Traianos Dellas
Encyclopedia
Traianos Dellas (born on 31 January 1976 in Thessaloniki
, Greece
) is a Greek
international footballer currently playing as a centre back for AEK Athens in the Greek Super League
. He is known for being the only player to have scored a silver goal in the first half of extra time in a competitive match, in the Euro 2004 semi-final against the Czech Republic
.
for two years, where he helped the Hellenic football club of Thessaloniki
to qualify for the Uefa Cup
. He played together with Fanis Katergiannakis
in 2004 when they won Euro 2004
with the Greek National Team
in Portugal.
.
in England. Dellas is best remembered by Sheffield United fans for a game against Tranmere Rovers in March 1999. With United 2–0 down, Dellas came on as a substitute and scored twice as they won 3–2. His only other Blades goal was an amazing 40 yard strike in a home game against Portsmouth.
, where he won the Greek Cup with the club of Athens, with big players like Demis Nikolaidis
and Vassilios Tsiartas, gain the second place in the Greek Superleague.
. However, Dellas was dropped from Perugia's first team after a disagreement over his contract and he did not make a single appearance in the last six months of the season, playing only eight matches overall.
outfit AS Roma and he joined the team on a free transfer in 2002.
After finally establishing himself as a starter following the move of coach Fabio Capello
to Juventus, Dellas's play was outstanding. He earned the peculiar honour of being one of only three players (including playmaker Francesco Totti
and striker Vincenzo Montella
) who were not consistently booed by the fans during training and games during Roma's disastrous 2004–05
season. After failing to renew his contract with the club, Dellas became a free agent. He would eventually miss nearly 8 months of football due to back and hernia injuries and thus, expected offers from the big clubs of Europe
failed to materialize.
, where he rejoined his former teammate and good friend Demis Nikolaidis
. He renewed his contract in June 2007 for a further two years and became team captain. Here Dellas played with big stars like Rivaldo
, Pantelis Kafes
and the new Greek talent Sokratis Papastathopoulos
. On 23 July 2008, Dellas and AEK agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent after failing to agree on a new contract.
football club Anorthosis Famagusta. Dellas helped the team in Champions League
in the season 2008–09, in the same group of Panathinaikos F.C. and Inter Milan of José Mourinho
.
that together they won Euro 2004 with Greece
. On 12 December 2010, Dellas scored his first goal in the Greek championship after two years absence, against AEL Larissa of Nikos Dabizas
and Stylianos Venetidis
that also they won Euro 2004 with Greece
. Along with Pantelis Kafes
, Nikos Georgeas and Nikos Liberopoulos, Dellas is the most respected AEK Athens player and rumors want him renewing his current contract until 2012. On 30 April 2011, Traianos Dellas won with AEK
his second Greek Cup.
in 2001 in a 2–2 draw with Croatia
. Dellas had an exceptional tournament at Euro 2004
, partnering Michalis Kapsis
in the centre of what became an almost unpenetratable Greek defence, leading to him being voted onto the tournament all-star squad. During the semi-finals, he scored the last silver goal in the last minute of first half of extra time against the Czech Republic
, allowing Greece to progress to the final. The coach of Greece
called him 'the Colossus of Rhodes
' in respect of his performances in the tournament and the moniker is now widely used in the press. After Euro 2004, Dellas continued to be the heart of the Greek defense, but missed nearly eight months in 2005 due to injury. His absence was seen as a major factor in Greece's failed 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Two years later, Dellas helped Greece qualify for Euro 2008 but could not find his form of 2004 as Greece exited the group stage
without any points and having scored just one goal. He was also part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign but was not called up after the victory over Israel
on 1 April, 2009. Subsequently, he was not included in the provisional squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
Gogo Mastrokosta on 11 September 2008. They have one daughter.
|-
! National team
! Season
! Apps
! Goals
|-
| rowspan=9|
| 2001
| 1
| 0
|-
| 2002
| 4
| 0
|-
| 2003
| 7
| 0
|-
| 2004
| 13
| 1
|-
| 2005
| 2
| 0
|-
| 2006
| 5
| 0
|-
| 2007
| 7
| 0
|-
| 2008
| 12
| 0
|-
| 2009
| 2
| 0
|-
! colspan=2| Total
! 53
! 1
Greece
Individual
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) is a 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....
international footballer currently playing as a centre back for AEK Athens in the Greek Super League
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 is known for being the only player to have scored a silver goal in the first half of extra time in a competitive match, in the Euro 2004 semi-final against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
.
