Loukas Vyntra
Encyclopedia
Loukas Vyntra (born 5 February 1981 in Město Albrechtice
, Czechoslovakia
) is a Czech-Greek
(Czech father, Greek mother) football
player. He currently plays for Panathinaikos
.
started his career in 1999 in Paniliakos
, but moved to Pontioi Verias in 2000. However, in 2001 Paniliakos brought him back again, and he was a regular in their side until his transfer to Panathinaikos FC
. In the summer of 2007, Hertha BSC Berlin
approached the player but Panathinaikos did not wish to sell him unless they found adequate cover.
Although he is a hard working player good in tackling and marking and he is picked by all his managers for the starting XI, his lack of stability made him the target of complaints and he has received the most critisicm for Panathinaikos
' recent inability to win titles. However his new manager, Henk ten Cate
, has been using Vyntra mainly as a central defender for the 2008–2009 season and he offered him a lot of support helping him to build his confidence. Although the heart of the defence remained a problem for the team, Vyntra gained more respect and support from the fans. During the 2009–2010 season he was one of the key players, leading the team to win both domestic titles.
Vyntra has been used mainly as a right back for Panathinaikos
and more recently he has moved to the centre of the defence. He also played some games as a left back in 2008. Besides his versatility, he is a quite fast defender, good in close marking and tackling.
After Panathinaikos' head coach Henk ten Cate
sacked, gave an interview in a Greek sports web site and he asked "If you get hired by a big european club which player from Panathinaikos FC
would you recommend to your new club?" and his answer was "Only one! Loukas Vyntra. He can play either as a right or left back, he can also play as a centre back, he is quick, he has good aerial abilities, with a good technique for a defender, he is good in tactics. What else can a manager ask from him? He has a tough mind because he plays many years under continuous, unfair criticism". Described by his critics as error-prone, Vyntra's greatest asset is his natural athleticism: he has consistently led his teammates in all fitness tests, he is indefatigable, and has never suffered a single injury.
He scored two memorable goals during the 2004/2005 Season, one against Arsenal
in the UEFA Champion's League and one against FC Sevilla in the UEFA Cup
. He scored 2 important goals in the Greek Superleague derby against rivals PAOK Thessaloniki on 8 February 2009. Two seasons later on 16 October 2010 he scored the winning goal against PAOK again, with a fantastic strike.
Mesto Albrechtice
Město Albrechtice is a town in the Czech Republic.According to the Austrian census of 1910 the town had 2,438 inhabitants, 2,345 of whom had permanent residence there. Census asked people for their native language, 2,345 were German-speaking. Jews were not allowed to declare Yiddish, most of them...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
) is a Czech-Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
(Czech father, Greek mother) football
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...
player. He currently plays for Panathinaikos
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...
.
Career
The 184 cm tall defenderDefender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
started his career in 1999 in Paniliakos
Paniliakos
Paniliakos was founded in 1958 from the union of four teams from the city of Pyrgos...
, but moved to Pontioi Verias in 2000. However, in 2001 Paniliakos brought him back again, and he was a regular in their side until his transfer to 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 the summer of 2007, Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha Berliner Sport-Club von 1892, commonly known as Hertha BSC or Hertha Berlin, is a German association football club based in Berlin. A founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900, the club has a long history as Berlin's best-supported side...
approached the player but Panathinaikos did not wish to sell him unless they found adequate cover.
Although he is a hard working player good in tackling and marking and he is picked by all his managers for the starting XI, his lack of stability made him the target of complaints and he has received the most critisicm for Panathinaikos
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...
' recent inability to win titles. However his new manager, Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate is a Dutch football manager and a former professional player.In the 2005–06 season, he was the assistant of Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona that guided the team to a Champions League Trophy and La Liga title...
, has been using Vyntra mainly as a central defender for the 2008–2009 season and he offered him a lot of support helping him to build his confidence. Although the heart of the defence remained a problem for the team, Vyntra gained more respect and support from the fans. During the 2009–2010 season he was one of the key players, leading the team to win both domestic titles.
Vyntra has been used mainly as a right back for Panathinaikos
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...
and more recently he has moved to the centre of the defence. He also played some games as a left back in 2008. Besides his versatility, he is a quite fast defender, good in close marking and tackling.
After Panathinaikos' head coach Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate is a Dutch football manager and a former professional player.In the 2005–06 season, he was the assistant of Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona that guided the team to a Champions League Trophy and La Liga title...
sacked, gave an interview in a Greek sports web site and he asked "If you get hired by a big european club which player from 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...
would you recommend to your new club?" and his answer was "Only one! Loukas Vyntra. He can play either as a right or left back, he can also play as a centre back, he is quick, he has good aerial abilities, with a good technique for a defender, he is good in tactics. What else can a manager ask from him? He has a tough mind because he plays many years under continuous, unfair criticism". Described by his critics as error-prone, Vyntra's greatest asset is his natural athleticism: he has consistently led his teammates in all fitness tests, he is indefatigable, and has never suffered a single injury.
He scored two memorable goals during the 2004/2005 Season, one against Arsenal
Arsenal 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...
in the UEFA Champion's League and one against FC Sevilla in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. He scored 2 important goals in the Greek Superleague derby against rivals PAOK Thessaloniki on 8 February 2009. Two seasons later on 16 October 2010 he scored the winning goal against PAOK again, with a fantastic strike.
Panathinaikos
- (2) Super League GreeceSuper League GreeceThe 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...
: 2004, 2010 - (2) Greek Cup: 2004Greek Cup 2003-04The Vodafone Greek Cup 2003-04 was the 62nd staging of The Greek Football Cup, or Greek Cup for short.-First round:-Second round:-Third round:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:-Final:...
, 2010