Ioannis Okkas

Ioannis Okkas
Personal information
Full name Yiannakis Okkas
Date of birth (1977-02-11) 11 February 1977
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Deep-lying striker, left winger
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 97 (27)
2014 Ermis Aradippou 14 (2)
Total 467 (162)
National team‡
1997–2011 Cyprus 106 (27)
Teams managed
2015 Ermis Aradippou
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 September 2014.
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:57, 11 October 2011

Giannakis 'Ioannis' Okkas (Greek: Γιάννης Οκκάς; born 11 February 1977 in Larnaca) is a retired Cypriot football striker and a football manager. 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.

Club career

Okkas started his career with Nea Salamina in the 1993–94 season, aged 17.[1] He scored the second goal in Anorthosis' 3–1 win against Apollon Limassol for the 1997–98 Cypriot Cup final.[2] In the summer of 1997 he transferred to Anorthosis Famagusta for a reported fee of £350,000.[1] In 2000 Okkas signed for Greek Superleague club PAOK for a reported 900 million greek drachmas fee.[1][3] In 2003 Okkas signed for AEK.[4] After being release from his AEK contract, due to the club's financial problems, Okkas signed for Olympiakos.[5] His league debut for Olympiacos was marked by Okkas' scoring the very first goal for Olympiacos, in the newly built Karaiskakis Stadium.[6]

In 2007, after trials with West Ham and Derby County, Okkas became the first Cypriot player to move to Spain, signing a contract with Celta Vigo.[7][8] In 2008, he returned to Cyprus to play for Omonia.[9] Okkas was released from Omonoia, in June 2009, after confronting manager Takis Lemonis on his playing position.[10][11] In 2009, he returned to Anorthosis, signing a three-year contract with the club.[12] After being released by Anorthosis, Ermis Aradippou became the fourth, and last, team, Okkas would play in the Cypriot First Division.[13] He debuted for Ermis, in an away defeat against APOEL.[14] In his second match for Ermis, Okkas scored twice to help the club get past ENP.[15]

International career

Okkas debuted for Cyprus on 15 February 1997 in a friendly 2–3 home loss against Poland.[16] He made his competitive debut in a match against Russia, on 29 March 1997, for the 1998 World Cup qualifying stage.[16] Four days later he scored his first goal for Cyprus in a 4–1 away defeat against Bulgaria.[16]

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.[17]

On 15 November 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 8 October 2010, Okkas reached 100 appearances for Cyprus national football team in a 1–2 home loss against Norway, in match that he managed to score his 26th goal for Cyprus.[18]

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.[19] After fifteen full playing years as the captain for Cyprus, Okkas announced his retirement from international football on 2 March 2012.[19] At the time of his retirement Okkas wast the most capped player for Cyprus and the second all-time scorer.[20][21]

International goals

Ioannis Okkas: International goals[16][18][19]
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

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.

Coaching career

After retiring as a professional football player, Okkas was appointed as an assistant manager in Ermis Aradippou.[22] In March 2015 he replaced Mitchell van der Gaag as manager of Ermis Aradippou.[1][23] He was dismissed from his position at Ermis on May 11.

Honours

Anorthosis
PAOK
Olympiacos

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Pafitis, Simos (11 April 2015). "Έτοιμος από καιρό ο Οκκάς (Okkas was ready)" (in Greek). sport24.com.cy. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Κύπελλο 1997 - 1998" (in Greek). anorthosis1911.net. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Από τα ασπρόμαυρα στα ερυθρόλευκα: Οι παίκτες που έπαιξαν σε Ολυμπιακό και ΠΑΟΚ" (in Greek). contra.gr. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Στην ΑΕΚ υπέγραψε ο Γ.Οκκάς - Συμφώνησε με την «Ένωση» και ο Β.Τσάρτας" (in Greek). in.gr. 2 July 2003. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Έμεινε ελεύθερος από την ΑΕΚ, υπέγραψε στον Ολυμπιακό ο Οκκάς" (in Greek). in.gr. 2 August 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Έκλεισε 10 χρόνια ζωής το νέο "Καραϊσκάκης"" (in Greek). sport24.gr. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Okkas on trial with Derby". SKY Sports. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Cypriot first for Okkas and Celta". UEFA.com. 6 September 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Στην Ομόνοια ο Οκκάς" (in Greek). sport24.gr. 25 July 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Ο Μαρσελίνιο, ο Οκκάς κι ο αδιαπραγμάτευτος Λεμονής" (in Greek). sigmalive.com. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "Τέλος από την Ομόνοια ο Οκκάς" (in Greek). sport24.gr. 27 June 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Υπέγραψε στην Ανόρθωση ο Οκκάς" (in Greek). sport24.gr. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  13. ↑ "Στον Ερμή ο Οκκάς". sport-fm.gr. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  14. ↑ "ΑΠΟΕΛ-Ερμής 3-0: "Τριάρα" με το γκάζι πατημένο" (in Greek). balla.com.cy. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "Με ηγέτη τον Οκκά δεν «κολλάει» πουθενά!" (in Greek). Sentra Goal - Cyprus. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Γιάννος Οκκάς: 99 συμμετοχές... 25 τέρματα (Yannis Okkas: 99 caps, 25 goals)" (in Greek). Sentra Goal Cyprus. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  17. ↑ World Soccer review
  18. 1 2 "Οκκάς… όνομα βαρύ σαν ιστορία" (in Greek). sigmalive.com. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 "Cyprus striker Okkas gives up international game". UEFA.com. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "Από την “Μικτή Κύπρου” … στην Εθνική Κύπρου!!!" (in Greek). omonoia24.com. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  21. ↑ "Ομόνοια-Ανόρθωση: Οι Διόσκουροι φορούν γαλανόλευκα" (in Greek). balla.com.cy. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "Βοηθός προπονητή ο Οκκάς" (in Greek). pamesports.gr. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "Προπονητής ο Γιάννης Οκκάς! (Okkas will be appointed as manager)". sentragoal.gr. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
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