Panagiotis Kone

Panagiotis Kone

Kone with Greece in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Panagiotis Kone
Date of birth	26 July 1987
Place of birth	Tirana, Albania
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder / Winger
Club information
Current team	Fiorentina (on loan from Udinese)
Number	26
Youth career
1999–2004	Olympiacos
2004–2005	Lens
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2005–2008	AEK Athens	24	(2)
2008–2010	Iraklis	49	(8)
2010–2012	Brescia	31	(1)
2011–2012	→ Bologna (loan)	31	(1)
2012–2014	Bologna	59	(11)
2014–	Udinese	33	(1)
2016–	→ Fiorentina (loan)	1	(0)
National team^‡
2006	Greece U19	4	(1)
2006–2008	Greece U21	8	(0)
2010–	Greece	28	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:53, 10 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2015

Panagiotis Kone (Greek: Παναγιώτης Κονέ, born 26 July 1987), is a Greek footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Fiorentina on loan from Udinese in the Italian Serie A. Kone started playing football in the youth ranks of Olympiacos, from where he moved to Lens' youth team. He started professional football in AEK Athens before moving to Iraklis in 2008. After two seasons with the club, Kone moved to Serie A club Brescia. After one season in Brescia, he moved to Bologna in 2011 on loan, then transferred permanently to the club in 2012.

Kone represented Greece at various youth levels before making his senior debut in 2010. He was a member of the Greek squad that played in the 2014 World Cup.

Early and personal life

He was born as Gjergji Kone^[1] in Tirana, Albania,^[2] and moved with his parents Isac, a biologist, and Leontina, a piano teacher,^[3] and older brother to Athens when he was two years old.^[3][4] He changed his name to Panagiotis because of naturalization process.^[5] He has said, regarding his identity, that he solely feels Greek.^[6] Some of his relatives still live in Albania.^[6] His brother, Sotiris, owns a bar in Athens.^[3] According to Albanian and Italian press he is of Albanian origin,^[7][8][9] while according to the Greek one he is Greek.^[10] Kone began his youth career at the Olympiacos youth academy as a young teenager, but moved to France just before his 17th birthday when Lens showed interest in him. He was sold to Lens for €400,000.^[11]

Club career

AEK Athens

After one year with Lens, Kone came back to Greece to join AEK Athens, signing his first professional contract. He wore the number 10 shirt for the 2005–06 season as an 18-year-old, but with the arrival of former Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo, he changed it to 22.

Iraklis

Kone moved to Iraklis in 2008 after he was surplus to requirements at AEK. In his two seasons with the club, he made 49 league appearances and scored eight goals; in 37 of these matches, he either played as a substitute or he was substituted. Although in times he showed football brilliance, the facts that he was rather unstable and the lack of teamwork could not secure him a firm place in Iraklis' starting eleven.

Contract dispute with Iraklis

In July 2010, Kone trained with Italian side Brescia^[12] despite still being under contract with Iraklis. After this became known to Brescia, Kone no longer trained with the club. He requested and expected to have his contract with Iraklis terminated due to supposed debt by the club to him, but on 22 July 2010, the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) decided against the request.^[13] Nonetheless, Iraklis sold him to Brescia for a €800,000 transfer fee.^[11]

Brescia

In July 2010, Kone made an attempt to play for a club outside the Greek borders, signing with Brescia ahead of the 2010–11 season. He put in some impressive performances, catching the eye of club management with his technical training, fast pace and strong sense of goal.^[14] Following Brescia's relegation after finishing 19th in 2010–11, however, he signed with Bologna on loan for the 2011–12 season, with an option to make the loan permanent.

