Giourkas Seitaridis

Giourkas Seitaridis
Personal information
Full name Giorgos Seitaridis
Date of birth (1981-06-04) 4 June 1981
Place of birth Piraeus, Greece
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Right-back, Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1998–2001 PAS Giannina 40 (5)
2001–2004 Panathinaikos 77 (0)
2004–2005 Porto 23 (0)
2005–2006 Dynamo Moscow 8 (0)
2006–2009 Atlético Madrid 59 (0)
2009–2013 Panathinaikos 41 (0)
Total 248 (5)
National team‡
2002–2012 Greece 72 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:43, 13 May 2013 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:00, 10 April 2012 (UTC)

Georgios "Giourkas" Seitaridis (Greek: Γεώργιος "Γιούρκας" Σεϊταρίδης [ʝeˈorʝos ˈʝurkas seitaˈriðis]; born 4 June 1981) is a Greek retired footballer who played as a right full-back and occasionally as a central defender .[1] He has last played in 2013 for Greek Superleague side Panathinaikos, having played previously at PAS Giannina, Porto, Dynamo Moscow and Atlético Madrid. He is a former member of the Greek national football team, for which he made a total of 72 international appearances, scoring one goal.[2] He was part of their team which won Euro 2004, for which he was voted into the Team of the Tournament.

"Giourkas" means "Giorgos" in the Pontic Greek dialect and is his grandfather's name.[3] Both his grandfather and father, Dimitris Seitaridis, were footballers and eventually managers.[4]

Club career

PAS Giannina

Seitaridis started his professional career with northern Greek side PAS Giannina, nicknamed Ajax of Epirus, in 1997, becoming an important right full-back for the club.[4] Seitaridis helped the team towards promotion at the Greek Superleague in the 1999–00 season.[5] He made a total of 40 league appearances with PAS Giannina, scoring 5 goals.

Panathinaikos

He was soon spotted by Athens-based club Panathinaikos, and on 12 January 2001 he signed a 5-year contract with them for a total fee of 300 million drachmas.[6] He quickly established himself as a regular player for the team and at the age of 22 he won his first silverware by helping Panathinaikos do the double at the 2003–04 season, winning the 2003–04 Alpha Ethniki and the Greek Cup against rivals Olympiacos.[7]

He scored his first European goal against Manchester United on 7 March 2001, in a game for the second group stage of the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League.[8] In September of the same year, he was named Greek Young Footballer of 2001, along with Pantelis Kafes and Angelos Charisteas.[9]

Porto

On 11 June 2004, a day before the eventually successful UEFA Euro 2004 campaign for Greece, it was rumored that Seitaridis signed for Portuguese side, and at the time Champions League holders, F.C. Porto, for a transfer fee of €3 million.[10] However, the official announcement was made on 26 July 2004, almost a month and a half later, with rumors linking him to Real Madrid in the meantime.[11][12] He helped the Dragões win the Portuguese SuperCup and Intercontinental Cup of that year.[13][14]

Dynamo Moscow

On 23 May 2005, he was sold to Russian side Dynamo Moscow for €10 million,[15] following the footsteps of ex-Porto teammates Derlei, Costinha, Maniche and Thiago Silva, who also moved to the Russian club the same year.[16][17] Soon however, Seitaridis began to show his discomfort at the club, failing to settle in Moscow,[18] and claimed the reasons he wanted to leave was that the weather was different from his native Greece and that he could not adapt to the cold.[19] In his one-year spell at the club, he only managed to make 8 league appearances before deciding to leave.[20]

Atlético Madrid

On 16 June 2006 he was transferred to Atlético Madrid for a fee of €12 million,[21] being the second Greek footballer to play for Atlético after striker Demis Nikolaidis.[22] The latter was the one who convinced him to join the club, together with his ex-Dynamo teammate Costinha who joined Atlético the same year.[23] Seitaridis was sent off in the first half of his debut game, in the La Liga opening match away to Racing Santander on 27 August 2006.[24] On 15 October 2006, he received his second red card only six games into the season, as he was cautioned twice in a home league game against Recreativo Huelva.[25]