Aris
Dellas got his start with Greek side ArisAris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
for two years, where he helped the Hellenic football club of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
to qualify for 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 played together with Fanis Katergiannakis
Fanis Katergiannakis
Theofanis "Fanis" Katergiannakis is a football player who plays as a goalkeeper.-Ethnikos Pylaias:...
in 2004 when they won Euro 2004
2004 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, better known as Euro 2004, was the 12th European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament for European national teams. It was hosted in Portugal, for the first time, between 12 June and 4 July 2004, following its selection by UEFA, in...
with 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...
in Portugal.
Panserraikos
In the summer 1995 Dellas moved on loan for one year to PanserraikosPanserraikos F.C.
Panserraikos F.C. , the All-Serran Football Club, is the football club of Serres in Macedonia, Greece. Panserraikos was formed in 1964 when two local clubs, Iraklis and Apollon, merged. Their current home ground is Serres Municipal Stadium, built in 1926...
.
Sheffield United
He then returned to Aris again before joining Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
in England. Dellas is best remembered by Sheffield United fans for a game against Tranmere Rovers in March 1999. With United 2–0 down, Dellas came on as a substitute and scored twice as they won 3–2. His only other Blades goal was an amazing 40 yard strike in a home game against Portsmouth.
AEK Athens
He returned to Greece with AEKAEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
, where he won the Greek Cup with the club of Athens, with big players like Demis Nikolaidis
Demis Nikolaidis
Themistoklis "Demis" Nikolaidis was the forty second president of AEK Athens F.C., and is considered one of the finest footballers Greece has ever produced. In his early childhood and teenage years he lived in the city of Alexandroupoli, in the north-east part of Greece...
and Vassilios Tsiartas, gain the second place in the Greek Superleague.
Perugia
After this great performance, Dellas signed for the Italian club, Perugia F.C.Perugia Calcio
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria, direct heir of the old Perugia Calcio and A.C. Perugia, excluded from Italian football because of financial troubles....
. However, Dellas was dropped from Perugia's first team after a disagreement over his contract and he did not make a single appearance in the last six months of the season, playing only eight matches overall.
Roma
After leaving the club Dellas caught the attention of Serie ASerie A
Serie 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...
outfit AS Roma and he joined the team on a free transfer in 2002.
After finally establishing himself as a starter following the move of coach Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello is an Italian football manager and former player. He is the manager of the England national football team.Capello has the distinction of winning the domestic league title with every club he has coached throughout his career...
to Juventus, Dellas's play was outstanding. He earned the peculiar honour of being one of only three players (including playmaker Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most...
and striker Vincenzo Montella
Vincenzo Montella
Vincenzo Montella is a retired Italian footballer. Currently he is the youngest head coach of Serie A, after being named at the helm of Sicilian outfit Catania on 9 June 2011....
) who were not consistently booed by the fans during training and games during Roma's disastrous 2004–05
Serie A 2004-05
In the 2004–05 season, the Serie A, the highest professional football league in Italy, was composed of 20 teams for the first time in several years....
season. After failing to renew his contract with the club, Dellas became a free agent. He would eventually miss nearly 8 months of football due to back and hernia injuries and thus, expected offers from the big clubs of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
failed to materialize.
Return to AEK Athens
In the summer of 2005 Dellas decided to return to Greece, joining old team AEKAEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
, where he rejoined his former teammate and good friend Demis Nikolaidis
Demis Nikolaidis
Themistoklis "Demis" Nikolaidis was the forty second president of AEK Athens F.C., and is considered one of the finest footballers Greece has ever produced. In his early childhood and teenage years he lived in the city of Alexandroupoli, in the north-east part of Greece...
. He renewed his contract in June 2007 for a further two years and became team captain. Here Dellas played with big stars like Rivaldo
Rivaldo
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira , commonly known simply as Rivaldo , is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for São Paulo, on loan from Mogi Mirim, as an attacking midfielder and sometimes as a supporting striker.He most notably played five years with Spanish club FC Barcelona, with whom he...
, Pantelis Kafes
Pantelis Kafes
Pantelis Kafes is a Greek footballer currently playing as a deep-lying playmaker for AEK Athens in the Greek Super League...
and the new Greek talent Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Sokratis Papastathopoulos
Sokratis Papastathopoulos is a Greek professional footballer who plays for Werder Bremen on loan from Genoa and the Greek national team, as a defender. Since the surname Papastathopoulos cannot fit on his club shirt, his first name Sokratis is usually displayed instead; however, a common nickname...
. On 23 July 2008, Dellas and AEK agreed to terminate his contract by mutual consent after failing to agree on a new contract.
Anorthosis
On 24 July 2008 agreed to sign a two year deal with CypriotCyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
football club Anorthosis Famagusta. Dellas helped the team in Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in the season 2008–09, in the same group of Panathinaikos F.C. and Inter Milan of José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
.
