Dimitris Salpigidis

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Personal information
Dimitris Salpigidis

Full name	Dimitris Salpigidis
Date of birth	August 10, 1981 (age 25)
Place of birth	Salonika, Greece
Height	1,72 m
Nickname	Salpi
Position	striker
Club information
Current club	Panathinaikos
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1999-00 2000-01 2000-01 2001-06 2006-	AE Larissa PAOK AO Kavalas (on loan) PAOK Panathinaikos	7 (0) 15 (5) 28 (20) 103 (50) 12 (10)
National team**
2005-	Greece	11 (0)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 December 2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of 16 August 2006.

Dimitris Salpigidis (Greek: Δημήτρης Σαλπιγγίδης born 10 August 1981) is a Greek footballer of Panathinaikos.

[edit] Playing Career

Salpigidis moved to PAOK while still a youngster. PAOK loaned him for three years to Kavala FC. At the end of his third year at Kavala, Salpigidis was the top scorer in the Second Division. He then publicly pleaded PAOK to return him to Toumba Stadium.

Salpigidis showed a vast amount of talent when he returned to PAOK FC, playing as a right midfielder. Gradually, he earned a place in the first eleven, just a few months after returning from loan.

After a year and the loss of such players as Cypriot striker Ioannis Okkas and prolific ex-Newcastle United forward Giorgos Georgiadis, both signing for arch-rivals Olympiakos, Salpigidis, at age 21, was made captain of the team, and started playing as center forward. Soon he proved his natural sense for goals, and he was converted to a striker. His significance in PAOK was so great that he was given permission to miss a match with the Greek Olympic team so he could participate in a clashing UEFA Champions League qualifier (June 2004).

On the 20th of August 2006, during his debut with Panathinaikos in the Super League, "Salpi" scored a hat-trick, helping his new team win 1-4.

[edit] Transfer Serial

In the summer of 2006, Dimitris was a potential transfer target for Greek clubs such as Olympiakos, AEK and Panathinaikos. Finally on August the 16th, after a lengthy negotiation period, Dimitris agreed to continue his career in Panathinaikos. In addition to his transfer from Salonika to Athens, FC PAOK received 1.8 million € and 3 players (Sandor Torghelle, Kostas Chalarambidis and Thanasis Tsigas) on a two year loan from Panathinaikos. His move to Panathinaikos is the most expensive Greek player transfer in the history of the Greek football league (Super League Greece) with a total cost of 5 million €.