Terry Antonis
 Antonis training with Sydney FC in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 November 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | PAOK | ||
| Number | 93 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| St Christopher’s | |||
| Sydney Olympic | |||
| Marconi Stallions | |||
| 2007–2009 | NSWIS | ||
| 2009–2010 | AIS | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010–2015 | Sydney FC | 69 | (5) |
| 2015– | PAOK | 4 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008–2010 | Australia U-17 | 11 | (3) |
| 2010–2013 | Australia U-20 | 19 | (2) |
| 2016– | Australia U-23 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012– | Australia | 3 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 February 2016. | |||
Lefteris "Terry" Antonis (Greek: Λευτέρης "Τέρι" Αντόνης, born 26 November 1993) is an Australian football (soccer) player who plays for PAOK FC in Greece as a midfielder.
Early life
Antonis was born in the suburb of Bankstown, Sydney of Greek descent. He first received media attention in Australia when he was 10 years old when he won a football talent competition on Channel 7 television show, Today Tonight, winning a trip to Madrid to make a training skills DVD with David Beckham.[1] Frank Farina, former Socceroos coach and judge of the Channel 7 competition said: "His juggling is very good, he pulled out a squash ball and started juggling that and didn't drop it once, he is very impressive."[2] He also obtained a sponsorship from Adidas because of his exceptional juggling skills.[3]
Former Australian international Alex Tobin described him as "one of the most outstanding young players that I have seen" and "of immense talent without a doubt."[2] He has also been touted as natural successor to Tim Cahill and Brett Holman in the Australian national team.[4]
In addition to holding an Australian passport, Antonis also holds a Greek passport.[5]
Early career
Antonis began his football career at St Christopher’s Soccer Club in Bankstown before moving to Sydney Olympic and Marconi.[6]
Antonis signed a five-year contract with Everton at just 14 years of age, but his contract was terminated due to FFA's implementation of FIFA's rule prohibiting the overseas transfers of players under the age of 18.[7] However, since signing with Sydney FC he has been linked with a move back to Everton once he turns 18 along with clubs such as Inter Milan and Marseille.[8] Much of the speculation was based on his close personal ties with Everton and Socceroo star Tim Cahill,[9][10] and further sparked by a 25-minute cameo in a friendly match for Sydney FC against Everton at ANZ Stadium on 10 July 2010.[11] As recently as February 2012, however, Antonis has reiterated his commitment to Sydney FC and the remainder of his three-year contract, stating that he is more than happy being at the club.[12] In April 2012, Antonis travelled to Germany to trial with Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach as a potential replacement for Roman Neustadter.[13]
Club career
Sydney FC
On 22 June 2010, he made his debut for Sydney in a friendly game against Macarthur Rams at Campbelltown Stadium.[14] Then on 5 July 2010, he was officially signed to a 3-year contract by Sydney FC.[15] Antonis made his competitive debut for Sydney FC against Wellington Phoenix on 11 September 2010. The game ended with a 2-1 loss. Antonis scored his first goal for Sydney FC on 16 February 2013 against Adelaide United.
After rupturing a muscle in his thigh, Antonis was out for 9 months which denied his move overseas. He finally returned to the senior squad in February 2014, the game of his return against Perth Glory, he scored his first goal since returning from injury.
Speculation with Utrecht and Parma
At the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, Antonis was approached by Dutch club FC Utrecht for a trial only for Sydney FC to accept an undisclosed bid from Italian Serie A club, Parma.[16] He signed a four-year deal after Parma triggered a release clause in his two-year deal.[17]
Speculation has emerged that his transfer to Parma has gone awry. The deal never went through and Antonis returned to Sydney FC.[18]
PAOK
Sydney FC midfield general Terry Antonis is on the verge of joining Greek Super League club PAOK, with negotiations between the two clubs reportedly at an advanced stage. The 21-year-old has returned to Sydney from the Sky Blues' preseason camp on the Gold Coast to contemplate his next career move, with News Corp reporting a $500,000 bid for the midfielder is on the table.[19]
Greek sources stated that Antonis, will sign a three-year contract after completing formalities, spoke at length with former Danish international and Technical Director of PAOK Frank Arnesen on the prospects of PAOK's title aspirations this season, ahead of his $500,000 move. It has been reported that the gifted Sydney FC star will immediately be loaned out to battling Greek Super League outfit Veria FC on completion of the PAOK deal. Veria F.C. are coached by Georgios Georgiadis, a former PAOK favourite as a player and twice the club’s interim coach before being appointed to their neighbours at the end of last season.[20][21] Terry Antonis made his debut for PAOK in the Greek Cup match away to Chania on 3 December 2015, coming on as a 64th-minute substitute for Eyal Golasa. Terry Antonis made his Greek Super League debut on 21 February 2016 away to Panathinaikos as a 84th minute replacement for Giannis Mystakidis.
International career
Antonis was part of the final squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup but he did not get any actual game time during the tournament. On 23 December 2015, Antonis was included to Australia U-23 national team manager's Aurelio Vidmar selections for Olympic Games 2016 qualifiers, which will take place at Doja.[22]
Career statistics
- As of 6 March 2016
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Asia | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Sydney FC | 2010–11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 2014–15 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | ||
| Sydney FC Total | 69 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 5 | ||
| PAOK | 2015–16 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Career total | 72 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 5 | ||
Honours
Country
References
- ↑ "Pack your bags, son, if you want to be the next Harry". Sunday Morning Herald. 9 September 2006.
- 1 2 Tugwell, Nikki (25 October 2005). "Football Freak". Daily Telegraph.
- ↑ "Tyro Terry ready to bend it for Beckham". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 January 2004.
- ↑ Sygall, David (26 October 2010). "Australia has a host of talent waiting in wings". Melbourne: The Age.
- ↑ Davutovic, David (17 February 2015). "Socceroos rankings rise leads young stars to English Premier League". The Australian (News Corp Australia). Retrieved 17 February 2015.
- ↑ Sydney FC visits St Christopher’s S.C
- ↑ Soccer wonder grasps dream
- ↑ "Everton lead the pack chasing teenage star". Brisbane Times. 26 June 2010.
- ↑ Young gun Antonis against hero Cahill
- ↑ Terry Antonis snares Tim Cahill's shirt after debut for Sydney FC against Everton
- ↑ Gallant Sky Blues go down 1-0 to Everton
- ↑ "Sydney FC stars Terry Antonis and Mitch Mallia on A-League, FIFA 12 and more". EFTM - Everything for the man. 16 February 2012.
- ↑ Antonis Set for German Trial
- ↑ "Sky Blues down Macarthur Rams 1-0". SydneyFC.com. 22 June 2010.
- ↑ "Sweet Sixteen Terry Joins FC". FourFourTwo Australia. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/young-sydney-fc-midfielder-terry-antonis-attracts-interest-from-parma-as-alessandro-del-piero-named-player-of-the-year/story-fndcv8ir-1226616226238
- ↑ http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1147764/Antonis-seals-dream-Parma-deal
- ↑ "Joel Griffiths to quit Sydney FC for new stint China". The Australian. 15 July 2013.
- ↑ "Sydney FC's Terry Antonis on verge of transfer to Greek club PAOK FC: report". 11 August 2015.
- ↑ "PAOK set to loan Terry Antonis out immediately to fellow Greek club Veria FC". 11 August 2015.
- ↑ "Antonis assured of future by PAOK". 12 August 2015.
- ↑ Antonis called up to Australia U-23 national team
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