Bologna

Kone initially arrived at Bologna on a temporary basis as a replacement for the recently departed Francesco Della Rocca, who had moved to Palermo.^[15]

In June 2013, Bologna officially reached a deal to buy-out Brescia's 50 percent ownership of Kone for a €1.6 million fee. At the time, he was co-owned by the two clubs. Prior to the deal, negotiations between the two had been troubled and there were fears the matter would go to a blind auction over the summer of 2013.^[16] Shortly after the deal, Kone extended his contract with Bologna until June 2017. The Greek attacking midfielder has made his name in Italy with some truly spectacular goals, notably a scissor-kick volley against Napoli last season at the Stadio San Paolo which gave his side all three points in a 2–3 away victory.^[17][18]

On 24 November 2013, Kone scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season in a 1–1 home draw against Internazionale, finding the net in the 12th minute.^[19] In the penultimate matchday on 11 May 2014, Bologna, after a 1–2 home loss to Catania, were relegated to Serie B. After the defeat, 300 Bologna fans surrounded the squad and prevented them from reaching manager Davide Ballardini, instead screaming for contracts to be torn up over a cordon of riot police. Captain Kone—as one of a few players to emerge from the season with any value at all—was consoled by a supporter after breaking down in tears in the melee. "The dressing room is destroyed, we are mortified. Kone has been crying alone on the pitch," coach Ballardini was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport.^[20][21]

Following the demotion, reports in Italy suggested that Palermo were keen to sign Kone, hoping to close the deal before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Despite Bologna asking €5.6 million for Kone, Palermo offered around €3 million, but were also exploring the idea of a loan move with the option to buy-out the next year. The possibility of including players as compensation was also explored.^[22][23] Additionally, according to Tuttosport, Torino management were ready to make their decisive move for Kone due to Giampiero Ventura's will.^[24]

Udinese

Despite Palmero and Torino's interest, Udinese confirmed the signing of Kone. No details were provided concerning the transfer fee or any contract details.^[25]

On 22 January 2015, Kone scored the equalizing goal—a fierce, low volley—in the 2014–15 Coppa Italia against reigning champions Napoli in extra time. After the 2–2 draw, however, ten-man Udinese were eliminated in the subsequent penalty shoot-out. During extra time, Kone also threatened to score the winner when pouncing on a Miguel Britos error, forcing goalkeeper Mariano Andújar into a save at full stretch.^[26] On 22 March, Kone scored his first Serie A goal with Udinese, coming against Fiorentina. After the match, he said to Udinese Channel, "My goal was important for the team, certainly did not deserve to lose this game because, beyond the first 10 minutes of the second half, we played a great game. We are a group full of young kids, I make compliments to the coach as he read the game and for the changes it made because it allowed us to play better in a difficult moment. Against Torino and Fiorentina I think we played very well and our team is growing every day. Do not forget that this is only the first year of this project."^[27]

On 23 August 2015, in the opening match of the 2015–16 Serie A season, Kone, as a substitute, helped Udinese stop Juventus' 47-game unbeaten streak at home in the league by providing an assist to teammate Cyril Théréau in an eventual 0–1 away win.^[28] On 13 October 2015, Udinese confirmed that Kone suffered a calf injury while on international duty with Greece and would be out of action for two-and-a-half months.^[29] On 17 December 2015, Kone made his return to the team, scoring an impressive goal against Lazio in the 2015–16 Coppa Italia; controlling a cross with his heel, he swung his leg around and acrobatically flicked the ball into the top-left hand corner of the goal. Despite the individual effort, however, Lazio prevailed 2–1, knocking Udinese out of the tournament.^[30][31] On 24 January 2016, Kone almost 4 months since his last appearance with the club in Serie A, played again as a substitute for Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu in a 4-1 away loss against Palermo.^[32]

ACF Fiorentina

On January 31 2016, Kone joined ACF Fiorentina on a loan with the right of redemtion from Udinese. ^[33] The deal is for an initial loan, but Udinese confirmed on their official website that Fiorentina will have the option to buy. Former Bologna midfielder Kone has struggled with injury problems this season, making only five league appearances for Udinese as a result.^[34] On 4 February 2016, Kone poked surprising from Fiorentina's UEFA Europa League squad, a surprise for the midfielder as has been dropped from Paulo Sousa, coach of the club.^[35] Panagiotis Kone made his Fiorentina debut in the Serie A match away to Empoli as a 82nd minute substitute for Josip Ilicic on 10 April 2016.^[36]

International career

Kone in action against Austria's Christian Fuchs in an August 2013 friendly

Kone has represented Greece at the youth level. Shortly after signing for Brescia, new Greece coach Fernando Santos called him up for UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Georgia and Croatia. On 17 November 2010, Kone debuted for the senior national team in a 1–2 friendly away win over Austria. He played the entire first half before being replaced.^[37]

