Full name Nikolaos Georgeas Name Nikolaos Georgeas Date joined 2013 1995–2000 Kalamata Position Defender | Years Team Height 1.74 m Place of birth Kalamata, Greece Role Footballer | |
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Date of birth (1976-12-27) December 27, 1976 (age 39) Playing position | ||
Nikolaos "Nikos" Georgeas (Greek: Νίκος Γεωργέας) (born on 27 December 1976 in Kalamata, Greece) is a former Greek footballer who played as side back to both sides, or as defensive midfielder.
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Club career
Georgeas spent almost his entire career playing for AEK Athens. Fans have a lot of respect on him, because of his passion and love in AEK Athens' badge after spending 12 years at the club. On May 26, 2008 Georgeas signed a new 2-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2010. Georgeas is also regarding to be one of the clubs most loyal players and was voted in the top 10 legend list of AEK Athens history. In the 2010/11 season, Georgeas scored his first goal for the club after spending 12 years at the club and scored against Ergotelis in a 2-3 away win. Georgeas also scored his second goal for the club just weeks later against Larissa. Next year, his coach Nikos Kostenoglou wanted to utilize the talent and the experience of Nikos Georgeas, something that led Kotenoglou to try Georgeas in a new position; as a defensive midfielder. Georgeas, who the previous season did not play in AEK's first eleven, tried to meet the expectations of his team coach and managed to be proved as a tool, as he could play in more than one position. Moreover, he was chosen to be the captain in some games as he was the oldest player in the team.
In July 2012, Georgeas' contract with AEK ended bringing to a close a 12 years at the club. Veria was the next stop in his career, counting 18 appearances and several of them as team captain. After the end of the one-year contract with Veria, AEK decided to bring back Nikos Georgeas to play in the third division. He was considered one of the leaders in AEK's effort to return to Super League. At the end of 2014-15 season, with AEK Athens being promoted to the first division, Georgeas decided to finish his career in his favourite team. He is famous for the chant that AEK fans have dedicated to him, with the lyrics "Γεωργέα, Γεωργέα, τα φυτά στην Καλαμάτα είναι ωραία!" ("Georgea, Georgea, ta fyta stin Kalamata einai oraia!"), which means "Georgeas, Georgeas, (the) plants in Kalamata are nice!". It makes a reference to the footballer's place of birth, Kalamata, in southern Greece, and to the weed produced widely in the area.
Veria vs Olympiakos
Additional suspects include Veria F.C. Director of Football Giorgos Lanaris and former owner Giorgos Arvanitidis, regarding 6 January 2013 match of Olympiakos F.C. against Veria F.C. Veria player Nikolaos Georgeas and club's manager Dimitris Kalaitzidis at the time, testified in March 2015 that Lanaris following Arvanitidis orders demanded from Veria players to lose with a 3–0 score, which eventually happened. According to Andreadis, both Marinakis and Arvanitidis had agreed on the match fixing.
Veria F.C. player Alexandros Kalogeris confirmed Georgeas' testimony, at the Athens court houses, that he entered the game in the second half after being instructed by the team manager to lose the game 3-0. The scandal has seen revelations about a series of dramatic events including phone tapping by Greece's intelligence agency, the involvement of Interpol, the bombing of a referee's premises, and a row erupting between the new Greek government and UEFA and FIFA. Football violence has also spiralled out of control, with riot police regularly seen on the pitch. However, despite the long-running investigation into match-fixing, no one has yet been jailed. Five people have been sentenced to time in prison but were subsequently freed on appeal. Charges against a number of the accused have been dropped and there are fears that, like so many other investigations in Greece, they will fizzle out.
Career statistics
1 Includes 4 caps and 1 goal in the semi-pro Football League 2 Cup.