Michael Valkanis
Encyclopedia
Michael Valkanis is a former Australian football (soccer)
player who played as a Central Defender
.
with Iraklis, most notably with Larissa where he played for five seasons and won 102 caps, and Agios Nikolaos. He played 110 games in the now-defunct National Soccer League
scoring 4 goals with South Melbourne
, Adelaide City
and Adelaide United
.
In mid-2007 Valkanis was named captain of his club side, Adelaide United, replacing Angelo Costanzo
(who had been appointed as interim captain after the resignation and departure of Ross Aloisi
).
Valkanis announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2008-09 A-League season in December 2008. The former captain and 100 game veteran was given a testimonial match against on 9 January 2009 where he replaced Daniel Mullen
in the second half and saw Adelaide though to a 2-0 win.
on the 16 August 2006.
descent, he attended De La Salle College.
1 - includes A-League
final series statistics
2 - includes FIFA Club World Cup
statistics; AFC Champions League
statistics are included in season commencing after group stages (i.e. 2008 ACL in 2008-09 A-League season etc.)
Personal Honours:
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 who played as a Central Defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Club career
He has played in the Greek LeagueSuper 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...
with Iraklis, most notably with Larissa where he played for five seasons and won 102 caps, and Agios Nikolaos. He played 110 games in the now-defunct National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
scoring 4 goals with South Melbourne
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...
, Adelaide City
Adelaide City
Adelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League...
and Adelaide United
Adelaide United FC
Adelaide United Football Club is a professional football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It currently participates in the A-League as the sole team from the state of South Australia. Adelaide is one of the most successful clubs in the A-League. The club's home ground is...
.
In mid-2007 Valkanis was named captain of his club side, Adelaide United, replacing Angelo Costanzo
Angelo Costanzo
Angelo Costanzo is an Australian football player.He is instantly recognizable by his trademark long hair, which has earned him the nickname "The Divine Ponytail" among Adelaide and Newcastle fans.-Club career:In 1994 at 18 years of age he won the SA player of the year award at Salisbury United,...
(who had been appointed as interim captain after the resignation and departure of Ross Aloisi
Ross Aloisi
Ross Aloisi is a former Australian football player who was known for being the captain of Adelaide United in the Hyundai A-League - a team he guided to a minor premiership, a pre-season cup and earning entry into 2 Asian Champions League campaigns...
).
Valkanis announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2008-09 A-League season in December 2008. The former captain and 100 game veteran was given a testimonial match against on 9 January 2009 where he replaced Daniel Mullen
Daniel Mullen
Daniel John Mullen is an Australian football Defender who currently plays for in the Hyundai A-League. His natural position is at centre back but he plays regularly at right back at club level....
in the second half and saw Adelaide though to a 2-0 win.
International career
Valkanis' international debut was for the Socceroos in an Asian Cup qualifier versus Kuwait at Aussie StadiumAussie Stadium
Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988, to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league, rugby union and football for major matches and domestic competition...
on the 16 August 2006.
Personal life
Valkanis is of GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
descent, he attended De La Salle College.
Career statistics
(Correct as of 16 January 2009)| Club | Season | League1 | Cup | International2 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Adelaide United | 2005–06 A-League 2005-06 The 2005-06 season was the first season of the A-League, a domestic club competition for football in Australia. After over 12 months without a national professional club competition, the first match in the A-League was played on 26 August 2005... |
24 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 5 |
| 2006–07 A-League 2006-07 The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup... |
23 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 A-League 2007-08 The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and... |
3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 A-League 2008-09 The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion... |
3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 74 | 5 | |||||||
1 - includes A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
final series statistics
2 - includes FIFA Club World Cup
FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup is a football competition between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations.The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in January 2000...
statistics; AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
statistics are included in season commencing after group stages (i.e. 2008 ACL in 2008-09 A-League season etc.)
Honours
With Adelaide United: A-League Premiership: 2005-2006A-League 2005-06
The 2005-06 season was the first season of the A-League, a domestic club competition for football in Australia. After over 12 months without a national professional club competition, the first match in the A-League was played on 26 August 2005...
Personal Honours:
- Adelaide United Player's Player of the Year: 2005-2006