Marinos Ouzounidis

Marinos Ouzounidis

Personal information
Date of birth	10 October 1968
Place of birth	Alexandroupoli, Greece
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	Panionios (Manager)
Youth career
1983–1986	Ethnikos Alexandroupoli F.C.
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1986–1987	Apollon Kalamarias	3	(0)
1987–1992	Skoda Xanthi	140	(16)
1992–1997	Panathinaikos	132	(6)
1997–1999	Le Havre AC	36	(0)
1999–2001	Paniliakos	58	(1)
2001–2003	APOEL	49	(5)
Total	Career	418	(28)
National team
1992–2001	Greece	50	(4)
Teams managed
2005–2006	Skoda Xanthi (assistant)
2006–2008	APOEL
2008–2010	Larissa
2010–2011	Iraklis
2011–2013	Skoda Xanthi
2013–2014	Platanias
2014	Ergotelis
2014–	Panionios
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Marinos Ouzounidis (Greek: Μαρίνος Ουζουνίδης) (born 10 October 1968) is a Greek football manager and former football player.

Playing career

Ouzounidis started his professional career playing for Greek club Skoda Xanthi as a defender from 1987 until 1992.

He then transferred to Panathinaikos where he developed excellent skills as a libero defender, becoming an essential member of the brilliant team that conquered 1995 and 1996 Greek league championships. During this last period, the "Green Shamrocks" reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Good performances eventually resulted in a two-year term transfer to Le Havre AC in France. Ouzounidis returned to the Greek league in 1999, where he played with Paniliakos until 2001.

Ouzounidis finally left for APOEL in Cyprus and after winning the championship and the Super Cup in 2002, he retired there after the 2002–03 season.

Ouzounidis' international career comprises fifty games with the "Ethniki",^[1] and was even the team captain during Vassilis Daniil management, making a remarkable couple with Nikos Dabizas, before Traianos Dellas' appearance.

Coaching career

When he finished his career as a football player, Ouzounidis managed the team of Kappadokes Alexandoupolis (4th division) as head coach. Later, in the 2005–2006 season, he served as an assistant manager in Xanthi. In May 2006 he became the manager at APOEL. His first season was a very good one finishing first and winning the Championship 3 games before the end of the season. His team also reached the semi-finals of the Cypriot Cup. He resigned from APOEL during the second season, after four draws and three defeats in the first 15 games.

He accepted an offer from Larissa on 9 May 2008. In his first season at Larissa he was very successful driving the team in to the playoffs and securing a spot in the next Europa League. His record in the first year seemed to confirm Larissa chairman Piladakis' idea on using young Greek coaches to lead the team to success. Unfortunately his second year at Larissa began badly as the team was knocked out in the first qualifying round of the Europa League and on 22 February 2010 the young coach was sacked because Larissa had found themselves just above the relegation zone.^[2] On August 9, Ouzounidis signed a contract with Iraklis.^[3] On 31 January 2011, with the club being only three points above relegation he resigned from his position as manager.^[4] He signed with his first team Skoda Xanthi at summer 2011.

Honours

As a Player

Panathinaikos

• Super League Greece: 1995, 1996
• Greek Football Cup: 1993, 1994, 1995
• Greek Super Cup: 1993, 1994

APOEL

• Cypriot First Division: 2002
• Cypriot Super Cup: 2002

As a Coach

APOEL

• Cypriot First Division: 2007

References

1. Mamrud, Roberto (2009-12-21). "Greece – Record International Players". RSSSF.
2. "Ο Γιάννης Παπακώστας νέος προπονητής στη Λάρισα" (in Greek). enet.gr. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
3. "Επισήμως στον Ηρακλή ο Ουζουνίδης" (in Greek). kathimerini.gr. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
4. Πήδηξε από το καράβι (in Greek). Bluearena.gr. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.