Lampros Choutos
Encyclopedia
Lampros Choutos (born 7 December 1979) is a Greek
footballer who plays as a striker.
During his career, he played equal periods of time in his country and Italy
.
, Choutos started his career with Asteras Polygonou, being discovered by scouts of powerhouse Panathinaikos FC
. After only two years, he moved to Italy
to finish his football grooming with A.S. Roma
.
, as he netted 15 goals in 10 matches. In Olympiakos, under the direction of Italian coach Alberto Bigon
, he easily made his way into the first team, forming a productive offensive trio with Slovenia
's Zlatko Zahovič
and Brazil
ian Giovanni.
Although he suffered from an injured knee, Choutos managed to score decisive goals, making him one of the team's most popular players. He helped the Piraeus
won the 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 championships
before returning to Italy, with F.C. Internazionale Milano
.
Choutos signed a three-year contract with Inter in the 2004 summer, but could never settle there, being constantly loaned to other minor teams, in the country and abroad (Spain
's RCD Mallorca
, where he quickly fell out of favour with manager Héctor Cúper
). He made his competitive Inter debut in the cup
, against F.C. Messina Peloro
on November 9, 2006, replacing Mariano González
in the 78th minute; this happened more than two years after his arrival. He finally left the club at the end of 2006–07.
Choutos returned to his country in that summer, signing with Panionios FC, but was only eligible to start playing in the following January; he again began experiencing first-team football, and notably scored two of three at Athens Olympic Sports Complex
, helping defeat hosts AEK Athens and collecting the Man of the Match award. He finished his half season with 12 goals helping the team reach 6th position and participate in the second stage.
Choutos started his second year in scoring fashion, netting twice against OFK Beograd
in the 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup
(3–1 home win, 3–2 on aggregate); however, after a run-in with the club's assistant that supposedly turned physical, the player was forced to leave.
On 2 February 2009, Choutos signed a six-month contract with PAOK FC, appearing in eight scoreless matches. On 25 August, he returned to Italy once again, joining lowly A.S. Pescina Valle del Giovenco
for two years. His contract was cancelled in July 2010, after the club was excluded from the Italian football league system due to financial issues.
, going on to collect 10 caps in four years; he was overlooked for UEFA Euro 2004 and 2008.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
footballer who plays as a striker.
During his career, he played equal periods of time in his country and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Early years
Born in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Choutos started his career with Asteras Polygonou, being discovered by scouts of powerhouse 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...
. After only two years, he moved to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to finish his football grooming with A.S. Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
.
Professionals
Choutos' first stop as a senior was back in his country, loaned by Roma to Olympiakos FC after stellar performances during the qualifying stages for the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2000, which spanned two years , had 47 entrants. Northern Ireland competed for the first time. For the first time a finals tournament with two groups of four teams was held, with one of those teams, Slovakia, having been chosen as the hosts.Italy U-21s won the...
, as he netted 15 goals in 10 matches. In Olympiakos, under the direction of Italian coach Alberto Bigon
Alberto Bigon
Alberto "Albertino" Bigon is an Italian football manager and former player.-Playing career:Bigon started his playing career for his native city team Padova. He made his Serie A debut with SPAL in 1967, but obtained most of his playing triumphs with AC Milan, where he played from 1971 to 1980...
, he easily made his way into the first team, forming a productive offensive trio with Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
's Zlatko Zahovič
Zlatko Zahovic
Zlatko Zahovič is a retired Slovenian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.After making a name for himself in Europe in Portugal, most notably with Porto and Benfica, he went on to have unassuming spells in Spain and Greece...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Giovanni.
Although he suffered from an injured knee, Choutos managed to score decisive goals, making him one of the team's most popular players. He helped the Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
won the 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 championships
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
before returning to Italy, with F.C. Internazionale Milano
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
.
Choutos signed a three-year contract with Inter in the 2004 summer, but could never settle there, being constantly loaned to other minor teams, in the country and abroad (Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
, where he quickly fell out of favour with manager Héctor Cúper
Héctor Cúper
Héctor Raúl Cúper is an Argentinean former football defender and a current manager.-Coach:...
). He made his competitive Inter debut in the cup
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
, against F.C. Messina Peloro
F.C. Messina Peloro
Associazione Calcio Rinascita Messina is an Italian football club based in Messina, Sicily. It currently plays in Serie D.- Brief history :The origins of the team go back to 1900 when Messina F.C was founded in the city. The club has spent most of its history in the lower Italian football leagues...
on November 9, 2006, replacing Mariano González
Mariano González
Mariano Nicolás González is an Argentine footballer who plays for Estudiantes de La Plata. He can operate as both an attacking midfielder or a winger.-Club career:...
in the 78th minute; this happened more than two years after his arrival. He finally left the club at the end of 2006–07.
Choutos returned to his country in that summer, signing with Panionios FC, but was only eligible to start playing in the following January; he again began experiencing first-team football, and notably scored two of three at Athens Olympic Sports Complex
Athens Olympic Sports Complex
The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens "Spiros Louis" or OACA , is a sport facilities complex located at Marousi, northeast Athens, Greece...
, helping defeat hosts AEK Athens and collecting the Man of the Match award. He finished his half season with 12 goals helping the team reach 6th position and participate in the second stage.
Choutos started his second year in scoring fashion, netting twice against OFK Beograd
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...
in the 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
(3–1 home win, 3–2 on aggregate); however, after a run-in with the club's assistant that supposedly turned physical, the player was forced to leave.
On 2 February 2009, Choutos signed a six-month contract with PAOK FC, appearing in eight scoreless matches. On 25 August, he returned to Italy once again, joining lowly A.S. Pescina Valle del Giovenco
A.S. Pescina Valle del Giovenco
A.S. Pescina Valle del Giovenco, commonly referred to as simply Valle del Giovenco, was an Italian association football club based in Pescina, Abruzzo, that was founded in 2005...
for two years. His contract was cancelled in July 2010, after the club was excluded from the Italian football league system due to financial issues.
International career
Courtesy of his solid U21 performances, Choutos soon made his debut for the Greek full squadGreece 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...
, going on to collect 10 caps in four years; he was overlooked for UEFA Euro 2004 and 2008.
Honours
- Olympiakos:
- Greek League: 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03
- InterF.C. Internazionale MilanoFootball Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
:- Italian LeagueSerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
: 2006–07 - Italian CupCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
: 2004–05
- Italian League