Stelios Manolas
Encyclopedia
Stylianos "Stelios" Manolas (born 13 July 1960) is a retired Greek
football defender
.
Arguably the best football defender ever to come out of Greece
, Manolas, a product of AEK Athens FC
's youth academy. He made his debut in a match against Kastoria FC (1-1) on 3 February 1978 and became a mainstay in the AEK defensive until his 2000 retirement, Stelios Manolas' last match was against Skoda Xanthi
having played his 700th cap and was the captained for 19 years. Stelios Manolas also had offers from Porto
and Monaco
but Manolas stated: I will never leave the club I love and want to retire at AEK Athens
, Manolas is also the current Technical Director
for AEK Athens
. Manolas retired at the age of 38 on 17 May 1998 after over 20 years at AEK and a career spanning three decades. He has been regarded the greatest legend ever to play for AEK.
During his career, Manolas won 4 championships and 4 Greek Cups, playing 700 games in the Greek league scoring 44 times playing for 24 years at the club. He was capped 70 times by the Greece national football team
, scoring 6 goals, and was a member of the 1994 FIFA World Cup
squad.
After his playing days were over, Manolas coached the Greek under-21 team. His nephew, Kostas Manolas
, currently plays for AEK.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
football defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Arguably the best football defender ever to come out of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Manolas, a product of AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
's youth academy. He made his debut in a match against Kastoria FC (1-1) on 3 February 1978 and became a mainstay in the AEK defensive until his 2000 retirement, Stelios Manolas' last match was against 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:...
having played his 700th cap and was the captained for 19 years. Stelios Manolas also had offers from Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
and Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
but Manolas stated: I will never leave the club I love and want to retire at AEK Athens
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
, Manolas is also the current Technical Director
Technical director
The Technical Director or Technical Manager is usually a senior technical person within a software company, film studio, theatrical company or television studio...
for AEK Athens
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
. Manolas retired at the age of 38 on 17 May 1998 after over 20 years at AEK and a career spanning three decades. He has been regarded the greatest legend ever to play for AEK.
During his career, Manolas won 4 championships and 4 Greek Cups, playing 700 games in the Greek league scoring 44 times playing for 24 years at the club. He was capped 70 times by the Greece national football 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...
, scoring 6 goals, and was a member of the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
squad.
After his playing days were over, Manolas coached the Greek under-21 team. His nephew, Kostas Manolas
Kostas Manolas
Konstantinos "Kostas" Manolas is a Greek football defender currently playing for AEK Athens. Kostas Manolas is a nephew of Greek football and AEK legend Stelios Manolas. Manolas also wears the number 4, previously worn by his uncle...
, currently plays for AEK.
Honours
AEK AthensAEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
- Greek ChampionshipSuper 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...
: 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994 - 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....
: 1983, 1996, 1997 - Greek Super CupGreek Super Cup-Official edition:-External links:*...
: 1989, 1996 - Greek League Cup: 1990
- Pre-1991 Mediterranean Games1991 Mediterranean GamesThe 11th edition of the Mediterranean Games were held in Athens, Greece fromthe 28th of June to the 12th of July 1991. Eighteen nations competed in 24 different sportingevents.- Pre-Mediterranean Cup :...
Cup: 1991
External links
- Career history at National Football Teams