Name Nikos Kovis | Role Football player | |
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Nikos Kovis (born 6 January 1953), known as Niko Kovi in Turkey, is a Turkish-Greek football player and manager. He was a central defender. He was born in Istanbul.
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Nikos Kovis was the Technical Director of the youth academies of Panathinaikos until 2010.
He was the fourth Greek origin football player who played for Turkish National Football team, after Fenerbahçe S.K. legend Lefter Küçükandonyadis, legendary İstanbulspor captain Koço Kasapoğlu and Beşiktaş J.K. Aleko Yordan.
There is another Greek player born in Turkey and played for Turkish teams. Alekos Sofianidis was Beşiktaş J.K. left back, but never played for Turkey National Football team.
International career
He played for Turkey national football team on four different levels. 5 times A National, 3 times B National, 5 times Under-23, and 3 times for A-Youth.
Managerial history
After he retired Kovis coached Levadiakos F.C., Panargiakos F.C., Proodeftiki F.C., PAS Giannina, EAR, Athinaikos and Apollon Smyrnis F.C.
Records and honours
Kovis won Turkish Cup with Beşiktaş J.K. in 1975, scoring in the second leg against Trabzonspor.
He also won Başbakanlık Kupası (Turkish Presidential Cup) in 1974 scoring the vital goal for Beşiktaş J.K. against Bursaspor.
Kovis won Greek Cup with Panathinaikos in 1982.
He began his career with Vefa SK in 1970. After 2 years with Vefa SK, Kovis moved to Beşiktaş J.K. in 1972 and played for 6 seasons. He then transferred to Panathinaikos in 1978 playing for them for 5 seasons. Kovis also played for OFI for two seasons and retired in 1985.