Alekos Sofianidis
Encyclopedia
Alekos Sofianidis was a former Turkish
-Greek
football player and manager. Sofianidis was a left back. He is known as Aleko Sofyanidis in Turkey
.
. Before 1950 only minorities used to play for Pera Futbol Kulübü and Taksim Futbol Kulübü. In 1948, Sofianidis transferred to Beşiktaş J.K.
, winning the Istanbul League in 1949–50 season.
In the late 1950s, Sofianidis moved to Greece
, and joined AEK Athens between 1950 and 1969. Sofianidis retired after the 1970 season as a player of Panachaiki 2005. During his career, he played 240 Greek League games in total.
seven times. He played his first national game on 15 November 1958 against Yugoslavia
. His last game for Greece
against Finland
was on 10 May 1967.
Sofianidis was appointed Greece
manager in 1988. His first game was against Hungary
(winning 3–0) on 15 November 1988. Greece played 7 times with Sofianidis as their manager, winning 3, drawing 1, and losing 3. He was also manager during the infamous friendly match between Greece
and Turkey
on 29 March 1989, losing 1–0. This was his last game with the Greece
National Football Team.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
-Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
football player and manager. Sofianidis was a left back. He is known as Aleko Sofyanidis in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Playing career
Sofianidis began his career at Pera Futbol Kulübü based in IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. Before 1950 only minorities used to play for Pera Futbol Kulübü and Taksim Futbol Kulübü. In 1948, Sofianidis transferred to Beşiktaş J.K.
Besiktas J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
, winning the Istanbul League in 1949–50 season.
In the late 1950s, Sofianidis moved to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and joined AEK Athens between 1950 and 1969. Sofianidis retired after the 1970 season as a player of Panachaiki 2005. During his career, he played 240 Greek League games in total.
National team
Sofianidis was capped by GreeceGreece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
seven times. He played his first national game on 15 November 1958 against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
. His last game for Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
against Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
was on 10 May 1967.
Managerial career
Sofianidis coached several Greek youth teams following his retirement from football in 1970. He was a gymnastics teacher by profession.Sofianidis was appointed Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
manager in 1988. His first game was against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
(winning 3–0) on 15 November 1988. Greece played 7 times with Sofianidis as their manager, winning 3, drawing 1, and losing 3. He was also manager during the infamous friendly match between Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
and Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
on 29 March 1989, losing 1–0. This was his last game with the Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
National Football Team.
A non-footballing issue
In 1968, when AEK Athens played Fenerbahçe S.K. in the Balkan Cup of 1968, Sofianidis did not accompany his club to Istanbul as he would have been liable for arrest by the Turkish authorities for failing to fulfill his military obligations.See also
Turkish-born Greek footballers:- Lefter KüçükandonyadisLefter KüçükandonyadisLefter Küçükandonyadis , born 22 December 1925 in Istanbul, is a Turkish football player of Greek descent, who is recognised as one of the greatest footballers to play for Turkey.-Early life and club career:...
- Nikos KovisNikos KovisNikos Kovis , known as Niko Kovi in Turkey, is a Turkish-Greek football player and manager. He was a central defender. He was born in Istanbul....
- Koço KasapoğluKoço KasapogluKoço Kasapoğlu, also known as Yorgo or Kostas Kasapoğlu, a former Turkey international football player. He was born in Büyükada, Istanbul....
- Aleko Yordan