Apostolos Giannou

Apostolos Giannou (Greek: Απόστολος Γιάννου; born 25 January 1990) is a Greek-Australian footballer who currently plays for Superleague Greece club Asteras Tripoli.

Career

Early life and career

Giannou was born in Naousa, Greece, but moved to Australia at a young age and grew up in Melbourne, Victoria. In Australia he was known as Paul.

Giannou played junior football for Oakleigh Cannons and South Melbourne. Following state representative honours at under-14 and under-15 level, Giannou was selected for the VIS by Ernie Merrick. He took part in Melbourne Victory's pre-season friendlies prior to the 2006–07 A-League season with an intention of being signed in an apprenticeship capacity. However, Giannou secured a two-week trial with PSV Eindhoven's Reserve and Academy teams.^[1] Giannou was assured that if he did not sign with the Dutch club, he could return to Melbourne Victory.^[2] Despite the unsuccessful trial, Giannou came back to Melbourne and signed a six-month contract with Victorian Premier League side Oakleigh Cannons.

Apollon Kalamarias

By mid-2007, Giannou was transferred to Greek second division side Apollon Kalamarias. Giannou netted his first goal for Apollon Kalamarias in late 2008, an 81st minute consolation goal in a 3–1 defeat at home to Kerkyra.^[3] Giannou would go on to score 5 more times in the 2008–2009 Beta Ethniki season before being transferred to Kavala, who had gained promotion to Superleague Greece for the 2009–10 season, on a five-year contract.

Kavala

On 21 November 2009 Giannou debuted for Kavala where he was substituted on after 79 minutes, after being played through on goal Giannou neatly passed the ball into the back of the net on the 88th minute mark to seal a 2–1 victory against AEK Athens.^[4][5] Down the track, Giannou was one of five Australians in the Greek side as the club welcomed the arrivals of Robert Stambolziev, Zeljko Kalac, Andreas Govas and Craig Moore.

P.A.O.K.

After the relegation of Kavala, Zisis Vryzas had brought him to PAOK and Giannou was set free and on 30 September 2011 signed a three-year-contract with P.A.O.K.^[6] He made his first appearance for the club during the 2011–12 season in a 0–0 draw against OFI Crete on 16 October, where he was substituted onto the field for Vladimir Ivic in the 78th minute.^[7] Giannou scored his first goals for the club, a brace, in a 2–0 away victory against OFI on 11 February.^[8]

Panionios

On 2 September 2013 Panionios proceeded to a significant addition to its roster, by announcing the acquisition of Giannou. The 23-year-old striker was released by PAOK, as it was not in the plans of Huub Stevens, but did not stay for long time as unemployed and immediately signing a two-years' contract with the club.^[9]

Asteras Tripoli

On 9 June 2015, Giannou signed a three years' contract with Asteras Tripoli for an undisclosed fee.^[10] He scored on his debut against Panthrakikos F.C. he also scored 2 matchdays later a penalty against Kaloni F.C. On 27 September 2015, on the 5th day of the 2015-16 season he scored in a 2-1 away loss against Levadiakos.^[11] On 5 October 2015, he scored the only goal of his club in a 1-1 home draw against Platanias F.C. On 25 October 2015, after three consecutive unsuccessful results, he scored twice, one with a penalty-kick in the 2-1 away win against PAS Giannina. He was named man of the match.^[12] On 5 November 2015, Asteras Tripoli ended a run of seven European games without a win to breathe life into their flagging group campaign, by winning APOEL FC. Giannou scored the second goal in a 2-0 home win in the extra time of first half after Pablo Mazza's assist.^[13][14] It was his first goal in UEFA campaigns. On 29 November 2015, was anointed scorer with a second attempt after the successful repulse of the penalty from Roberto in overtime in a 3-1 away loss against Greek champions Olympiakos.^[15] On 5 December 2015, he scored the only goal in the 2-1 home loss against Iraklis, ^[16] that keeping the unbeaten tradition against Asteras Tripoli. On 2 January 2016, he scored twice to a comfortable 4-0 home win against Panthrakikos. ^[17] With these goals, he scored his eleventh goal in this year's season setting a new personal season's scoring record after last year's 10 goals with Panionios. ^[18]

International career

In 2006 Giannou represented the Australia under-17 team at the AFC U-17 Championship 2006 Qualification. Giannou scored in Australia's 3–1 win against Indonesia.^[19] Giannou was the only Victorian player selected for Australia's under-17 side that took part in the International Youth Football tournament in Niigata, Japan. The team finished top of their respective group as Giannou scored a goal in a 5–1 win against Albirex Niigata.^[20]

In 2008 Giannou represented the Greece under-19 team at the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification where Greece qualified for the Championship finals, he played alongside Australian Dean Bouzanis. Under coach Alexis Alexiou, Giannou appeared twice at the European Under-19 Championships when he was substituted on in a 1–1 draw against Italy and started in a 3–0 loss against England as Greece finished at the bottom of their group.^{[21][22][23][24]}

On 5 September 2010 Giannou returned to the international stage after two years' absence, he was selected for the Greece under-21 team for a 2011 European Under-21 Championship qualifier against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which Greece won 2–1.^[25][26][27]

On 24 March 2015, Apostolos Giannou was selected for the Greek National Team for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Hungary.^[28]

On 18 October 2015, a race between Australia and Greece to nail down the international allegiance of on-fire striker Giannou is looming, as the dual nationality hitman hovers between both nations. The 25 year old marksman was born in Greece but spent his formative years in Melbourne, and has represented both countries at youth level. Despite being on the bench for Greece in its Euro 2016 qualifier against Hungary earlier this year, Giannou could still be available for Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos. And the prospect of a reunion with Postecoglou, who coached him at Under-17 level with the Joeys before Giannou returned to the land of his birth nearly eight years ago, is something he says he would savour as Football Federation Australia officials assess whether he meets the eligibility criteria enshrined within FIFA regulations. Giannou has been on and off the Socceroos radar since 2009 when he and Craig Moore, his then teammate at Greek side Kavala, were part of a train-on squad made up of European-based Australians ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Nearly two years later, while at PAOK, Socceroos scouts went to watch Giannou twice, only for then coach Huub Stevens to leave him out, a move which Giannou said was “devastating”.^[29]

On 5 November 2015, Apostolos Giannou was selected for the Greek National Team for the upcoming friendly matches against Luxembourg and Turkey.^[30] On 17 November he made his debut with the Greek national team as a late substitute for Kostas Mitroglou in a 0-0 away draw against Turkey.^[31]

References

External links

• Apostolos Giannou – UEFA competition record