He scored his first goal for Atlético the following year, on 21 July 2007, in a game against Gloria Bistriţa for the Intertoto Cup.[26] In November 2007, Seitaridis damaged his achilles tendon in a match against UD Almería, which meant he needed to undergo surgery.[27] His period of absence was initially evaluated at about six weeks, but he was ready two and a half months later, in April 2008.[27][28] Due to his injury problem, he only managed to make 14 league appearances for Atlético in the 2007–08 season.[29]

The 2008–09 season did not start well for Seitaridis, as he lost his place in the first team to new signings Tomáš Ujfaluši and John Heitinga, and his heavy contract meant that Atlético was looking to sell him.[30] Despite that, Seitaridis was a starter in Atlético's opening game, in a 4–0 victory over Málaga CF,[31] and went on to make 14 league appearances that season. On 29 April 2009 however, him and teammate Maniche were suspended by Atlético's president Enrique Cerezo because they failed to appear in an Atlético home match against Sporting Gijón despite not being included in the 18-man squad.[32][33] Two weeks later on 13 May 2009, it was announced that Seitaridis was released by Atlético a year before his contract was to expire, with a statement on the club's official website reading "Seitaridis is therefore free to negotiate with other clubs who may be interested in signing him".[33]

Return to Panathinaikos

On 10 September 2009, the last day of the Greek transfer period for free agent players, Seitaridis signed a 4-year deal with Panathinaikos, returning to the team after five years.[34] It soon became apparent that Giourkas was unfit and was struggling to re-establish himself due to frequent injuries,[35] missing most of the 2009–10 season's matches. However, on 21 March 2010, he surprisingly returned to the line-up for the big derby against rivals Olympiacos,[36] and despite their defeat, Panathinaikos managed to end the season positively by winning the double.[37] Seitaridis himself didn't appear at the 2009–10 Greek Cup final against Aris Thessaloniki due to injury,[38] but made 2 appearances on the road to the final.

The 2010–11 season started well for Seitaridis, being a starter at Panathinaikos' opening league fixture against Skoda Xanthi on 27 August 2010 and giving a good performance.[39] However, another muscle injury[40] meant that Seitaridis would return at a league game against Panserraikos two months later, on 4 December.[41] Due to the player's poor condition he was placed on the transfer list in January 2011,[42] but despite various offers from foreign teams during the summer transfer period,[43] he stayed at Panathinaikos.

The 2011–12 season was even more disappointing for him, as he was only used for 45 minutes in an away game against Atromitos, where he was substituted at half-time due to poor performance.[44] He played for a second time in an away game against Asteras Tripoli, staying on the pitch a full 90 minutes.[45]

The 2012–13 season started well for Seitaridis, playing as a starter in the first three league matches at the beginning of the season. He also contributed with one assist in Panathinaikos' 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage match against Tottenham Hotspur, which ended 1–1.[46]

At the summer of 2013 he didn't renew his contract and left the club.

International career

Youth career

Seitaridis is a former Greece under-21 international,[4] making his debut on 6 October 2000, in a 2002 UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier against Finland under-21.[47] He participated at the finals of the 2002 UEFA Under-21 Championship in Switzerland,[48] where his team was eliminated from the group stage, having collected one point in three games.[49]

First steps & UEFA Euro 2004

Seitaridis made his international debut with the senior team on 13 February 2002, in an international friendly match against Sweden.[48][50] He helped Greece qualify to the UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal for the second time in history,[51] and was also one of the key players during Greece's successful campaign, a win that shocked the footballing world as Greece were considered outsiders before the tournament started.[52] Seitaridis won a penalty at the first match against Portugal as he was knocked down by Cristiano Ronaldo.[53] In the final, he also won the important corner by playing the ball in the center which was blocked from Cristiano Ronaldo. Overall his contributions for the victorious team were recognised by naming him as part of the 23-man UEFA 2004 All-Star squad, together with fellow Greek players Antonis Nikopolidis, Traianos Dellas, Theodoros Zagorakis and Angelos Charisteas.[54]

