Super League Greece

[Frantzeskos]

Valverde named as Olympiakos coach 28 May 2008


Greek giants Olympiakos have announced that Spaniard Ernesto Valverde is to become their new coach, on a lucrative two-year contract.

On Monday Valverde quit as coach of Espanyol after finishing in disappointing 12th place in La Liga.

Valverde, 44, guided Espanyol to the UEFA Cup final in May 2007 - where they lost on penalties to Sevilla - but this season has been unable to build on that achievement.

Several Spanish club, including Getafe and Racing Santander, were interested in Valverde for next season, and will now be disappointed by the news that he has decided to accept the offer of Olympiakos.

[Frantzeskos]

Panathinaikos has most players in EURO 2008

Hamburg (dpa) - Olympique Lyon and Panathinaikos Athens provide the largest number of players at Euro 2008 while European Champions League winners Manchester United don't make the top 10.

Lyon and Panathinaikos will have 10 players each at the June 7-29 event, followed by Bayern Munich with nine.

The two leaders field plenty of home-grown players as French coach Raymond Domenech has picked seven Lyon players and Greek coach Otto Rehhagel six from Panathinaikos.

Eight players from Spanish giants Barcelona are at Euro while domestic rivals Real Madrid have seven players, just like Chelsea and Arsenal.

Chelsea would have had more internationals at the tournament had England qualified, a fact that also applies to United whose Euro contribution is only five players led by Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

[Frantzeskos]

Rivaldo postpones retirement, staying at AEK for another season




ATHENS, Greece — Rivaldo isn't retiring just yet.
The 36-year-old Brazilian had decided to quit after AEK lost the Greek title because Olympiakos was awarded three points for a game it lost due to the opposing team fielding an ineligible player. But Rivaldo announced Tuesday that he would play for AEK next season.
"The truth is that at the end of the championship, I felt great disappointment and a (sense of) injustice, but the love and support I have received from fans and the team have contributed to my final decision ... I have decided to stay at AEK next season," Rivaldo said in a statement on the club's website.
Olympiakos lost 1-0 to Apollon on Feb. 3, but Greek sports authorities gave Olympiakos the three points because Apollon played Roman Wallner, who had turned out for two other clubs during the season.
Apollon's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected on April 21.
Olympiakos finished the season with 70 points, two ahead of AEK, for its 11th title in 12 years.
Rivaldo, who has played at AC Milan and FC Barcelona and starred in Brazil's 2002 World Cup victory, spent three seasons at Olympiakos from 2004. He moved to AEK last year after a contract dispute.

[Zizis]

H FC AEK announced the acquisition of the Australian mesoepithetikou Nathan Burns. The 20 years (7/5/198 footballer signed a contract four years. Upon completion of the transfer Nathan Burns spoke in aekfc.gr:
"AEK is for me a great opportunity to fight in Europe. I wanted this opportunity and I am lucky that he chose a large group like IMG, which annually makes protathlitismo play good football and offers spectacle, indeed, and my first impressions of the club is exceptional as it is a very organized group.
Of the players know the world-class reputation and Rivaldo and is a great honour and a challenge for me that I will sympaiktis with such a great player. I met and my coach, who by that informed believes very young children and help them work together.
I feel that it is a very important step in my career ".

[PAOK Boy]

Contract renewal for Nilsson 23-05-2008
Panathinaikos announces the renewing of the contract of Mikael Nilsson for one more year.

[PAOK Boy]

Saviola (Real Madrid forward) has always been on the target list for Panathinaikos president Yiannis Vardinoyiannis. But the same goes for Andreas Vgenopoulos nowdays as well. They are both working together to bring a big name player to Panathinaikos.

[Zizis]

Panathinaikos maybe signing Aimar and Elmander.

Panathinaikos fans are outraged and think Elmander is nmot good enough because he is slow and has no skill.

[Zizis]

Panathinaikos have loaned Helder Postiga to Sporting Lisbon and have loaned Tsigas to Larissa

[Zizis]

Panathinaikos have signed Cleyton from Larissa

[Zizis]

Olympiakos turn to Spain 23 Jun 2008


PAE Olympiakos general manager Yiannis Chrysikopoulos is in Spain operating under the direct order of PAE Olympiakos president Socrates Kokkalis tasked to complete "two big name transfers".

Chrysikopoulos will meet with newly appointed coach Ernesto Valverde in order to get the list of desired transfers for the Piraeus club.

It is expected that Chrysikopoulos will make his transfer moves this week as he has been told by Socrates Kokkalis to get the names from Valverde and then move as quickly as possible in signing the new players.

Chrysikopoulos will stay in Spain for three days in order to accomplish his task while on Thursday (6/26/0 Olympiakos are holding their first preseason training session.

The last name rumored is that of Juan Arango.

Juan Arango (born May 16, 1980 in Maracay), is a Venezuelan footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for RCD Mallorca in La Liga, and for the Venezuela national team. Arango has played more than 70 times for Venezuela, making him the fifth most capped player in the history of Venezuelan international football. He is known as "Arangol" in Venezuela, and has been nicknamed the "Caribbean Hurricane" by Luis Omar Tapia in ESPN's telecasts.

Arango is one of the few Venezuelan players ever to play for a first division team in any of the major European leagues, and is widely regarded as the best player Venezuela has ever produced.

