Michael Theoklitos
Encyclopedia
Michael Theoklitos is an Australia
n football (soccer) player for the Brisbane Roar.
in England as a youngster, where he only played three games due to an injury sustained shortly after his arrival. He then moved back to Australia to play in the Victorian Premier League
(VPL) for Bulleen Zebras
. In a VPL final, he saved three of four penalties to help Bulleen to victory.
In the 2008/09 season, Theoklitos was part of Melbourne Victory's grand-final success, keeping five clean sheets at the end of the season. He earned another call-up to the Australian national squad for the match against Kuwait on 5 March 2009, but did not play.
In May 2009, Theoklitos declined a contract extension. In July 2009, it was confirmed that he would be leaving Melbourne Victory, with his contract expiring on 30 July. In early July 2009, he signed a two-year contract with English League One side Norwich City
.
at Carrow Road
, conceding five goals before half-time and seven in total. He described the match as "the worst performance I've had in my career" to BBC Radio Norfolk. Despite the performance, Theoklitos still had the support of manager Bryan Gunn
, a former goalkeeper himself. However, Gunn did not have the support of the Norwich board, and was replaced by Colchester manager Paul Lambert
, who had engineered the 7–1 defeat. Under Lambert, Theoklitos was demoted to third-choice goalkeeper.
He was recalled to the first-team bench for a Football League Trophy
match against Gillingham
, but according to the club he failed to show up for the match, causing the club to discipline him. Theoklitos denied the claim, saying "It's not that I did not turn up but I was half an hour late" because "I got my wires mixed up".
Lambert confirmed in December 2009 that he expected Theoklitos to be leaving the club. Theoklitos' contract was terminated by mutual consent in March 2010. His debut match was the only one he played for the Canaries.
Theoklitos registered a second clean sheet against Sydney FC
in round two.
Following the 3–0 loss to Melbourne Victory
, Theoklitos had gone 876 minutes without conceding a goal, setting a new record for the most minutes without conceding a goal in an Australian League—beating former recordholder Jeff Olver
's record of 790 minutes. Theoklitos won the Goalkeeper of the Year award for the 2010/11 A-League season.
's national association, but so far has only featured for Australia.
:
With Brisbane Roar:
Personal Honours:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer) player for the Brisbane Roar.
Early career
Theoklitos made several appearances in the Australian National Soccer League before moving away to BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in England as a youngster, where he only played three games due to an injury sustained shortly after his arrival. He then moved back to Australia to play in the Victorian Premier League
Victorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
(VPL) for Bulleen Zebras
Bulleen Zebras
Whittlesea Zebras is an Australian association football club based in Epping, Melbourne. The Zebras play in the Victorian Premier League....
. In a VPL final, he saved three of four penalties to help Bulleen to victory.
Melbourne Victory
He joined Melbourne Victory FC for their inaugural season in the 2005/06 A-League. In the 2006/07 A-League season, Theoklitos kept ten clean sheets from 21 games, attracting interest from both the Australia and Greece national associations. He has not made a senior appearance for either country.In the 2008/09 season, Theoklitos was part of Melbourne Victory's grand-final success, keeping five clean sheets at the end of the season. He earned another call-up to the Australian national squad for the match against Kuwait on 5 March 2009, but did not play.
In May 2009, Theoklitos declined a contract extension. In July 2009, it was confirmed that he would be leaving Melbourne Victory, with his contract expiring on 30 July. In early July 2009, he signed a two-year contract with English League One side Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
Norwich City
In the opening match of the season on 8 August 2009, Theoklitos made his debut for Norwich against Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
, conceding five goals before half-time and seven in total. He described the match as "the worst performance I've had in my career" to BBC Radio Norfolk. Despite the performance, Theoklitos still had the support of manager Bryan Gunn
Bryan Gunn
Bryan James Gunn is a Scottish former professional goalkeeper and football manager. After learning his trade with Aberdeen in the early 1980s, he spent most of his playing career at Norwich City, the club with which he came to be most closely associated...
, a former goalkeeper himself. However, Gunn did not have the support of the Norwich board, and was replaced by Colchester manager Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert
Paul Christopher Lambert is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the manager of Norwich City. He won numerous trophies as a player, winning the Scottish Cup with St...
, who had engineered the 7–1 defeat. Under Lambert, Theoklitos was demoted to third-choice goalkeeper.
He was recalled to the first-team bench for a Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
match against Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, but according to the club he failed to show up for the match, causing the club to discipline him. Theoklitos denied the claim, saying "It's not that I did not turn up but I was half an hour late" because "I got my wires mixed up".
Lambert confirmed in December 2009 that he expected Theoklitos to be leaving the club. Theoklitos' contract was terminated by mutual consent in March 2010. His debut match was the only one he played for the Canaries.
Brisbane Roar
On 14 March 2010, Theoklitos signed with the Brisbane Roar on a three-year deal. He made his debut in round one of the A league season against Gold Coast United, in a 0–0 draw.Theoklitos registered a second clean sheet against Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
in round two.
Following the 3–0 loss to Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
, Theoklitos had gone 876 minutes without conceding a goal, setting a new record for the most minutes without conceding a goal in an Australian League—beating former recordholder Jeff Olver
Jeff Olver
Jeff Olver is an Australian former football player. Olver is a member of the Football Federation Australia - Football Hall of Fame.-Club career:...
's record of 790 minutes. Theoklitos won the Goalkeeper of the Year award for the 2010/11 A-League season.
International career
Although selected by Australia on two occasions, Theoklitos has yet to make an appearance for the Socceroos. Of Greek ancestry, he has also received interest from GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's national association, but so far has only featured for Australia.
Honours
With Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
:
- A-League Championship: 2006–2007A-League 2006-07The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
, 2008–2009A-League 2008-09The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion... - A-League Premiership: 2006–2007A-League 2006-07The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
, 2008–2009A-League 2008-09The 2008–09 A-League season was the fourth season of the Australasian A-League association football competition. Two new clubs, North Queensland Thunder and Gold Coast Galaxy had received tentative licences from the FFA but these were revoked for the 2008–09 season on 12 March 2008. Expansion...
With Brisbane Roar:
- A-LeagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Premiership: 2010–20112010–11 A-LeagueThe 2010–11 A-League season is the sixth season of the Australian football championship since its establishment in 2004. The home and away season began on 5 August 2010 and concluded on 13 February 2011. The addition of brought the total number of teams to 11... - A-LeagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Championship: 2010–2011
Personal Honours:
- A-LeagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Goalkeeper of the Year: 2006–2007A-League 2006-07The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
, 2007–2008A-League 2007-08The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and...
, 2010–2011 - Most minutes (876) not conceding a goal in an Australian League (With Brisbane Roar, 2010–11)
- Most clean sheets (12)—A-leagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
with Matthew RyanMatthew Ryan (goalkeeper)Mathew Ryan is an Australian football goalkeeper currently playing for A-League club Central Coast Mariners.-Club Career:...