FIFA Confederations Cup 2005

As a result of Greece's Euro 2004 win, they qualified to the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany as European champions. Giourkas Seitaridis was a member of the 23-man squad.[55]

UEFA Euro 2008 & 2010 FIFA World Cup

He scored his first international goal on 2 June 2007 against Hungary in a Euro 2008 qualifying match,[48][56] helping the Greek national team to qualify to the UEFA Euro 2008 championship. He played twice in the disappointing Euro 2008 campaign for Greece,[57] having been injured during the second game against Russia.[58]

Despite concerns about his fitness,[59] Greece national manager Otto Rehhagel called Seitaridis in his 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[60] He only played for 90 minutes in the first game of the group stage against South Korea, losing 2–0.[1][61] After this game, Seitaridis played two consecutive European and a World Cup with Greece national football team.

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
12 June 2007Pankritio Stadium, Heraklion, Greece Hungary2–02–0Euro 2008 qualifying

Statistics

As of 13 May 2013[62][63]
Club performanceLeagueCupContinentalOthersTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GreeceLeagueGreek CupEuropeOthersTotal
1998–99PAS GianninaBeta Ethniki60––––––60
1999–00243––––––243
2000–01Alpha Ethniki102––––––102
2000–01PanathinaikosAlpha Ethniki120––21––141
2001–021901070––270
2002–032502020––290
2003–042106080––350
PortugalLeaguePortuguese CupEuropeOthersTotal
2004–05PortoPrimeira Liga23020110––360
RussiaLeagueRussian CupEuropeOthersTotal
2005Dynamo MoscowPremier League80––––––80
200600––––––00
SpainLeagueCopa del ReyEuropeOthersTotal
2006–07Atlético MadridLa Liga31020––––330
2007–08140––41––181
2008–091402040––200
GreeceLeagueGreek CupEuropePlayoffsTotal
2009–10PanathinaikosSuperleague8020––––100
2010–117020––––90
2011–1220––––1030
2012–13240305010330
Career total2485220432203157

