Sotirios Kyrgiakos is a former professional footballer from Greece, known for his role as a central defender.
He began his professional career at Panathinaikos F.C., where he won the Greek League and Greek Cup in 2004.
Kyrgiakos had a successful stint at Rangers F.C., winning the Scottish Premier League and Scottish League Cup in 2005.
Biography
Early Life
Sotirios Kyrgiakos was born in Greece and began his football journey with a local team, Thyella Megalochoriou. His talent was quickly recognized, leading him to join the Panathinaikos football academy at the start of the 1996–97 season. He honed his skills at the club's training ground in Paiania, where he became known for his defensive prowess.
Club Career
Kyrgiakos made his professional debut with Panathinaikos, where he enjoyed significant success, winning the Greek League and Greek Cup in the 2003–04 season against their rivals Olympiacos. In 2005, he moved to Rangers F.C., where he won the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish League Cup in the 2004–05 season, scoring two goals in the League Cup final. His career continued with stints at Eintracht Frankfurt, AEK Athens, Liverpool F.C., and Sunderland A.F.C., before concluding with a brief period at Sydney Olympic FC in 2014.
International Career
Kyrgiakos made his senior international debut for Greece on February 13, 2002, and scored his first goal a year later. He was part of the squad that qualified for the Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, although he missed the Euro 2004 triumph due to injury. He retired from international football in 2010 after earning 61 caps and scoring four goals, citing internal conflicts within the national team as a factor in his decision.
Legacy
Kyrgiakos is remembered as a formidable central defender, known for his leadership on the field and contributions to both club and country. His journey from local football to international recognition showcases his dedication and skill in the sport.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Kyrgiakos made his first football steps with a local team, Thyella Megalochoriou. It did not take long for him to be recognized. At the start of the 1996–97 season he became a member of the Panathinaikos football academy. He is well known as alani. He lived and played football at the Paiania athletic complex, the club's training ground. 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 Kyrgiakos 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. The centre-back injuries at his parent club, Panathinaikos, just before the Third Qualifying round matches with Slavia Prague for the 2000–01 Champions League meant that he had to return to Paiania and become a regular member of the starting line-up. In the 2003–04 season, Kyrgiakos won with Panathinaikos the Greek League and Greek Cup against the eternal rival Olympiacos.
Rangers
The following January, Kyrgiakos joined Rangers during the 2004–05 season with a view to a permanent deal. 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. He initially failed to agree terms with Rangers and held talks with Everton, Portsmouth and Schalke 04 and the Italian club Genoa before finally agreeing a one-year deal with Rangers. He scored a famous…
Kyrgiakos made his senior international debut on 13 February 2002 against Sweden, scoring his first goal against Norway one year later on 13 February 2003. Kyrgiakos was unavailable to Greece for Euro 2004 due to a knee injury, missing out on their historic triumph. He scored three goals during Euro 2008 qualifiers and was selected in the final squad to represent Greece in the final tournament. Kyrgiakos also contributed to the qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In a surprising decision, he announced his retirement from the Greece national team on 13 August 2010. Kyrgiakos ended his international career prematurely with 61 caps and four goals for Greece because of in-fighting within the Greece national team.
- Club
- VfL Wolfsburg (2011–2013)
- Club
- AEK Athens F.C. (2008–2009)
- Club
- Sunderland A.F.C. (2012–2013)
- Club
- Eintracht Frankfurt (2006–2008)
- Club
- Agios Nikolaos F.C. (1999–2001)
- Club
- A.E.K. (2008–2009)
- League
- Bundesliga
- League
- Premier League
- National team
- Greece
- Club
- Liverpool F.C. (2009–2011)
- Club
- Sydney Olympic FC (2014–2014)
- Club
- Rangers F.C. (2005–2006)
- Club
- Panathinaikos F.C. (1998–2005)
- Club
- Greece national under-21 football team (2001–2001)
- Club
- Greece men's national football team (2002–2010)
Legacy
Panathinaikos
Alpha Ethniki: 2003–04 Greek Cup: 2003–04 Rangers
Scottish Premier League: 2004–05 Scottish League Cup: 2004–05
Clubs
- Panathinaikos F.C.1998–2005
- Agios Nikolaos F.C.1999–2001
- Greece national under-21 football team2001–2001
- Greece men's national football team2002–2010
- Rangers F.C.2005–2006
- Eintracht Frankfurt2006–2008
- A.E.K.2008–2009
- AEK Athens F.C.2008–2009
- Liverpool F.C.2009–2011
- VfL Wolfsburg2011–2013
- Sunderland A.F.C.2012–2013
- Sydney Olympic FC2014–2014
Played together with
Aaron HuntVfL Wolfsburg · 2014–2015
Aaron RamseyRangers F.C. · 2022–2022- Aarón GalindoEintracht Frankfurt · 2007–2008
Aarón ÑíguezRangers F.C. · 2008–2009
Abdoulaye MéïtéPanathinaikos F.C. · 2013–2013- Abdul Jeleel AjagunPanathinaikos F.C. · 2013–2016
- Abel XavierLiverpool F.C. · 2001–2002
- Abel XavierLiverpool F.C. · 2002–2003
- Adam HammillLiverpool F.C. · 2006–2009
Adam JohnsonSunderland A.F.C. · 2012–2016
Adam LallanaLiverpool F.C. · 2014–2020
Adam MatthewsSunderland A.F.C. · 2015
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Sotirios Kyrgiakos is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a central defender.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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