Ioannis Okkas
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yiannakis Okkas | ||
| Date of birth | February 11, 1977 | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Deep-lying striker, left winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Ermis Aradippou | ||
| Number | 77 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1993–1997 | Nea Salamina | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1993–1997 | Nea Salamina | 53 | (16) |
| 1997–2000 | Anorthosis Famagusta | 72 | (51) |
| 2000–2003 | PAOK | 80 | (28) |
| 2003–2004 | AEK Athens | 24 | (5) |
| 2004–2007 | Olympiakos | 77 | (18) |
| 2007–2008 | Celta Vigo | 24 | (6) |
| 2008–2009 | AC Omonia | 23 | (9) |
| 2009–2014 | Anorthosis Famagusta | 100 | (27) |
| 2014 | Ermis Aradippou | 1 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1997–2011 | Cyprus | 106 | (27) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 February 2014. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Giannakis 'Ioannis' Okkas (Greek: Γιάννης Οκκάς; born February 11, 1977 in Larnaca) is a Cypriot football striker, who currently plays for Anorthosis Famagusta FC. He was also the captain of the Cyprus national football team for many years and he is the 2nd leading scorer of all time just behind Michalis Konstantinou, scoring in total 27 goals for Cyprus. With 106 national caps since 1997, Okkas has made more appearances for Cyprus than any other player in history.
International career
At the age of 19, Okkas was called into the Cypriot national team, and remained a regular fixture in the following decade, passing the 50-cap mark in 2003.
He scored three goals in his side's failed attempts to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, and was also on target in Euro 2004's qualifying stage, 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.[1]
On November 15, 2006, Okkas netted in a surprising Euro 2008 qualifier draw with giants Germany. He started captaining the national squad since the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
On October 8, 2010, Okkas reached 100 appearances with the Cyprus national football team against Norway in Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. In the same match, he managed to score his 26th goal but Cyprus lost 1-2.
After fifteen full playing years as the captain for Cyprus, Okkas announced his retirement from international football on 2 March 2012. On 11 October 2011, he played for the last time with the national side, in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group H match against Norway in Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, where he scored his last goal for the Cypriot national team.
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.
International goals
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 April 1997 | Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria |  Bulgaria | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1998 World Cup qualifying |
| 2 | 5 February 1998 | Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus |  Finland | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 6 February 2000 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Romania | 1–0 | 3–2 | Cyprus International Tournament |
| 4 | 15 November 2000 | Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus |  Andorra | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2002 World Cup qualifying |
| 5 | 15 November 2000 | Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus | Andorra | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2002 World Cup qualifying |
| 6 | 28 February 2001 | GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus |  Ukraine | 1–1 | 4–3 | Cyprus International Tournament |
| 7 | 28 March 2001 | Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus |  Estonia | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2002 World Cup qualifying |
| 8 | 14 November 2001 | Kesariani Stadium, Athens, Greece |  Greece | 0–1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 9 | 7 September 2002 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  France | 1–0 | 1–2 | Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 10 | 20 November 2002 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Malta | 2–0 | 2–1 | Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 11 | 9 October 2004 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Faroe Islands | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 12 | 17 November 2004 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Israel | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 13 | 26 March 2005 | GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus |  Jordan | 2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 14 | 1 March 2006 | Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus |  Armenia | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 15 | 11 October 2006 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Wales | 3–1 | 3–1 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 16 | 15 November 2006 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Germany | 1–1 | 1–1 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 17 | 6 February 2007 | Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus |  Hungary | 2–0 | 2–1 | Cyprus International Tournament |
| 18 | 22 August 2007 | Stadio Olimpico (San Marino), Serravalle, San Marino |  San Marino | 0–1 | 0–1 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 19 | 8 September 2007 | Dasaki Stadium, Achna, Cyprus | Armenia | 2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 20 | 13 October 2007 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus | Wales | 1–1 | 3–1 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 21 | 13 October 2007 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus | Wales | 2–1 | 3–1 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 22 | 11 February 2009 | Makario Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Slovakia | 3–0 | 3–2 | Cyprus International Tournament |
| 23 | 9 September 2009 | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro |  Montenegro | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2010 World Cup qualifying |
| 24 | 14 October 2009 | Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma, Italy |  Italy | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2010 World Cup qualifying |
| 25 | 3 September 2010 | Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães, Portugal |  Portugal | 3–3 | 4–4 | Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 26 | 8 October 2010 | Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus |  Norway | 1–2 | 1–2 | Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 27 | 11 October 2011 | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | Norway | 2–1 | 3–1 | Euro 2012 qualifying |
References
External links
- Ioannis Okkas at National-Football-Teams.com
- Stats and profile at zerozero.pt