Michalis Sifakis
Encyclopedia
Michalis Sifakis is a Greek
international goalkeeper. He is well known for his agility and reflexes.
, Greece, Sifakis starts playing football at the age of 9. His first team was Atsalenios Herakliou
(P.O.A.).
where he played with the B squad of OFI until 2002. In 2002 he signed his first professional contract with the club. He played for OFI until 2007 and participated in 112 matches for the Greek championship and cup.
and the Greek Super Cup
. And then he continues to be the replacement.
makes an offer to OFI and Sifakis is transferred to that club. During the season 2008–2009 Sifakis participates in 27 league and cup matches. He has participated in all league games of the ongoing season (2009–2010). In the following season (2010–2011) he had some medical problems that kept him away from some Aris and national squad's matches.
In 2009 Greece’s national team coach, Otto Rehhagel
, invited Sifakis to help the national team
qualify for the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup
. On the 14 October he contributed to his team's victory against Luxembourg. He was also part of the squad for the final tournament.
Under coach Fernando Santos, Sifakis played most of his country's UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
matches.
award for his professionalism and ethos, due to his calm and non-violent reaction to a confrontation with a fan in the opening game of the 2009–2010 Greek season away at Iraklis. During the match, Sifakis was approached by an Iraklis fan who had run onto the pitch and began to verbally abuse him. Sifakis did not react and the stewards eventually intervened, removing the fan from the pitch.He has been awarded from PSAP as the best goalkeeper in Superleague for the season 2009-2010.
Clubs
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
international goalkeeper. He is well known for his agility and reflexes.
Early years
Born in HeraklionHeraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
, Greece, Sifakis starts playing football at the age of 9. His first team was Atsalenios Herakliou
Atsalenios F.C.
Atsalenios is a football club based in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. It was founded in 1951.Atsalenios is a football club from the Atsalenio area of Heraklion on the island of Crete. The club's name also means steel in Greek...
(P.O.A.).
OFI Crete
In 1999 Sifakis was transferred to the soccer club OFI CreteOFI Crete
OFI , the Sportfriends Association Heraklion, is a Greek association football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Outside Greece, the club is generally known as OFI Crete F.C., however, the name Crete is not actually part of the club's official title.OFI is the club with most...
where he played with the B squad of OFI until 2002. In 2002 he signed his first professional contract with the club. He played for OFI until 2007 and participated in 112 matches for the Greek championship and cup.
Olympiacos
In 2007 the team Olympiacos made a offer for Sifakis, which was accepted by OFI, and he played as a replacement of the national goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis. During the season 2007–2008 his team won the Greek championship, the Greek CupGreek football Cup
The 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....
and the Greek Super Cup
Greek Super Cup
-Official edition:-External links:*...
. And then he continues to be the replacement.
Aris F.C.
In 2008 ArisAris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
makes an offer to OFI and Sifakis is transferred to that club. During the season 2008–2009 Sifakis participates in 27 league and cup matches. He has participated in all league games of the ongoing season (2009–2010). In the following season (2010–2011) he had some medical problems that kept him away from some Aris and national squad's matches.
International career
In 2004 Sifakis was called for the Greece national under-21 football team. He played 15 games with the U21 selection.In 2009 Greece’s national team coach, Otto Rehhagel
Otto Rehhagel
Otto Rehhagel is a German football coach and former football player. Along with Helmut Schön, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Udo Lattek and Hennes Weisweiler, he is considered one of the most successful German managers....
, invited Sifakis to help the national team
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...
qualify for the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. On the 14 October he contributed to his team's victory against Luxembourg. He was also part of the squad for the final tournament.
Under coach Fernando Santos, Sifakis played most of his country's UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...
matches.
Honours
In 2009 the Greek Professional Players Association honored Sifakis with the Fair PlayFair Play
Fair Play or Fairplay usually refers to Sportsmanship.It may also refer to:* Fair and unfair play, in cricket* The Fair Play for Cuba Committee, an activist group in the United States early in 1960...
award for his professionalism and ethos, due to his calm and non-violent reaction to a confrontation with a fan in the opening game of the 2009–2010 Greek season away at Iraklis. During the match, Sifakis was approached by an Iraklis fan who had run onto the pitch and began to verbally abuse him. Sifakis did not react and the stewards eventually intervened, removing the fan from the pitch.He has been awarded from PSAP as the best goalkeeper in Superleague for the season 2009-2010.
Statistics
Greek National Team| Game | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Latvia - Greece | 1-1 | |
| Israel - Greece | 0-1 | |
| Bosnia - Greece | 0-0 | |
| Greece - Israel | 2-1 | |
| Greece - Latvia | 1-0 | |
| Croatia - Greece | 0-0 | |
| Greece - Georgia | 1-1 | |
| Greece – Korea DPR | 2–2 | |
| Greece- Luxembourg | 2–1 | |
| Greece U-21 – Irland U-21 | 0–2 | |
| Greece U-21 – Hungary U-21 | 0–2 | |
| Greece U-21 – Romania U-21 | 0–2 | |
| Denmark U-21 – Greece U-21 | 2 -1 | |
| Greece U-21 – Ukraine U-21 | 0–1 | |
| Τurkey U-21 – Greece U-21 | 0–1 | |
| Greece U-21 – Albania U-21 | 2–0 | |
| Georgia U-21 – Greece U-21 | 1–1 | |
| Greece U-21 – Denmark U-21 | 0–1 | |
| Greece U-21 – Kazakhstan U-21 | 5–0 | |
| Greece U-21 – Turkey U-21 | 2–1 | |
| Albania U-21 – Greece U-21 | 1–1 | |
| Greece U-21 – Cyprus U-21 | 0–1 | |
| Cyprus U-21 – Greece U-21 | 1–5 | |
| Greece U-21 – Bulgaria U-21 | 3–1 | |
Clubs
| Season | Club | No of games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2003 | OFI | 4 | |
| 2003–2004 | OFI | 15 | |
| 2004–2005 | OFI | 29 | |
| 2005–2006 | OFI | 31 | |
| 2006–2007 | OFI | 33 | |
| 2007–2008 | OSFP | 7 | |
| 2008–2009 | ΑRIS | 27 | |
| 2009–2010 | ARIS | 36 | |
| 2010–2011 | ARIS | 34 | |
| 2011–2012 | ARIS | 1 |