Michalis Konstantinou
Encyclopedia
Michalis Konstantinou (Greek
: Μιχάλης Κωνσταντίνου,
born February 19, 1978 in Paralimni
, Cyprus
) is a Cypriot
football
striker
. He plays for the Cyprus national football team
, and is already the all-time leading scorer with 32 goals in 80 appearances.
He played for Panathinaikos
and Olympiacos. He currently plays for Anorthosis Famagusta FC
, for whom he scored 17 goals in 25 games in the 1996/97 season and became top goal scorer of Cypriot Championship
.
in 1997, his four seasons produced a total of 61 goals in 119 appearances as he also played in the UEFA Cup
.
players to Iraklis, Konstantinou transferred to Panathinaikos for €11.3 million. It was a great purchase, but many believed that the young Cypriot striker was worth less than the expenditure of € 11.3 million made by Panathinaikos FC
- the highest figure ever paid for a player of Cyprus. With Panathinaikos had the opportunity to play in the Champions League, earning praise for his performance in attack. There he found with the Portuguese players Paulo Sousa
and later Robert Jarni
, taking Panathinakos a long way in the competition. He scored a beautiful goal in the Nou Camp return in the quarter-final against Barcelona in the Champions 2001/02. Panathinaikos seemed to ensure its marking the semi-finals, as they were needed 3 goals to go to the Spaniards. Barça, however, came back and won 3-1, qualifying for the semifinals.
In 2004/05 he had 15 goals. Konstantinou scored against the champions in a 1–0 home win, but it was deemed as too little, too late and his contract was not renewed. Olympiacos CFP
jumped at the chance and Konstantinou signed a three-year deal with the double
winners, on July 14, 2005.
and made it two in his career. At the Greek Cup final in 2005/06, where Olympiacos beat AEK Athens 3–0, Konstantinou scored Olympiacos' first goal. He also notably scored a late strike to make it 1–2 in the early season league victory of Olympiacos against AEK FC (final score 1–3) and a crowd-pleaser against his former team, Panathinaikos, to make it 3–1 (match ended 3–2). He became for the second consecutive time champion again with Olympiakos in 2007
, even though the season was full of personal injuries and bad luck, he still managed to perform well on some important matches, most notably scoring on the away Champions League
match at Shakhtar Donetsk. During the 2007–2008 season, he has suffered from injuries and has lost his starting position to Darko Kovacevic
. It was the last season at Olympiakos.
in 1997. He spent some seasons at Iraklis F.C. before going to Panathinaikos
back in 1997. Here he played 13 matches of which he scored 3 goals.
. After taking a leadership and mentor role with the team in his first full season in 2010, Konstantinou helped lead AC Omonoia to its 20th Cypriot Championship
and in the club he found his couch Takis Lemonis
that was also his coach in Olympiakos
.
in August 1998 and subsequently averaged almost a goal every other game in his first 35 caps. His first two goals came the 10th of February 1999 against San Marino
at Tsirion stadium (final score 4–0).
Olympiacos
Omonia
Individual
1996–97 – Paralimni
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Μιχάλης Κωνσταντίνου,
born February 19, 1978 in Paralimni
Paralimni
Paralimni is a town situated in the South East of Cyprus, a little way inland, within the Famagusta District. Since the Turkish invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, it has increased in size and status, due to the migration of many refugees fleeing from the North...
, 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...
) is a Cypriot
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He plays for the Cyprus national football team
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
, and is already the all-time leading scorer with 32 goals in 80 appearances.
He played for Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
and Olympiacos. He currently plays for Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Αnorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and volleyball club which is originally based in Famagusta, but is now temporarily based in Larnaca, due to the Turkish invasion. Anorthosis is one of the most successful clubs in Cypriot football, having won 13 league titles, 10 Cypriot Cups and 6...
Early
He got his start in professional football playing for Cypriot side Enosis Neon Paralimni FCEnosis Neon Paralimni FC
Enosis Neon Paralimni is a Cypriot football team from Paralimni. Currently playing in the first division, it holds home games at the Paralimni Municipal Stadium "Tasos Marcou", which holds 5,800 people.-History:...
, for whom he scored 17 goals in 25 games in the 1996/97 season and became top goal scorer of Cypriot Championship
Cypriot First Division
The 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:...
.
Iraklis Thessaloniki
Picked up by Iraklis Thessaloniki FC in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1997, his four seasons produced a total of 61 goals in 119 appearances as he also played in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
.
Panathinaikos
In 2001, in a deal which took three Panathinaikos FCPanathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
players to Iraklis, Konstantinou transferred to Panathinaikos for €11.3 million. It was a great purchase, but many believed that the young Cypriot striker was worth less than the expenditure of € 11.3 million made by Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
- the highest figure ever paid for a player of Cyprus. With Panathinaikos had the opportunity to play in the Champions League, earning praise for his performance in attack. There he found with the Portuguese players Paulo Sousa
Paulo Sousa
Paulo Manuel Carvalho de Sousa, CavIH is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and a current manager.He was a member of the “Portuguese Golden Generation”...
and later Robert Jarni
Robert Jarni
Robert Jarni is a retired Croatian footballer who played as left winger or wingback. He is now a manager, but is currently without a club after resigning from his managerial post at Istra 1961 in September 2010....
