Marinos Ouzounidis
Encyclopedia
Marinos Ouzounidis (born 10 October 1968) is a Greek
football manager and former soccer player.
as a defender from 1987 until 1992.
He then transferred to Panathinaikos where he developed excellent skills as a libero defender, becoming an essential member of the brilliant team that conquered 1995 and 1996 Greek league championships. During this last period, the "Green Shamrocks" reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League
.
Good performances eventually resulted in a two-year term transfer to Le Havre AC
in France
. Ouzounidis returned to the Greek league in 1999, where he played with Paniliakos
until 2001.
Ouzounidis finally left for APOEL in Cyprus
and after winning the championship in 2002, he retired there after the 2003 season.
Ouzounidis' international career comprises fifty games with the "Ethniki", and was even the team captain during Vassilis Daniil management, making a remarkable couple with Nikos Dabizas
, before Traianos Dellas
' appearance.
) as head coach.
Later, in the 2005–2006 season
, he served as an assistant manager in Xanthi
. In May 2006 he became the manager at APOEL. His first season was a very good one finishing first and winning the title 3 games before the season had ended. His team also reached the semi-finals of the Cypriot Cup. He resigned from APOEL during the second season, after four draws and three defeats in the first 15 games.
He accepted an offer from Larissa on 9 May 2008. In his first season at Larissa he was very successful driving the team in to the playoffs and securing a spot in the next Europa League. His record in the first year seemed to confirm Larissa chairman Piladakis' idea on using young Greek coaches to lead the team to success. Unfortunately his second year at Larissa began badly as the team was knocked out in the first qualifying round of the Europa League and in March 2010 the young coach was sacked due to the fact that Larissa had found themselves just above the relegation zone. On August 9, Ouzounidis signed a contract with Iraklis. On 31 January 2011, with the club being only three points above relegation he resigned from his position as manager.
He signed with his first team Skoda Xanthi
at summer 2011.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
football manager and former soccer player.
Playing career
Ouzounidis started his professional career playing for Greek club Skoda XanthiSkoda Xanthi
Skoda Xanthi F.C. , or F.C. Skoda Xanthi Athletic Club, is a Greek football club, based in the city of Xanthi. The club currently competes in the Super League Greece.-History:...
as a defender from 1987 until 1992.
He then transferred to Panathinaikos where he developed excellent skills as a libero defender, becoming an essential member of the brilliant team that conquered 1995 and 1996 Greek league championships. During this last period, the "Green Shamrocks" reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
Good performances eventually resulted in a two-year term transfer to Le Havre AC
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Ouzounidis returned to the Greek league in 1999, where he played with Paniliakos
Paniliakos
Paniliakos was founded in 1958 from the union of four teams from the city of Pyrgos...
until 2001.
Ouzounidis finally left for APOEL in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
and after winning the championship in 2002, he retired there after the 2003 season.
Ouzounidis' international career comprises fifty games with the "Ethniki", and was even the team captain during Vassilis Daniil management, making a remarkable couple with Nikos Dabizas
Nikos Dabizas
Nikolaos "Nikos" Dabizas is a retired Greek professional footballer and former Newcastle United, Leicester City, Olympiacos and Larissa defender . He was also in Greece's 2004 European Football Championship winning squad....
, before Traianos Dellas
Traianos Dellas
Traianos Dellas is a Greek international footballer currently playing as a centre back for AEK Athens in the Greek Super League...
' appearance.
Coaching career
When he finished his career as a football player, Ouzounidis managed the team of Kappadokes Alexandoupolis (4th divisionGreek Fourth Division
Delta Ethniki or Regional Championship is called the semi-professional league in Greece. The participants are divided into ten regional groups, consisting of sixteen clubs...
) as head coach.
Later, in the 2005–2006 season
2005-06 in Greek football
The 2005-06 Greek Football season saw Olympiacos claim its second consecutive and 34th Greek title in the Alpha Ethniki. However, the season was somewhat overshadowed by the suspension of the Greek FA by UEFA, which jeopardized the European places of the Champions League, UEFA Cup, and Intertoto...
, he served as an assistant manager in Xanthi
Skoda Xanthi
Skoda Xanthi F.C. , or F.C. Skoda Xanthi Athletic Club, is a Greek football club, based in the city of Xanthi. The club currently competes in the Super League Greece.-History:...
. In May 2006 he became the manager at APOEL. His first season was a very good one finishing first and winning the title 3 games before the season had ended. His team also reached the semi-finals of the Cypriot Cup. He resigned from APOEL during the second season, after four draws and three defeats in the first 15 games.
He accepted an offer from Larissa on 9 May 2008. In his first season at Larissa he was very successful driving the team in to the playoffs and securing a spot in the next Europa League. His record in the first year seemed to confirm Larissa chairman Piladakis' idea on using young Greek coaches to lead the team to success. Unfortunately his second year at Larissa began badly as the team was knocked out in the first qualifying round of the Europa League and in March 2010 the young coach was sacked due to the fact that Larissa had found themselves just above the relegation zone. On August 9, Ouzounidis signed a contract with Iraklis. On 31 January 2011, with the club being only three points above relegation he resigned from his position as manager.
He signed with his first team Skoda Xanthi
Skoda Xanthi
Skoda Xanthi F.C. , or F.C. Skoda Xanthi Athletic Club, is a Greek football club, based in the city of Xanthi. The club currently competes in the Super League Greece.-History:...
at summer 2011.
As a Player
- Super League GreeceSuper League GreeceThe Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
: 1995 and 1996. - Greek Football CupGreek football CupThe Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
: 1993Greek Cup 1992-93The Greek Cup 1992-93 was the 51st edition of The Greek Football Cup, or Greek Cup for short.-Tournament details:Totally 72 teams participated, 18 from Alpha Ethniki, 18 from Beta, and 36 from Gamma...
, 1994Greek Cup 1993-94The Greek Cup 1993-94 was the 52nd edition of The Greek Football Cup, or Greek Cup for short.-Tournament details:Totally 72 teams participated, 18 from Alpha Ethniki, 18 from Beta, and 36 from Gamma...
and 1995Greek Cup 1994-95The Greek Cup 1994-95 was the 53rd edition of The Greek Football Cup, or Greek Cup for short.-Tournament details:Totally 72 teams participated, 18 from Alpha Ethniki, 18 from Beta, and 36 from Gamma...
. - Greek Super CupGreek Super Cup-Official edition:-External links:*...
: 1993, 1994. - Cypriot First DivisionCypriot First DivisionThe Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
: 2002Cypriot First Division 2001-02- Final standings :Updated as of April 28, 2002Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = PointsSource:...
.