Ioannis Okkas
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| Ioannis Okkas | ||
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ioannis Okkas | |
| Date of birth | February 11, 1977 | |
| Place of birth | Larnaca, Cyprus | |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 81⁄2 in) | |
| Playing position | Forward | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Celta de Vigo | |
| Number | 11 | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| 1993-1997 | Nea Salamina | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1993-1997 1997-2000 2000-2003 2003-2004 2004-2007 2007– |
Nea Salamis FC Anorthosis Famagusta PAOK AEK Athens Olympiacos Celta de Vigo |
53 (16) 72 (41) 80 (28) 24 (5) 77 (15) 15 (5) |
| National team | ||
| 1997– | Cyprus | 76 (18) |
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1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Ioannis Okkas, sometimes Giannakis Okkas , (born February 11, 1977 in Larnaca, Cyprus) is a football striker who currently plays for Spanish club Celta de Vigo. He also plays for the Cyprus national football team.
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[edit] Club
Now renowned as one of the most talented players to emerge from Cyprus, he started his career at the age of 16 with Nea Salamis FC and joined Anorthosis Famagusta FC four years later after 16 goals in 53 matches.
1997: Joining the league champions was a step up for Okkas, who helped Anorthosis make it four titles in a row.
2000: Okkas signed for PAOK FC and scored seven times during a first year which brought success in the Greek Cup and the Cypriot Player of the Year award. In the final against Olympiakos, Okkas scored two goals and PAOK won 4-2. He missed just one league game in his final season at PAOK, scoring eleven goals before joining AEK Athens FC.
2003: It was a tough first full season at AEK for Okkas, who scored just five goals. Following a FIFA intervention over unpaid wages, however, he secured a fresh start at Olympiacos CFP in August, signing a three-year contract.
2004/05: In his first season in Piraeus, Okkas played in 25 league matches including 19 substitute appearances and scored five times as the club completed the double. Notably, the first goal he scored was also Olympiacos' in the newly re-built Karaiskákis Stadium. In addition, he featured in all six UEFA Champions League matches.
2005/2006: Joined by the other Cypriot star Michalis Konstantinou, Okkas had a similarly successful season, celebrating another double. Both of his most memorable performances came against former team AEK. He scored and was declared MVP in the first derby, that ended 1-3 in favour of Olympiacos and also scored the first goal in the repeat triumph. His propensity to miss goal scoring opportunities however made him a scapegoat for the Olympiacos fans whenever the team didn't perform well.
In July 2007, there were rumors that he would sign up with the English side Derby County but eventually, in August 2007, Okkas signed a one year deal with Segunda División club Real Club Celta de Vigo.
For the season 2008-2009, interest in Okkas has been shown by Spanish side Malaga, German side VfL Bochum, English side Stoke City as well as Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta.
[edit] National team
At the age of 19, he was called into the Cypriot national team and has been a regular ever since, passing the 50-cap mark in 2003. He scored three goals in his side's failed attempts to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and was also on target in UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying, notably against France, in which Cyprus lost 1-2, but with fine displays from Okkas, including a delicate chip that left French keeper Grégory Coupet completely stranded. Okkas was also responsible for scoring the goal that drawed a Euro 2008 qualifier match with giants Germany. He has captained his national squad since the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
[edit] Trivia
For two consecutive years, Okkas scored the first league goal of the season in Greece, with AEK in 2003-04 and Olympiacos the next season.
[edit] External links
- Okkas UEFA profile
- Okkas in the Cyprus-France match
- Okkas in Olympiakos kit
- Okkas in Celta de Vigo kit
- Okkas in Cyprus kit
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