Sotirios Kyrgiakos was born at Megalochori, Trikala on July 23, 1979 and he made his first football steps with a local team, Thyella Megalochoriou. It didn’t take long for him to be recognized. At the start of the 1996-97 season he became a member of the Panathinaikos soccer academy. He lived and played soccer at the Paiania athletic complex, the club’s training ground. From a small age he learned what it means to be a champion taking part in various tournaments abroad and winning many trophies with Panathinaikos. In the wake of the 1999-2000 season he became a member of Agios Nikolaos, a second division club and won the respect of president Lampros Maris whom Sotirios considers as his second father. He stayed with Agios Nikolaos for two years and in 2001 he took part in the pre-season camp at OFI Krete. The centre-back injuries at his parent club, Panathinaikos, just before the 3rd Qualifying round matches with Sparta Prague for the 2000-2001 Champions League meant that he had to return to Paiania and become a regular member of the starting line-up. Since then he was ever-present for the club until January 2004 when he signed a contract with Rangers having earlier won the Greek League and Cup double in Greece. With his new club he won a second consecutive championship and also the Scottish League Cup scoring two goals in the 5-1 win against Motherwell in the final. In July 2006 Sotirios Kyrgiakos signs a two year contract with Eintracht Frankfurt. In July 2008 Sotirios Kyrgiakos signs a contract with AEK FC. On 18 August 2009 Kyrgiakos announced on his website that he will be joining Liverpool.[7] It was announced by Liverpool on 19 August 2009 that he will sign for the club subject to a medical being completed before the 21 August.[1]
Kyrgiakos story--Playing style. Well, as I promised here is the Kyrgiakos story. I am glad to see that his CV has been posted, so we can cover his playing style. His career started at 2001, after an injury crisis at Panathinaikos defenders (history repeats itself) at exactly the same period of the season. He was unwnon, playing for a 3rd devision side, and he's called to start at a Ch. League qualification game. His class was obvious from the first minute. Pure class, calm, determined, clean marking, concenrated, but not nervous, unlike from greek defenders who are strong and that's about it. His style, believe it or not, changed from a single play 2 years earlier. His was of course a starter at Panathinaikos, a star of the team. Two games before the final of the season they played away at Olympiakos, the fierce rivals. A win, a draw, or even a loss with just one goal would give them the long waited championship. They lost 3-0... Not only that, Kyrgiakos, made a crucial mistake in the second goal of Olympiakos and was later in the game involved in this: http://mpala.files.wordpress.com/200...s_kyriakos.jpg Yes, he is the guy under :-( That image still haunts him. Imagine Carra in a situation like this, under, let's say Ferdinand.... SInce that, he changed completely. Years have passed and he still plays every single game like he's trying to prove to everyvbody he's a badass and not a sissy. Overreacting to everything on the pitch, playing the bad guy, growing long hair to go with the new image. So, he evolved to this: Very strong, fare pace, agility and accelaration, if we take his size into consideration. He behaves like Carra on the pitch. Hard tackles, charges, fearless challenges. Shouts at everyone, orders everybody to do what he thinks is right. Never dwells on the ball, very concentrated on defening and that's it. No Agger classy style of play, no forward runs, just defending. Stonger part? Heading. Tremendous force. Remember that thunderbolt form Sami against Arsenal in the Ch. League game at Anfield. Well, Sami had all the time in the world to do it, to send it to hit the post and go in. Kyrgiakos would do it under any marking, against the biggest guys in the league. His headers are like Stevie's shots (well, nothing is like it, but you get the picture). It's not just his height, he has excellent balence, timing and body control. Consider him a force in the air, not only defending, but be sure to expect goals from him. All Greece has to do to create an opportunity is send it to his head. Biggest problem. Hands. Toooooooo much use of them. Pulling shirt ALL the time, grabbing, throwing everybody down. In Greece he gets away with it, he's a big star. I think referees and crowd will love his strong, clean tackles, but I see him in big, big trouble with the usage of his hands. Yeah, he can reduce it, but years have passed and now it's a big part of his game, I dont think he can defend without it. Again, i tell you, tooooo much use of them, giving away unnecessary fouls, (not to say penalties...). That's about it. And since I am a journalist, one last thing for you, that will be in the greek press tomorrow. It's probably an one-year-loan.... Sorry, for the big post, thought you might wanted to know things about this unknown guy, even if he's the 4rth central defender. ................................................................................................. Taken from another forum, writting by a greek Journo. Think im liking about the guy is his height.Think it will give us more of a option in the air with sami gone.It will also give us a chance to work on our set plays as some times they can be dismal. thing i dont like about him is his hands!!!! appartently he uses them too much and the refs in the premier league are cutting back on this , this season, with shirt pulling being a straight yellow card.Also the fact he seems to give away alot of penalities..
My boss said he remembers him at Rangers one of the Derby's and Bellamy made a mug of him.. Said he is a useless player.. I'll wait to make my own mind up..
He was absolute muck, but maybe he's matured into a good player. Cant see him being overly used anyway.
I think we can alway remember games where top defenders were made to look like mugs. I remember a midweek game against Arsenal when Henry made Hyypia look poor.
And Torres and Pepe And Torres and Terry And Torres and Ben Haim The list goes on...back on topic i dont think this chap will get used that much perhaps if he likes to organize the back hes more cover for carra than anything
With a bit of luck, that'll be enough to scare off those trying to get the ball in the back of our net I really hope he fits in and does a decent job when called upon.
Hopefully he can do the job for us, haven't heard of him before but that doesn't mean too much. We will see how it goes.