Ioannis Samaras
Encyclopedia
Ioannis Samaras is an Australia
n-born Greek
former footballer
who played as a midfielder during the 1980s and 1990s.
Samaras was born in Melbourne
, Australia
, to Greek
parents. His father, Georgios, was a co-founder of South Melbourne FC
, an Australian soccer club with strong ties to the Greek community. He moved to Greece at the age of thirteen. His son, also named Georgios
, is a footballer and currently plays for Celtic
and the Greek national team
.
He began his football career in 1980 with Vyzas F.C.
, but before long he had attracted the attention of several bigger teams and he signed for OFI Crete
in the summer of 1984. He went on to play over 100 matches for Crete before he left for Panathinaikos FC
in January 1989. In 1991, Samaras returned to Crete, playing 103 games and retiring in 1996.
Samaras earned 16 caps for the Greek national team
between 1986 and 1990.
He was appointed on 26 July 2010 as the new Technical Manager for the Panathinaikos F.C. academies, replacing Nikos Kovis
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played as a midfielder during the 1980s and 1990s.
Samaras was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, to Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
parents. His father, Georgios, was a co-founder of South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
, an Australian soccer club with strong ties to the Greek community. He moved to Greece at the age of thirteen. His son, also named Georgios
Georgios Samaras
Georgios Samaras is a Greek footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Celtic and the Greek national football team. He is predominantly a left winger but can also play as a striker....
, is a footballer and currently plays for Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and the Greek national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
He began his football career in 1980 with Vyzas F.C.
Vyzas F.C.
Vyzas F.C. is a football club based in Megara, Greece. It was founded in 1928.-History:Vyzas Megaron was founded in 1928 by students and named after the ancient Megara hero Byzas. In 1960, the club was promoted to Greece's Beta Ethniki, where it stayed for seven years. Vyzas was later promoted to...
, but before long he had attracted the attention of several bigger teams and he signed for OFI Crete
OFI Crete
OFI , the Sportfriends Association Heraklion, is a Greek association football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Outside Greece, the club is generally known as OFI Crete F.C., however, the name Crete is not actually part of the club's official title.OFI is the club with most...
in the summer of 1984. He went on to play over 100 matches for Crete before he left for Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
in January 1989. In 1991, Samaras returned to Crete, playing 103 games and retiring in 1996.
Samaras earned 16 caps for the Greek national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
between 1986 and 1990.
He was appointed on 26 July 2010 as the new Technical Manager for the Panathinaikos F.C. academies, replacing Nikos Kovis
Nikos Kovis
Nikos Kovis , known as Niko Kovi in Turkey, is a Turkish-Greek football player and manager. He was a central defender. He was born in Istanbul....
.