since then he has gained a reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the Greek league.
From Panathinaikos to Olympiakos
In 2002 he helped the club reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals but in 2003/04 he lost his place to Konstantinos Chalkias when his contract negotiations broke down.
Panathinaikos offered him €400,000 per annum[1] which although was a subsequent pay-rise, he thought that it weren't in line with his contributions to the team the past 15 years and nevertheless weren't in line with his current market value.As he did not immediately accept the offer the management found this behavior somewhat suspicious and decided to relegate him to the bench for the rest of the 2003-04 season.Greek sports media and - Panathinaikos fans as well at first - took his side in the conflict and criticized president Vardinogiannis for what they saw as a unethical short of blackmail.[2]
Just before the Euro 2004 rumors were circulating that Nikopolidis was approached by arch-rivals Olympiacos.It was uncovered later that he signed a prenap agreement just before the tournament begun earning him €600,000 per year for 3 years.After that the disappointment of the fans towards him circulated at the festivities following the 2003-04 season double that the team won, when Nikopolidis while raising the trophy was booed by the majority of the crowd.
Soon after putting on an incredible performance to become European champions with Greece, Nikopoldis joined Olympiacos in one of Olympiacos' busiest transfer seasons ever. Along with the likes of Rivaldo and Gabriel Schurrer, Nikopolidis made an immediate impact for his once-rival team. Keeping a clean sheet in the first derby against his former club, Nikopolidis went on to win 2 doubles in a row for Olympiacos, making him the only Greek player to win 3 consecutive doubles with 2 different clubs. At Olympiacos, Nikopolidis also earned a great reputation for making game winning saves in the most important games. Producing top quality performances to keep clean sheets like those in a 3-0 victory against AEK Athens, the Piraeus fans also adored his penalty saving abilities. Despite facing 3 penalty kicks against AS Roma, Real Madrid, and Rosenborg BK, Nikopolidis was undefeated for Olympiacos from the penalty spot in UEFA Champions League football. In the 2007-08 season Nikopolids also tied the Greek League record for most penalty kicks saved in one season, which included blocked shots against PAOK FC and former club Panthinaikos.
Nikopolidis performed admirably during his 4 year stint with Olympiakos and the board of the team decided in January 2008 to re-extend his contract for one more season (after having already extended it for one year before 2007-8 season)when he will be 39 of age.
Greek national team
He made his debut for the Greece national football team on August 18, 1999 against El Salvador. Two years after making his debut, Nikopolidis had become the undisputed choice in Greece's goal.
He played in qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and excelled as Greece qualified for UEFA EURO 2004™, keeping six clean sheets and not letting in a goal in the three knockout games as he claimed a winners' medal and a place in the All-Star Squad, as he was voted the goalkeeper of the Euro 2004 All Star team. In UEFA Euro 2004 he played in every game and conceded 3 goals. Nikopolidis was one of the cornerstones of the Greek triumph in Portugal. However, Greece missed out on the 2006 World Cup finals. He became team captain after the retirement of Theodoros Zagorakis but lost his armband to Angelos Basinas after his short relegation to the bench following a rare but nevertheless catastrophic performance in the 1-4 defeat to Turkey in March 2007.He has featured in a World XI game in 2002, a rare honour for a Greek player.Nikopolidis is first among all goalkeepers in the history of the National team with the most caps (85 as of March 2008).
Honours
- Greek Championship: 2004
- Greek Cup: 2004
- Greek Championship: 2005 , 2006 , 2007, 2008
- Greek Cup: 2005 , 2006
- Greek Super Cup: 2007
Individual
- European Championship 2004: UEFA Player of the tournament
- European Championship 2004: UEFA Team of the Tournament Member