Kostas Nikolaidis

Kostas Nikolaidis (born 10 September 1944) is a former Greek international striker. During his presence in 1st division of Greek Football he scored 100 goals which ranks him amongst the best scorers in the history of the organisation.[2][3][4]

Kostas Nikolaidis
Personal information
Full name Konstantinos Nikolaidis
Date of birth (1944-09-10) 10 September 1944
Place of birth Safraboli, Greece
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1958–1959 PAO Safrabolis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1959–1965 PAO Safrabolis
1965–1973 AEK Athens 224 (94)
1973–1974 PAS Giannina 41 (14)
1974–1976 Apollon Athens 23 [a] (6 [a])
Total 271 (100)
National team
1962 Greece U19 10 (0)
1971–1973 Greece 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life

Born in Safrabolis a district of Nea Ionia in Athens, Nikolaidis had also descent from North Epirus, where his father, Elias left in 1918 during the World War I. His love for football brought him on the door of the local PAO Safrabolis' youth team, in 1958 where at the age of 14 made his first tryout in order to join the club. The tryout was unsuccessful as he has turned down by the team's coach Krassas, but eventually, a year later Nikolaidis managed to join PAO Safrabolis after a second tryout.[4]

Club career

Making his first steps in youth team of PAO Safrabolis in 1959, at the age of 15, Nikolaidis established quickly in the ranks of the club making into the first team one year later. After a very successful 6-year, managing to promote the club from the local divisions of Athens to 2nd division of Greece he caught the interest of AEK Athens. In 1965 Nikolaidis, as well as other players from Safrabolis, was transferred at AEK at the age of 21 and became a regular after his impressive performances in the frendlies. There he formed a deadly attacking duo with the legendary Mimis Papaioannou which helped the club's success. During his time at AEK he won 2 Greek Championships and 1 Greek Cup.

In 1973 after he was released from AEK Nikolaidis signed for PAS Giannina. There he spent a season winning 2nd division championship and the club was promoted to 1st division.

The following season Nikolaidis was transferred to Apollon Athens,[5] where he played 2 season winning again the 2nd division championship and playing his final season at the top tear of Greece.[6] Except his impressive 100-goal-scoring in the Greek Championship, Nikolaidis managed to score in 8 consecutive league games being one of 4 players that ever achieved that, along with Sideris, Demis Nikolaidis and Mitroglou.[7][4]

In 1976 he joined Olympiakos Neon Liosion,[8] in which finished his career after the end of the 1976–77 season.

International career

Nikolaidis earned four caps for Greece between 1971 and 1973. He made his debut on 17 November 1971, in a friendly match against Bulgaria which ended in a 2–2 draw.[9][10] He also made 10 appearances with Greece U19.[4]

Club statistics
Club performance League Cup Europe Total
ClubSeason AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
AEK Athens 1965–66 211133002414
1966–67 2411341013716
1967–68 301841403819
1968–69 291010403410
1969–70 251210002612
1970–71 341588204423
1971–72 331033213814
1972–73 28734423513
Total 224942623264276121
PAS Giannina 1973–74 Beta Ethniki
Apollon Athens 1974–75
1975–76 2360000236
Career total 2471002623264299127

Honours

AEK Athens

PAS Giannina

Apollon Athens

Notes
a. ^ Does not include 2nd division stats for Apollon Athens.

References
  1. Kostas Nikolaidis A.E.K. FC Database
  2. Super League 2011-12: onsports.gr Οι «χρυσοί» αριθμοί (27-08-2011)
  3. sports.in.gr Αφιέρωμα στην ιστορία του ελληνικού ποδοσφαίρου ενόψει της νέας περιόδου
  4. "Κώστας Νικολαίδης".
  5. "Και ο Νικολαΐδης υπέγραψε χθές στον Απόλλωνα", εφ. Αθλητική Ηχώ, 22/8/1974, σελ. 5
  6. rsssf Greece 1975/76
  7. sentragoal.gr Ο Σιδέρης, οι Νικολαΐδηδες και ο Μήτρογλου
  8. "Ο βετεράνος Νικολαΐδης κατέληξε στα Λιόσια", εφ. Αθλητική Ηχώ, 11/8/1976, σελ. 5
  9. ΕΠΟ, Εθνική Ανδρών, συμμετοχές-γκολ
  10. ΕΠΟ, Αγώνες Εθνικής Ανδρών (1971–1975)
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