Kone was named in the provisional squad for UEFA Euro 2012. On 26 May 2012, he was sent-off during Greece’s 1–1 draw with Slovenia in a pre-tournament friendly. "What happened with Kone is a shame. Sometimes in the heat of the match we lose our minds," Santos explained after the draw. Kone was eventually excluded from Greece's final 23-man squad.^[38]

Two years later, Kone's exceptional season year with Bologna helped convince Santos to include the player in both the 30-man provisional World Cup squad and final 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup.^[39] On 7 June 2014, he scored his first goal with the Greece in a 2–1 friendly victory against Bolivia.^[40]

On 20 November 2014, Kone was reduced to tears by Nemanja Matić. The incident occurred during Greece's 0–2 friendly defeat at home to Serbia, when after being struck in the face by a late Matić challenge midway through the second half, Kone reacted furiously by preparing himself to launch a punch towards the Serbian midfielder.^[41]

On 15 June 2015, Kone, as a Greek player, sparked controversy after a photograph surfaced showed him just one day after Greece's humiliating defeat to the Faroe Islands making an Albanian gesture, putting him under scrutiny.^[42]

On 11 October 2015, Kone scored in a dramatic 4–3 win over Hungary for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, meeting a José Holebas cross to net a powerful header. It was the first and only win for Greece in qualifying, where it finished last in Group F, meaning it will miss out on the final tournament.^[43]

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	7 June 2014	Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States	Bolivia	2–1	Win	Friendly Match
2.	11 October 2015	Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece	Hungary	4–3	Win	Euro 2016 Qualifying Match