, taking Panathinakos a long way in the competition. He scored a beautiful goal in the Nou Camp return in the quarter-final against Barcelona in the Champions 2001/02. Panathinaikos seemed to ensure its marking the semi-finals, as they were needed 3 goals to go to the Spaniards. Barça, however, came back and won 3-1, qualifying for the semifinals.
In 2004/05 he had 15 goals. Konstantinou scored against the champions in a 1–0 home win, but it was deemed as too little, too late and his contract was not renewed. Olympiacos CFP
Olympiacos CFP
----Olympiacos Club of Fans of Piraeus, , , transliterated Olympiakos Sindesmos Filathlon Pireos, is the most popular multisport club and the most successful in Greece, based in Piraeus....
jumped at the chance and Konstantinou signed a three-year deal with the double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
winners, on July 14, 2005.
Olympiakos
As an Olympiacos player he won with his team the double for 2005/062005-06 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...
and made it two in his career. At the Greek Cup final in 2005/06, where Olympiacos beat AEK Athens 3–0, Konstantinou scored Olympiacos' first goal. He also notably scored a late strike to make it 1–2 in the early season league victory of Olympiacos against AEK FC (final score 1–3) and a crowd-pleaser against his former team, Panathinaikos, to make it 3–1 (match ended 3–2). He became for the second consecutive time champion again with Olympiakos in 2007
2006-07 in Greek football
This was the inaugural Super League Greece season. Olympiacos clinched the inaugural title on April 22 with their victory over Kerkyra, for their third straight title and 10th in the last 11 years....
, even though the season was full of personal injuries and bad luck, he still managed to perform well on some important matches, most notably scoring on the away 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...
match at Shakhtar Donetsk. During the 2007–2008 season, he has suffered from injuries and has lost his starting position to Darko Kovacevic
Darko Kovacevic
Darko Kovačević is a former Serbian football player. He is known for his spells at Real Sociedad where his partnership with Nihat Kahveci was one of the best in Spain. His key attributes are his strength and aerial ability...
. It was the last season at Olympiakos.
Iraklis Thessaloniki
Konstantinou started the 2008–09 season in Greece at Iraklis F.C. where he started his career in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1997. He spent some seasons at Iraklis F.C. before going to Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
back in 1997. Here he played 13 matches of which he scored 3 goals.
Omonoia Nicosia
Halfway through the 2008–2009 season, Konstantinou was transferred to Cyprus to play for Cypriot team AC Omonoia. During the 2009–2010 season, he scored several goals for the club, including in derbies against rivals APOEL, Anorthosis, and ApollonApollon
Apollon may refer to:* Apollo, ancient Greek god of light, healing and poetry* Apollon , Formula One constructor* Apollon Kalamarias, Greek football club* Apollon Athens, a Greek football club from Athens...
. After taking a leadership and mentor role with the team in his first full season in 2010, Konstantinou helped lead AC Omonoia to its 20th Cypriot Championship
Cypriot First Division
The 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:...
and in the club he found his couch Takis Lemonis
Takis Lemonis
Takis Lemonis is a former Greek football player , former manager of Cypriot champion Omonia and current manager of Panionios.-Playing career:...
that was also his coach in Olympiakos
Olympiakos
Olympiakos may refer to:* Olympiakos F.C., a football club in Piraeus, Greece* Olympiakos CFP, a multisport club in Piraeus, Greece...
.
International
He made his international debut against AlbaniaAlbania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
in August 1998 and subsequently averaged almost a goal every other game in his first 35 caps. His first two goals came the 10th of February 1999 against San Marino
San Marino national football team
The San Marino national football team is the national football team of San Marino, controlled by the San Marino Football Federation...
at Tsirion stadium (final score 4–0).
International goals
Honours
PanathinaikosPanathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
- Greek Championship (1): 2004
- Greek 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....
(1): 2004
Olympiacos
- Greek Championship (3): 2006, 2007, 2008
- Greek 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....
(2): 2006, 2008 - Greek Super CupGreek Super Cup-Official edition:-External links:*...
(1) 2007Greek Super Cup-Official edition:-External links:*...
Omonia
AC Omonia
Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953...
- Cypriot ChampionshipCypriot 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:...
: 2010 - Cypriot Cup: 20112010–11 Cypriot CupThe 2010–11 Cypriot Cup is the 69th edition and started on November 10, 2010.-Bracket:-First round:The first legs were played on November 10, 2010...
- Cyprus FA Shield: 2010
Individual
- Cypriot Top Scorer
1996–97 – Paralimni
Enosis Neon Paralimni FC
Enosis Neon Paralimni is a Cypriot football team from Paralimni. Currently playing in the first division, it holds home games at the Paralimni Municipal Stadium "Tasos Marcou", which holds 5,800 people.-History:...