Nikos Spyropoulos

Nikos Spyropoulos (Greek: Νίκος Σπυρόπουλος; born 10 October 1983) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

Nikos Spyropoulos

Spyropoulos in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth	(1983-10-10) 10 October 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Ioannina, Greece
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2004	PAS Giannina	33	(1)
2004–2008	Panionios	68	(1)
2008–2013	Panathinaikos	128	(1)
2013	Chievo Verona	2	(0)
2013–2015	PAOK	19	(0)
Total		250	(3)
International career
2007–2013	Greece	35	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Early career

Spyropoulos began his career with PAS Giannina in 2001, where he celebrated a promotion to the Alpha Ethniki during his first season.^[1] In three years, he made a total of 33 appearances for the club, all of which in the Beta Ethniki.^[2]

Panionios

In summer 2004 he signed for Greek Superleague side Panionios. Eight months later, and while he was about to be transferred to Panathinaikos along with his teammates Alexandros Tziolis and Evangelos Mantzios, he tested positive for elevated testosterone and was initially suspended for two years.^[3] This was later attributed to natural causes, but his transfer was cancelled nevertheless. He returned to action one year later and went on to play for 3.5 years for Panionios, earning the reputation of being one of the best left-backs in the Greek championship.^[4]

During the summer transfer period of 2007 and the winter period of 2008, Spyropoulos attracted the interest of clubs such as AEK Athens, Olympiacos and Werder Bremen – however a move did not materialize.^[5][6]

Panathinaikos

In January 2008, Spyropoulos moved to Panathinaikos for a reported fee of €2 million Εuros.^[7]

After some impressive displays during the second half of 2007–08 season, Spyropoulos has started the 2008–09 season as the main left back for Panathinaikos. Henk Ten Cate, the manager had 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 was not able to play against his previous team Panionios for two years after his transfer to Panathinaikos.

Chievo Verona

Two days before the winter transfer window closed Spyropoulos signed for Serie A side A.C. Chievo Verona.^[8] He made two appearances for the club before missing the remainder of the season through injury.

PAOK

An announcement on PAOK's official Twitter profile confirmed the acquisition of Spyropoulos. ^{[9] [10]} He made his debut with the club in December 2013 in a 2–0 away win against PAS Giannina. On 15 April 2015, his contract was terminated.^[11]

International career

On 17 November 2007, Spyropoulos made his Greece national team debut in the 5–0 Euro 2008 qualifier defeat of Malta coming on for Vasilis Torosidis in the 46th minute.

Career statistics

Club

As of 3 January 2015^[12][13][14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League[a]			Cup[b]		Continental[c]		Others[d]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
PAS Giannina	2001–02	Football League	6	0	–		–		–		6	0
	2002–03	Super League Greece	0	0	–		–		–		0	0
	2003–04	Football League	27	1	1	0	–		–		28	1
	Total		33	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	34	1
Panionios	2004–05	Super League Greece	16	0	1	0	3	0	–		20	0
	2005–06		11	0	–		–		–		11	0
	2006–07		24	1	1	0	–		–		25	1
	2007–08		17	0	1	0	4	0	–		22	0
	Total		68	1	3	0	7	0	0	0	78	1
Panathinaikos	2007–08	Super League Greece	10	0	–		–		–		10	0
	2008–09		30	0	3	0	10	0	–		43	0
	2009–10		25	0	1	0	10	0	–		36	0
	2010–11		22	1	3	0	5	0	2	0	32	1
	2011–12		24	0	1	0	9	0	2	0	36	0
	2012–13		17	0	1	0	9	0	–		27	0
	Total		128	1	9	0	43	0	4	0	184	1
Chievo	2012–13	Serie A	2	0	0	0	–		–		2	0
PAOK	2013–14	Super League Greece	13	0	2	0	–		–		15	0
	2014–15		6	0	1	0	3	0	–		10	0
	Total		19	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	25	0
Career total			250	3	16	0	53	0	4	0	323	3

1. Includes Super League Greece (Alpha Ethniki until 2006) and Beta Ethniki.
2. Includes Greek Cup.
3. Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League (UEFA Cup until 2009).
4. Includes Superleague Greece play-offs.

International

Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Spyropoulos goal.

List of international goals scored by Nikos Spyropoulos

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	3 September 2010	Piraeus, Greece	Georgia		1–1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2	7 September 2012	Riga, Latvia	Latvia		2–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Panathinaikos

• Super League Greece: 2009–10
• Greek Cup: 2009–10

PAOK

• Greek Cup runner-up: 2013–14

References

1. "Nikos Spyropoulos". UEFA. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
2. "Spyropoulos Nikos profile" (in Greek). Insports.gr. Retrieved 9 August 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
3. "Ένοχος για ντόπινγκ κρίθηκε ο Σπυρόπουλος, τιμωρείται με 2 χρόνια αποκλεισμό (Spyropoulos guilty for doping, punished with a two-year ban)" (in Greek). Athens: In.gr. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
4. Karpetopoulos, Antonis (29 January 2008). "Οι οπαδοί εκτιμούν τις καλές πωλήσεις (Fans appreciate good sells)". Kathimerini (in Greek). Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
5. ""Παρέλαση" ονομάτων από την εγχώρια μεταγραφική αγορά για την ΑΕΚ ("Parade" of names from domestic market for AEK)" (in Greek). Athens: In.gr. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
6. "ΠΑΝΙΩΝΙΟΣ: Σπυρόπουλος προς Βέρντερ (PANIONIOS: Spyropoulos towards Werder)". Kathimerini (in Greek). 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
7. "Spyropoulos joins Panathinaikos". UEFA. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
8. "Good luck to Ujkani and Spyropoulos". mondochievo.it. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
9. ΠΑΟΚ: "Κάτοικος" Τούμπας ο Νίκος Σπυρόπουλος (in Greek). betarades.gr. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
10. Συνεχίζει στον ΠΑΟΚ ο Σπυρόπουλος (in Greek). sport-fm.gr. 2 September 2013.
11. Παρελθόν ο Σπυρόπουλος από τον ΠΑΟΚ (in Greek). sport24.gr. 15 April 2015.
12. "Nikos Spyropoulos". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
13. "Nikos Spyropoulos profile". Footballzz. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
14. "Nikos Spyropoulos profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 9 August 2012.

External links

• 2010 FIFA World Cup profile