Kostas Lamprou

Career

Born in Athens the 18 september, Kostas Lamprou was just 13 when he left his homeland Greece for the Netherlands. The keeper was invited to join the Ajax youth academy after making a splash at an international tournament in which he turned out for Panathinaikos as a guest player. Lamprou’s stay in Amsterdam was not an unqualified success, however, and the Greek was released six months later. Lamprou decided to stay in the Netherlands, joining amateur club Amstelveen Heemraad, and the gamble paid off. Lamprou’s performances caught the eye of Feyenoord, who offered him a place at the club’s youth academy at Varkenoord. The Greece U21 international made his Feyenoord bow in preseason 2009/2010. A year later Lamprou went on loan to Excelsior but returned to Feyenoord during the winter break after failing to force himself into the first team at Woudestein. The keeper was given a first-team squad number at De Kuip and was named among the substitutes for a number of Eredivisie games.

Lamprou’s official debut came in the cup against AGOVV on 20 September 2011. AGOVV Apeldoorn (4-0). The Greek spent the rest of the season as second-choice keeper behind Erwin Mulder.

Pim Doesburg believes that Kostas Lamprou was an exceptional keeper. "Lamprou is a fantastic keeper. I think Lamprou then it must surrender. The pipeline will still fall back to Mulder. I would always let him stand. He has a good kick, good reflexes, is mobile and has a very good series of games had, " said the response from Doesburg versus RTV Rijnmond. Former goalkeeper Sparta Rotterdam and PSV understands the criticism Lamprou not. "They talk to him a complex that he is too small. This is ridiculous in my life has ever said I was too small. Lamprou has an incredible leaping ability, and he does it. I think he's good," Doesburg continues his story. "He is there now, so I would go through with it. Do not step over again. You never know how Mulder comes back and then plan how a defense reacts."

The consistency of the young keeper caused on October 2012, his first call from Fernando Santos, the coach of Greece national football team.

On 4 July 2014 Willem II finalized with Feyenoord the lending of Kostas Lamprou agreeing that the goalkeeper will play for the Tricolores for the next season. In Willem II, he will join the existing goalkeepers David Meul and Mattijs Branderhorst. Lamprou itself is happy with the chance to play for Wilem II. "I have a good feeling about the discussions we have had. I hope we can make a nice season developing my skills even further."

On 19 May 2015, after his exceptional year with Willem II the technical club director Carlos Aalbers announced the signing of the Greek international for the next two years. "Kostas fits into the play of Willem II and he has proved last season in the Eredivisie that he is a very good goalkeeper. We are therefore pleased that we sign with him for the next two years." As a mercenary of Feyenoord, Lamprou made his best season so far. A return to De Kuip was not at issue, since the Greek keeper received a new contract. Since mid-April Willem II was in constant talking to finalize a longer stay in Tilburg. Willem II's coach Jurgen Streppel describes the goalkeeper as a keeper who in the coming years will further develop his skills. After a difficult start, he was one of the pillars of the success of Willem II, ended in ninth place in Eredivisie.

He started the 2015-16 season as the main goalie, like last year. On 14 September 2015, in the 5th day of Eredivisie in an away game against his former club Feyenoord even if he was the main protagonist with many saves could not prevent the defeat. After a very difficult season where the club saved for relegation, he started the 2016-17 season as the undisputable main goalie of the club. On 4 December 2016, in a 0-0 home draw against FC Twente, he reached 100 appearances in Eredivisie with the jersey of two different clubs.

On 1 August 2017, Lambrou signed a year contract with Dutch giants Ajax , becoming the fourth Greek in history to wear the colors of the club after Nikos Machlas, Yannis Anastasiou and Angelos Charisteas. The 26-year-old goalkeeper signed from Willem II, after two excellent seasons with them as a free transfer,even he knew that he started as a third option.

Statistics

(* Includes Eredivisie Play-offs)