Honours

Team

International

Greece

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Giourkas Seitaridis profile". FIFA. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Giourkas Seitaridis at National-Football-Teams.com
  3. ↑ "Greece squad at EURO 2008, details" (in Greek). in.gr. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Christou, Dimosthenis (30 November 2000). "Το μήλο κάτω από... δύο μηλιές (The apple under... two apple trees)" (in Greek). Athlitiki Icho.
  5. ↑ "Beta Ethniki 1999–00". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  6. ↑ Spanoudakis, Giorgos (12 January 2001). "Και ο Γιούρκας στην Παιανία (Also Giourkas at Paiania)". Athlitiki Icho (in Greek).
  7. ↑ "2003–04 Greek Cup overview" (PDF) (in Greek). Hellenic Football Federation. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  8. ↑ Biggs, Matt (7 March 2001). "Panathinaikos 1 – 1 Man Utd". The Guardian.
  9. ↑ "ΑΕΚ, Ολυμπιακός και ΠΑΟΚ οι υποψήφιες κορυφαίες ομάδες του ΠΣΑΠ (AEK, Olympiacos and PAOK the candidates for Best Team)" (in Greek). in.gr. 10 September 2001.
  10. ↑ ""Έκλεισε" στην Πόρτο για 3 χρόνια ο Σεϊταρίδης (Porto "captured" Seitaridis for 3 years)" (in Greek). in.gr. 11 June 2004.
  11. ↑ "Στο στόχαστρο της Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης ο Γιούρκας Σεϊταρίδης! (Real have their eyes on Giourkas Seitaridis)" (in Greek). in.gr. 18 June 2004.
  12. ↑ "Στο Οπόρτο ο Σεϊταρίδης για να περάσει από ιατρικές εξετάσεις (Seitaridis to Porto for his medicals)" (in Greek). in.gr. 26 July 2004.
  13. ↑ "Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (2003–04)" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  14. ↑ "Toyota Cup 2004". UEFA. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "Dinamo pay record fee for Seitaridis". UEFA. 23 May 2005.
  16. ↑ "Porto pair move to Moscow". UEFA. 13 May 2005.
  17. ↑ Sekundo, Eugene (26 August 2005). "Rising from the roubles". UEFA.
  18. ↑ Keys, Killian (17 December 2009). "Greece team of 2004 – where they are now". Backpage Football.
  19. ↑ "Six more brilliant free agents". FourFourTwo. 3 August 2009.
  20. ↑ "Greece renew Russia rivalry". UEFA. 9 January 2012.
  21. ↑ Madden, Paul (4 June 2010). "Spanish Cumpleanos: Antoni Ramallets". Goal.com.
  22. ↑ "Στην Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης ο Σεϊταρίδης μαζί με τον Κοστίνια (Seitaridis to Atlético Madrid with Costinha)" (in Greek). in.gr. 30 May 2006.
  23. ↑ "Seitaridis joins Atlético newcomers". UEFA. 16 June 2006.
  24. ↑ "Santander 0 – 1 Atl.Madrid". The Guardian. 27 August 2006.
  25. ↑ "Νέα νίκη της Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης παρά τη δεύτερη φετινή αποβολή Σεϊταρίδη (Another Atletico victory despite Seitaridis' second red card)" (in Greek). in.gr. 15 October 2006.
  26. ↑ "Seitaridis steals Gloria's thunder". UEFA. 21 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009.
  27. 1 2 "Seitaridis set for surgery". UEFA. 15 November 2007.
  28. ↑ "Εαυτόν στη διάθεση του Αγκίρε θέτει ο Σεϊταρίδης (Seitaridis feels ready to play)" (in Greek). in.gr. 3 April 2008.
  29. ↑ Papantonopoulou, Vassiliki (9 June 2008). "Seitaridis reflects on Greek expectations". UEFA.
  30. ↑ "Πιέζεται για... έξοδο από την Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης ο Γιούρκας (Giourkas pressured to exit Atletico Madrid)" (in Greek). in.gr. 16 July 2008.
  31. ↑ "Επιμένει η Μπενφίκα για την απόκτηση του Σεϊταρίδη (Benfica insists on signing Seitaridis)" (in Greek). in.gr. 1 September 2008.
  32. ↑ "Τελειώνει από την Ατλέτικο ο Σεϊταρίδης (Seitaridis finished from Atletico)" (in Greek). Eleftherotypia. 29 April 2009.
  33. 1 2 Bailey, Richard (13 May 2009). "Atletico release Seitaridis". Sky Sports.
  34. ↑ "Ο πρώην ελεύθερος Γιούρκας επέστρεψε στον Παναθηναϊκό (Ex-free agent Giourkas returns to Panathinaikos)" (in Greek). in.gr. 10 September 2009.