Third spell on AEK Athens
On 5 June 2010, Dellas agreed to sign with AEK Athens again, this time for one year, possibly intending to end his career at the team of his heart. Dellas in AEK Athens found Pantelis KafesPantelis Kafes
Pantelis Kafes is a Greek footballer currently playing as a deep-lying playmaker for AEK Athens in the Greek Super League...
that together they won Euro 2004 with Greece
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...
. On 12 December 2010, Dellas scored his first goal in the Greek championship after two years absence, against AEL Larissa of Nikos Dabizas
Nikos Dabizas
Nikolaos "Nikos" Dabizas is a retired Greek professional footballer and former Newcastle United, Leicester City, Olympiacos and Larissa defender . He was also in Greece's 2004 European Football Championship winning squad....
and Stylianos Venetidis
Stylianos Venetidis
Stylianos "Stelios" Venetidis is a football defender who currently plays for Larissa. He is a very constant and composed player, attributes that gave him the chance to play for top class Greek football teams and be an important member for the Greek national football team, playing also in 3 games...
that also they won Euro 2004 with Greece
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...
. Along with Pantelis Kafes
Pantelis Kafes
Pantelis Kafes is a Greek footballer currently playing as a deep-lying playmaker for AEK Athens in the Greek Super League...
, Nikos Georgeas and Nikos Liberopoulos, Dellas is the most respected AEK Athens player and rumors want him renewing his current contract until 2012. On 30 April 2011, Traianos Dellas won with AEK
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
his second Greek Cup.
International career
Dellas earned his first cap for GreeceGreece 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...
in 2001 in a 2–2 draw with Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
. Dellas had an exceptional tournament at Euro 2004
2004 UEFA European Football Championship
The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, better known as Euro 2004, was the 12th European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament for European national teams. It was hosted in Portugal, for the first time, between 12 June and 4 July 2004, following its selection by UEFA, in...
, partnering Michalis Kapsis
Michalis Kapsis
Michalis Kapsis is a Greek football player who currently plays for Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.. Kapsis played for the Greek national football team at the position of central defender...
in the centre of what became an almost unpenetratable Greek defence, leading to him being voted onto the tournament all-star squad. During the semi-finals, he scored the last silver goal in the last minute of first half of extra time against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
, allowing Greece to progress to the final. The coach of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
called him 'the Colossus of Rhodes
Colossus of Rhodes
The Colossus of Rhodes was a statue of the Greek Titan Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes on the Greek island of Rhodes by Chares of Lindos between 292 and 280 BC. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was constructed to celebrate Rhodes' victory over the ruler of...
' in respect of his performances in the tournament and the moniker is now widely used in the press. After Euro 2004, Dellas continued to be the heart of the Greek defense, but missed nearly eight months in 2005 due to injury. His absence was seen as a major factor in Greece's failed 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Two years later, Dellas helped Greece qualify for Euro 2008 but could not find his form of 2004 as Greece exited the group stage
UEFA Euro 2008 Group D
Group D of the 2008 UEFA European Championships is one of four groups of competing nations at UEFA Euro 2008. The first round of matches were played on 10 June, with the final round scheduled for 18 June. All six group matches were played at venues in Austria, in Innsbruck and Salzburg...
without any points and having scored just one goal. He was also part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign but was not called up after the victory over Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
on 1 April, 2009. Subsequently, he was not included in the provisional squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
Personal life
Dellas married Greek modelModel (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
Gogo Mastrokosta on 11 September 2008. They have one daughter.
International
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"|-
! National team
! Season
! Apps
! Goals
|-
| rowspan=9|
| 2001
| 1
| 0
|-
| 2002
| 4
| 0
|-
| 2003
| 7
| 0
|-
| 2004
| 13
| 1
|-
| 2005
| 2
| 0
|-
| 2006
| 5
| 0
|-
| 2007
| 7
| 0
|-
| 2008
| 12
| 0
|-
| 2009
| 2
| 0
|-
! colspan=2| Total
! 53
! 1
Honours
AEK Athens- Greek 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....
: 2
-
- 1999–00, 2010–112010–11 Greek CupThe 2010–11 Greek Cup is the 69th season of the Greek Football Cup. A total of 67 clubs were accepted to enter, after the withdrawal of Egaleo, Kalamata and Pyrsos Grevena and their relegation to Delta Ethniki....
- 1999–00, 2010–11
Greece
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...
- UEFA European ChampionshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
: 1
-
- 2004
Individual
- UEFA European ChampionshipUEFA European Football ChampionshipThe UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
Team of the Tournament: 1
-
- 2004