Nikos Spiropoulos
Encyclopedia
Nikolaos "Nikos" Spyropoulos (Greek
: Νίκος Σπυρόπουλος) (born 10 October 1983) is a Greek
professional football (soccer)
player, currently playing for Panathinaikos FC
in the Super League Greece
.
He began his career with PAS Giannina
in 2001 and after 3 seasons he caught the eye of Panionios. He was then signed to transfer to Panathinaikos, along with his teammates, Alexandros Tziolis
and Evangelos Mantzios
, but tested positive for an elevated T/E ratio
and was initially suspended for two years. This was later attributed to natural causes, but his transfer was cancelled nevertheless. He returned to action one year later. He played for 3,5 years for Panionios with great success. His talent was initially ignored by Otto Rehhagel
, but in 2007 the elector capped him, although he has not yet been in a starting lineup for the National team. Spyropoulos is left-footed and is distinguished by a combination of speed, strength, agility and endurance.
On 17 November 2007 he made his National Team debut in the 5–0 Euro 2008 qualifyer defeat of Malta
coming on for Vasilis Torosidis
in the 46th minute.
On January 2008 he moved to Panathinaikos for 2 million euros.
After some impressive displays during the second half of 07–08 season, Spyropoulos has started the 08–09 season as the main left back for Panathinaikos FC
. Henk Ten Cate
, the current manager has praised his ability by asking a "Spyropoulos for the right side" too, during the pre-season. Spyropoulos main assets are his speed, stamina and the ability to go forward whenever possible. Due to a clause he is not able to play against his previous team Panionios for two years after his transfer to Panathinaikos FC
.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Νίκος Σπυρόπουλος) (born 10 October 1983) is a Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
professional football (soccer)
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, currently playing 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 the Super League Greece
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...
.
He began his career with PAS Giannina
PAS Giannina
PAS Giannina , the Panepirotic Athletic Association Giannina, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Ioannina, the capital of Greece’s Epirus region.Following the 2010–11 season, PAS was promoted to Greece’s Super League division...
in 2001 and after 3 seasons he caught the eye of Panionios. He was then signed to transfer to Panathinaikos, along with his teammates, Alexandros Tziolis
Alexandros Tziolis
Alexandros Tziolis is a Greek international footballer who plays for Racing de Santander.-Early club career:...
and Evangelos Mantzios
Evangelos Mantzios
Vangelis Mantzios is a Greek international football player currently playing as a striker for OFI Crete in Greek Super League.- Club career :Mantzios and was signed by Panionios from Kallithea in the summer of 2001...
, but tested positive for an elevated T/E ratio
Epitestosterone
Epitestosterone is a natural steroid, an inactive epimer of the hormone testosterone. Structurally, it differs from testosterone only in the configuration at the OH-bearing carbon, C17...
and was initially suspended for two years. This was later attributed to natural causes, but his transfer was cancelled nevertheless. He returned to action one year later. He played for 3,5 years for Panionios with great success. His talent was initially ignored by Otto Rehhagel
Otto 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....
, but in 2007 the elector capped him, although he has not yet been in a starting lineup for the National team. Spyropoulos is left-footed and is distinguished by a combination of speed, strength, agility and endurance.
On 17 November 2007 he made his National Team debut in the 5–0 Euro 2008 qualifyer defeat of Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
coming on for Vasilis Torosidis
Vasilis Torosidis
Vasilios Torosidis is a Greek international footballer. He currently plays for the Greek Super League club Olympiacos F.C. and the Greek national football team.-Skoda Xanthi:...
in the 46th minute.
On January 2008 he moved to Panathinaikos for 2 million euros.
After some impressive displays during the second half of 07–08 season, Spyropoulos has started the 08–09 season as the main left back 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...
. 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...
, the current manager has praised his ability by asking a "Spyropoulos for the right side" too, during the pre-season. Spyropoulos main assets are his speed, stamina and the ability to go forward whenever possible. Due to a clause he is not able to play against his previous team Panionios for two years after 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...
.
Panathinaikos
- 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...
: 2009–10 - Greek Football CupGreek football CupThe Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
: 2010