Efstathios Tavlaridis
Encyclopedia
Efstathios Tavlaridis commonly known as Stathis Tavlaridis, is a Greek
football defender
currently playing for Greek
Super League club Larissa F.C. Tavlaridis has earned the nickname "Taureau" in France
which means "The Bull" due to his aggressive style of play.
at the age of 21 for £1m. He never fully broke into the first team, unable to displace Sol Campbell
and Kolo Touré
, and spent a period on loan to Portsmouth
. He made eight appearances for Arsenal, all but one of them in the League Cup
. He made his Premier league debut in 2002–03 season against Southampton, where Arsenal rested many of their players for the upcoming FA Cup Final, also against Southampton. In early 2004 he was loaned to Lille OSC
and the deal was made permanent that summer.
to Lille OSC
on a four year contract. He had a successful spell with the club which meant that during the summer of 2007, he was creating a lot of interest from other clubs.
clubs, notably Bordeaux
, Marseille
, and Monaco
, Tavlaridis announced that he was signing with AS Saint-Étienne
for €2.5m after agreeing to a three-year deal with the club. Tavlaridis was handed the number 4 shirt and quickly inserted into the first eleven forming partnerships with Moustapha Bayal Sall
. Tavlaridis made his debut against his former club Lille
and was applauded by the Lille home fans.
Tavlaridis got off to a great start for the 2007–08 season scoring his first goal with Saint-Étienne in a 2–1 victory over Sochaux
the following week. Tavlaridis was named as the club's permanent captain by manager Alain Perrin following the first league match of the 2009–10 Ligue 1
season, after having served as vice-captain the previous season. Tavlaridis has played 69 Ligue 1 appearances and has scored twice. Tavlaridis was removed as captain shortly due to his long-term injury playing only six matches.
as well as Akis Zikos
, Ieroklis Stoltidis
, Grigoris Georgatos, Nikos Lyberopoulos and Vassilis Tsartas. Tavlaridis has not featured in the squad since 2006.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
currently playing for Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Super League club Larissa F.C. Tavlaridis has earned the nickname "Taureau" in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
which means "The Bull" due to his aggressive style of play.
Career
He started his career at Iraklis Thessaloniki and in 2001 was transferred to ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at the age of 21 for £1m. He never fully broke into the first team, unable to displace Sol Campbell
Sol Campbell
Sulzeer Jeremiah "Sol" Campbell is an English footballer who is currently a free agent. A central defender, Campbell has played for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Notts County and Newcastle United, as well as the English national team.Born in East London to Jamaican parents, Campbell's...
and Kolo Touré
Kolo Touré
Kolo Habib Touré is an Ivorian footballer who plays for Manchester City and Ivory Coast. Touré is a central defender. He is the elder brother of Manchester City team-mate Yaya Touré and Makasa's Ibrahim Touré.-Arsenal:...
, and spent a period on loan to Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. He made eight appearances for Arsenal, all but one of them in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. He made his Premier league debut in 2002–03 season against Southampton, where Arsenal rested many of their players for the upcoming FA Cup Final, also against Southampton. In early 2004 he was loaned to Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
and the deal was made permanent that summer.
Lille OSC
On April 29 he was transferred from ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
to Lille OSC
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
on a four year contract. He had a successful spell with the club which meant that during the summer of 2007, he was creating a lot of interest from other clubs.
Saint-Étienne
Despite being linked with a hosts of Ligue 1Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
clubs, notably Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
, Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
, and Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
, Tavlaridis announced that he was signing with AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
for €2.5m after agreeing to a three-year deal with the club. Tavlaridis was handed the number 4 shirt and quickly inserted into the first eleven forming partnerships with Moustapha Bayal Sall
Moustapha Bayal Sall
Moustapha Bayal Sall is a Senegalese football midfielder who currently plays for AS Saint-Étienne. He joined the Ligue 1 club during the summer of 2006 from Senegalese club US Gorée following a brief spell with in IK Start in Norway.In March 2007 he signed a contract with IK Start...
. Tavlaridis made his debut against his former club Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
and was applauded by the Lille home fans.
Tavlaridis got off to a great start for the 2007–08 season scoring his first goal with Saint-Étienne in a 2–1 victory over Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
the following week. Tavlaridis was named as the club's permanent captain by manager Alain Perrin following the first league match of the 2009–10 Ligue 1
2009–10 Ligue 1
The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated...
season, after having served as vice-captain the previous season. Tavlaridis has played 69 Ligue 1 appearances and has scored twice. Tavlaridis was removed as captain shortly due to his long-term injury playing only six matches.
Larissa
On 30 April 2010 Larissa announced that an agreement had been reached with the Greek centre-back on a four-year deal and he joined the club for free when his contract with Saint-Etienne expired at the end of the season. He returned to Greece after a terrific career in England and in France during the past decade.International career
Tavlaridis has only managed to play twice for the Greek National Football Team having fallen out of favor with coach Otto RehhagelOtto Rehhagel
Otto Rehhagel is a German football coach and former football player. Along with Helmut Schön, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Udo Lattek and Hennes Weisweiler, he is considered one of the most successful German managers....
as well as Akis Zikos
Akis Zikos
Andreas Vassilis "Akis" Zikos is a retired Greek international football player who played as a defensive midfielder...
, Ieroklis Stoltidis
Ieroklis Stoltidis
Ieroklis Stoltidis , also known as "Iéro", is a retired Greek footballer, who played as a defensive midfielder. He's well known as a passionate, determined anchorman with tremendous mental and physical courage....
, Grigoris Georgatos, Nikos Lyberopoulos and Vassilis Tsartas. Tavlaridis has not featured in the squad since 2006.