  35. ↑ "Πρόταση για τον Σεϊταρίδη (Offer for Seitaridis)" (in Greek). Sport24. 16 March 2012.
  36. ↑ "Ο Ντάρμπισιρ χάλασε το... πάρτι του Παναθηναϊκού στο κατάμεστο ΟΑΚΑ (Derbyshire ruined Panathinaikos' party at full OAKA)" (in Greek). in.gr. 21 March 2010.
  37. ↑ Livanios, Savvas (26 April 2010). "Το "αφεντικό" σφίγγει το ζωνάρι... (The "boss" tightens the strings)". Eleftherotypia (in Greek).
  38. ↑ "Αμφίβολη η συμμετοχή του Σεϊταρίδη στον τελικό (Seitaridis' appearance at Greek Cup Final is douptful)" (in Greek). Eleftherotypia. 20 April 2010.
  39. ↑ Livanios, Savvas (4 November 2010). "Χορεύοντας με τις θλάσεις (Dancing with muscle injuries)" (in Greek). Eleftherotypia.
  40. ↑ "Panathinaikos lose Kanté and Seitaridis". UEFA. 27 September 2010.
  41. ↑ "Στη κορυφή ο ΠΑΟ με νίκη 2–0 επί του Πανσερραϊκού και Γάλλους σκόρερ (Panathinaikos at top with a 2–0 win over Panserraikos and with French scorers)" (in Greek). in.gr. 4 December 2010.
  42. ↑ "ΠΑΟ... για ενίσχυση και ξεσκαρτάρισμα του ρόστερ (PAO vows for improvement and cleanup of the roster)" (in Greek). in.gr. 22 December 2010.
  43. ↑ "Όταν ο Γιούρκας φεύγει, ο Κάστρο έρχεται (Giourkas goes, Castro comes)" (in Greek). in.gr. 5 August 2011.
  44. ↑ "Ο Λέτο έσωσε στο τέλος τον βαθμό (Leto saved the point at the end)" (in Greek). Eleftherotypia. 17 September 2011.
  45. ↑ "Κλέιτον και Λάζαρος "οδήγησαν" τον ΠΑΟ στο "διπλό" της Τρίπολης – Αθλητισμός (Cleyton and Lazaros lead PAO to Tripoli win)" (in Greek). Tripoli: In.gr. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  46. ↑ Γιούρκας Σεϊταρίδης: 9 χρόνια μετά [Giourkas Seitaridis: 9 years later] (in Greek). Sport24.gr. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  47. ↑ "Giourkas Seitaridis profile". UEFA. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  48. 1 2 3 "Giourkas Seitaridis profile". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  49. ↑ "2002 European U-21 Championship, details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  50. ↑ "Ισοπαλία... υποσχέσεων για την εθνική (Promising draw for the national team)" (in Greek). in.gr. 13 February 2002.
  51. ↑ Sabrakos, Vasilis (12 October 2003). "Πρόκριση με λυτρωτή τον Τσιάρτα (Qualification with Tsiartas as a hero)". To Vima (in Greek).
  52. ↑ "Underdogs Greece have their day". UEFA. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  53. ↑ Νίκη-"θαύμα" της εθνικής με 2–1 την Πορτογαλία [Surprise victory for Greece with 2–1 against Portugal] (in Greek). Porto: In.gr. 12 June 2004. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  54. ↑ "Four England players in UEFA all-star squad". The Daily Telegraph. 5 July 2004.
  55. ↑ Με το μυαλό στην Ουκρανία επέστρεψε από την Τουρκία η εθνική [Greece returned from Turkey with its mind at Ukraine] (in Greek). Athens: In.gr. 5 June 2005. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  56. ↑ Greece – Hungary ESPN, June 2007
  57. ↑ "Greece squad at Euro 2008". UEFA. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  58. ↑ "Αργησε να "μπει" στο Euro η Εθνική και... βγήκε νωρίς (The national team was late to "join" the Euro and "left" early)" (in Greek). in.gr. 14 June 2008.
  59. ↑ "World Cup 2010: Greece pick Patsatzoglou & Seitaridis". BBC. 11 May 2010.
  60. ↑ "World Cup 2010: Greece boss Otto Rehhagel names squad". BBC. 1 June 2010.
  61. ↑ "Πρεμιέρα με... λάθη μοιραία και ήττα από τη Ν.Κορέα (Premiere with fatal errors and defeat from South Korea)" (in Greek). in.gr. 12 June 2010.
  62. ↑ "Giorgos Seitaridis profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  63. ↑ "Ο Σουμ έδιωξε τον Γκούμα και άφησε τον Ολισαντέμπε να ξεκουραστεί (Soum expelled Goumas and let Olizadebe rest)" (in Greek). in.gr. 6 May 2004.

External links

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