References

1. "Oriundi d'Europa. Ecco come si muove il Vecchio Continente". tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Gjergji Kone è nato in Albania e una volta trasferitosi in Grecia, nel processo di naturalizzazione, ha dovuto cambiare il nome in Panagiotis (Gjergji Kone was born in Albania and after he was moved to Greece, due to the naturalisation process he had to change his name to Panagiotis)
2. "Bologna: ultime notizie - Gazzetta dello Sport". www.gazzetta.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2016-01-06. centrocampista greco di origine albanese (greek midfielder of Albanian origin)
3. "Kone, che meraviglia". Corriere di Bologna. 3 March 2012.
4. "Αφιέρωμα της FIFA στον Έλληνα της Μπολόνια". sentragoal.gr. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
5. "Oriundi d'Europa. Ecco come si muove il Vecchio Continente". tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Gjergji Kone è nato in Albania e una volta trasferitosi in Grecia, nel processo di naturalizzazione, ha dovuto cambiare il nome in Panagiotis (Gjergji Kone was born in Albania and after he was moved to Greece, due to the naturalisation process he changed his name to Panagiotis)
6. Sport-fm (4 September 2011). Κονέ: "Ήρθα σε έναν σύλλογο με φήμη και ιστορία" (in Greek). www.sport-fm.gr. Retrieved 4 September 2011. Έχω ακόμα κάποια μέλη της οικογένειάς μου στην Αλβανία, αλλά είναι όλοι τους Έλληνες (Some members of my family still live Albania, but they are all Greeks); (I have not been discriminated, but to prevent it I say "I am Kone, the Albanian")
7. "Udinese, Kone vola da Stramaccioni". gazzetta.it (in Italian). Il centrocampista greco di origine albanese è il regalo per il nuovo centrocampo di Stramaccioni: nelle ultime ore sono stati limati anche gli ultimi dettagli, e oggi ha svolto le visite mediche a Udine, in serata poi è arrivato l'annuncio. (The Greek player of Albanian origin)
8. Florent Hozha. Albanian football players around the world. ADA. p. 180. Ate dite Cana takoi ne fushe nje tjeter futbollist me gjak shqiptar, Panajot Konen e Kombetares Greke. I lindur ne Tirane me emrin Gjergji Kone, ai zgjodhi te luaje per vendin fqinj, edhe pse sipas burimeve familjare dhe dokumentave shteterore, familja Kone jane me origjine te paster shqiptare; te vendosur ne Tirane ne vitin 1987. (That day Cana met with another player of Albanian blood, Panajot Kone of Greek National Team. Born in Tirana as Gjergji Kone, he chose to represent Greek National Team, even that according to familiar sources and governmental documents Kone family is of pure Albanian origin; settled in Tirana in 1987)
9. "Serie A, i tre giocatori TOP della 17esima giornata". 90min.com (in Italian). Sicuramente è il gol della giornata, che rilancia il Bologna e affossa Mazzarri. Kone è di origine albanese ma di nazionalità greca, e si chiama Panagiotis, proprio come il centrocampista della Roma Tachtsidis, tanto voluto da Zeman. (Kone is of Albanian origin and of Greek citizenship)
10. Κονέ: «Ομάδα με ιστορία η Μπολόνια» (in Greek). www.novasports.gr. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2015. Έχω ακόμα κάποια μέλη της οικογένειάς μου στην Αλβανία, αλλά είναι όλοι τους Έλληνες (Some members of my family still live Albania, but they are all Greeks)
11. SportEkspres (26 August 2010). "Futboll: Shqiptar apo grek? Gjergji Kone duhet të vendosë". kombetarja.com. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
12. "Biabiany, Obinna, Suazo: aperto un canale con l'Inter". Retrieved 2010-07-15.
13. "Μεγάλη δικαίωση του Ηρακλή στο θέμα Κονέ". Retrieved 2010-07-22.
14. "Εντυπωσιάζει με την Μπρέσια ο Κονέ". sport24.gr. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
15. "Bologna sign Brescia's Panagiotis Kone on loan". goal.com. Retrieved 2011-09-01.
16. "Bologna secure Kone". football-italia.net. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
17. "Kone signs new contract with Bologna". forzaitalianfootball.com. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
18. "FIFA Puskás Award: Ten best goals of the year announced". fifa.com. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
19. "Bologna 1 - Internazionale 1". espnfc.com. 2013-11-24.
20. "Bologna's sad demise". sbnation.com. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
21. "Disgruntled supporters reduce Bologna forward Kone to tears". forzaitalianfootball.com. 12 May 2014.
22. "Calciomercato, Palermo guarda Bologna: interessa il greco Kone". corrieredellosport.it. 24 May 2014.
23. "Κονέ, ο πρώτος στόχος της Παλέρμο". sport24.gr. 24 May 2014.
24. "Decisive move for Kone ready". transfermarketweb.com. 19 May 2014.
25. "Panagiotis Kone completes Udinese move". sportsmole.co.uk. 13 August 2014.
26. "Coppa: Napoli shoot-out sinks Udinese". football-italia.net. 22 January 2015.
27. "Udinese, Kone: 'Ieri ottima partita, mio gol importante'". www.calciomercato.com. 23 March 2015.
28. "Juventus - Udinese0-1". www.gazzetta.it. 23 August 2015.
29. "Udinese lose Kone to injury". www.football-italia.net. 13 October 2015.
30. "Lazio set up Italian Cup quarter-final with Juventus". www.channelnewsasia.com. 17 December 2015.
31. "Coppa Italia: Lazio-Udinese 2-1, troverà la Juventus ai quarti. L'ira dei friuliani". www.ansa.it. 17 December 2015.
32. "Guillermo Barros Schelotto off the mark as Palermo hammer Udinese". www.espn.co.uk. 24 January 2016.
33. Όλες οι μεταγραφές στο Sport24.gr
34. Official: Fiorentina sign Kone
35. Ο Σόουζα "έκοψε" τον Κονέ από το Europa League
36. Empoli-Fiorentina 2-0, naufragio viola al Castellani
37. "Αυστρία-Ελλάδα 1–2 (τελικό)". Retrieved 2010-11-18.
38. "Euro 2012: Panagiotis Kone dropped from Greece squad". bbc.com. 2012-05-29.
39. "Greece World Cup 2014 squad". telegraph.co.uk. 19 May 2014.
40. "Ελλάδα - Βολιβία 2-1". www.sport24.gr. 7 June 2014.
41. "Panagiotis Kone breaks down in tears after threatening to punch Nemanja Matic". dailymail.co.uk. 20 November 2014.
42. "Kone sparks controversy for making Albanian gesture". www.sdna.gr. 15 June 2015.
43. "Greece - Hungary 4-3". www.sportinglife.com. 11 October 2015.

External links

• Guardian Football