Nikolaos Michopoulos
Encyclopedia
Nikolaos "Nick" Michopoulos (born 20 February 1970) was a Greek
professional football
player. During his career he played for PAOK Salonika
and Burnley
, as well as a short loan spell at Crystal Palace
and short period to Omonia Nicosia. He played as a goalkeeper and was known for his reactions and shot-stopping ability.
Michopoulos began his career with Salonika, and made over 130 appearances for the Greek team, earning himself 15 international caps for Greece
in the process. He was brought to Burnley by Stan Ternent
as one of three Greeks to sign for the Clarets along with goalkeeper Luigi Cennamo and centre-forward Dimitrios Papadopoulos
.
'Nik the Greek' as he became known established himself solidly as a fan-favourite at Turf Moor
and became somewhat of a cult-hero. He would make almost 100 appearances for the Clarets, his last being in the farcical 7-2 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday
, when he was carried off injured in the first half and replaced by Marlon Beresford
.
Michopoulos would return to his native Greece and become goalkeeping coach at his old club, PAOK Salonika, a position he still holds. In pre-season training for the 2005/06 season, Michopoulos was able to meet up with several of his old team-mates when Burnley took on PAOK at a neutral ground.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
professional 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...
player. During his career he played for PAOK Salonika
PAOK FC
P.A.O.K. F.C. is a Greek association football club based in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is the largest supported football club in Macedonia.PAOK FC is the football department of Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans , a multi-sport club. Since its formation in 1926 the football club...
and Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, as well as a short loan spell at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
and short period to Omonia Nicosia. He played as a goalkeeper and was known for his reactions and shot-stopping ability.
Michopoulos began his career with Salonika, and made over 130 appearances for the Greek team, earning himself 15 international caps 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...
in the process. He was brought to Burnley by Stan Ternent
Stan Ternent
Francis Stanley "Stan" Ternent is an English former footballer and manager. He managed Blackpool, Hull City, Bury, Burnley, Gillingham and Huddersfield Town. He is currently a scout for Sunderland.-Career:...
as one of three Greeks to sign for the Clarets along with goalkeeper Luigi Cennamo and centre-forward Dimitrios Papadopoulos
Dimitrios Papadopoulos
Dimitrios Papadopoulos is a Greek footballer, currently playing for Celta Vigo.-Akratitos FC:He started his career from the youth academies of Greek minnows Akratitos, and made his debut in 1999, contributing to the team's promotion to Alfa Ethniki in 2001 for its first time in...
.
'Nik the Greek' as he became known established himself solidly as a fan-favourite at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
and became somewhat of a cult-hero. He would make almost 100 appearances for the Clarets, his last being in the farcical 7-2 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, when he was carried off injured in the first half and replaced by Marlon Beresford
Marlon Beresford
Marlon Beresford is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is now a Accountancy tutor and Sports commentator.-Career:...
.
Michopoulos would return to his native Greece and become goalkeeping coach at his old club, PAOK Salonika, a position he still holds. In pre-season training for the 2005/06 season, Michopoulos was able to meet up with several of his old team-mates when Burnley took on PAOK at a neutral ground.