Full name Vassilios Borbokis 1993–1997 AEK Athens Siblings Stefanos Borbokis 1987–1993 Apollon Kalamarias | Years Team Role Footballer Place of birth Serres, Greece Name Vassilios Borbokis | |
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Date of birth (1969-02-10) 10 February 1969 (age 46) Similar People Michalis Kasapis, Dimitris Nalitzis, Vassilios Tsiartas | ||
Vassilios "Vas" Borbokis (born 10 February 1969) is a former Greek footballer who played as a defender. Born in Serres, Greece, he played for Apollon Kalamarias, AEK Athens and PAOK Thessaloniki FC in his home country, as well as spells in England with Sheffield United and Derby County, and Cyprus with Anorthosis Famagusta The brother of fellow Greek footballer Stefanos Borbokis, he also made two appearances for the Greek national side.
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Playing career
Borbokis began his career at Apollon Kalamaria in 1987 before Dusan Bajevic signed him at AEK Athens in 1993, playing 86 games as a right back. In 1997 new Sheffield United manager Nigel Spackman signed him for £1 million. He became an instant hero on his debut against Sunderland with an assist and a creative finish in the 2-0 win.
Borbokis played some good football in Spackman's Wing-Back style of play at the start of the 1997/1998 season and with United looked to be Premiership bound. However Spackman left after the chairman allowed top strikers Brian Deane and Jan Åge Fjørtoft to be sold to Benfica and rivals Barnsley respectively and after defender Carl Tiler left for Everton.
Under caretaker manager Steve Thompson, Borbokis helped United to the FA Cup semi final against Newcastle United which the Blades lost 1–0 at Old Trafford. United also qualified for the play-off and beat Sunderland 2–1 at Bramall Lane with Borbokis scoring the winner with a 30-yard free kick. However, at the Stadium of Light United lost the second by 2-0, losing by 3-2 on the aggregate and being outside the Premiership for another year.
The following season Borbokis fell out with new manager Steve Bruce and moved to Derby County in a swap deal for Jonathan Hunt. He played just 16 games for them, scoring once in the League Cup against Swansea City, before returning to his homeland Greece 6 months later to play for PAOK Thessaloniki FC under his former coach Dusan Bajevic where he scored a goal in PAOK's 4–2 win over Olympiakos FC in the 2001 Greek Cup Final in Athens.
Honours
AEK Athens
PAOK
Anorthosis Famagusta