[Zizis]

Papadopoulos contract talks fail 23 Jun 2008


Monday's scheduled meeting between Aris defender Avraam Papadopoulos and Lampros Skordas did not bear the fruits of labor the Aris president had hoped for. The verbal agreement the two sides had fell on deaf ears as Avraam Papadopoulos asked for change in terms after hearing Skordas' 2 million euros 5 year contract offer.

The 24-year old defender is bound by an Aris contract until the summer of 2009 and today's meeting was scheduled for contract extension talks and for the two sides to put pen to paper. During these talks it seems that Papadopoulos had a change of heart even though both sides had a verbal agreement that the player was going to extend his stay at Thessaloniki until the summer of 2013.

In more detail, Lampros Skordas offered Papadopoulos 2 million euros for 5 more years of service with the club. Papadopoulos responded that his salary during his first two years of service should be larger than the one offered by PAE Aris. Mr. Skordas reiterated that the offer would stand until the end of the week and would await for the player's answer until then. After the end of the meeting Papadopoulos did not talk to the reporters waiting outside the PAE Aris offices showing his range of emotions on the matter.

Aris are surprised by the player's response and are certain that Olympiakos have something to do with it. It is not at all impossible as Olympiakos' official stance on the Papadopoulos transfer matter fell on the same day Papadopoulos held his meeting with Aris president Lampros Skordas.

[Zizis]

Lazio interested in Samaras 25 Jun 2008


Lazio is following Werder Bremen's and Fenerbahce's lead in order to acquire the services of Greek international striker Giorgos Samaras.

The 23 year old Greek footballer is not in Mark Hughe's plans for the new season at the city of Manchester (he was on loan to Celtic) signaling his exit from the English premiership club.

According to the Italian press Lazio are interested in Samaras as they are trying to put a competitive squad together for the new season.




Celtic have the first say in the matter as they are planning on making an offer to Manchester City in order to buy out Samaras' contract.

Samaras helped Celtic become the Scottish champions by scoring 6 times this past season.

[Zizis]

Ten Cate officially appointed by Panathinaikos 25 Jun 2008








Panathinaikos newly appointed coach Henk ten Cate has promised that his team, "will play attractive football and get the positive results needed in order to bring the fans back to where they belong - our football stadium." The 54 year old coach did not touch on the Panathinaikos past during his official presentation press conference, while at the same time opted not to talk about any upcoming transfers. "I will tell you only if something is ready for release to the public." After the scheduled press conference newly appointed PAE Panathinaikos president Nikos Pateras gave food for thought to reporters by answering the question "What is going with Pablo Aimar" with the following answer. "Who knows? Aimar might join us soon."

Henk ten Cate was introduced to the press and everyone present at the press conference by PAE Panathinaikos president Nikos Pateras.

"Mr. Cate is a great coach that comes from a great school of soccer tradition. He is an aspiring individual that will help us reach our goals and we will support him in any way we can."

When asked what he would change at Panathinaikos Henk ten Cate answered.

"First of all I do not like to talk about what happened in the past and especially about the coach and staff that were here before me. It is an honor to be the Panathinaikos coach during the club's 100 Year Anniversary. Along side the president and our supporters we will try to achieve our goals. Our supporters should feel proud. Panathinaikos have not won the Greek championship in some years now and our goal is to achieve that this coming season. I cannot promise anything though. I would like to change how the team functions by instilling confidence in my players and playing attractive football."

When asked what system he would like to bring to the team he answered.

"There are many ways to play soccer. A 4-2-3-1 system might not be optimal. What we must do is look at out players and based on their strengths come up with the system that will fit our team. Depending on our upcoming transfers we might need to tweak that in order to achieve what we want. Panathinaikos will play attacking soccer and most important of all attractive soccer. Starting at this time I am responsible as to how Panathinaikos performs on the pitch. I have a strong trust in my co-workers and I believe that at the end of the season we will have something to celebrate. Our goal is to have a full stadium in all of our home games. This can only become a reality if we play attractive soccer. By doing that the team wins and then the fans come to the stadium to see us play."

So why did he choose Panathinaikos over other teams?

"I had many offers but I do not think it is right to talk about them in order to woo you with my qualifications. The thing that matters now is that I am here. Panathinaikos They is a great club with aspirations for the future and it was very important for me that I had conversations with the president and general manager of the club. They talked to me about their future plans and I liked the fact that I would be the club's first coach during their new century of existence."

In regards to any Panathinaikos upcoming transfers Henk ten Cate kept his cards closed.

"We will sign players that will help our team. We are very interested in doing that but there is nothing ready for public release yet. I would like not to comment on any names being rumored. When transfers are completed you will hear about them from Mr. Pateras or Mr. Antoniou. It is not my job to make sure that players come to Greece."

Henk ten Cate concluded by saying, "It is a very big honor for me and my assistants to be here. I just hope that the supporters are satisfied with what they will see in the future."

[Zizis]

Olympiakos close to Spain transfers 25 Jun 2008


Olympiakos continue to work on securing players from the Spanish Primera Division and early unconfirmed reports state that these players will be big-name signings!

PAE Olympiakos general manager Yiannis Chrysikopoulos, his co-worker Thodoris Yiannikos, and coach Ernesto Valverde are all in Spain scouting for the players that will take the Greek champions to the next level in the new season.

Reports state that Olympiakos are very close to completing three big-name signings from the Spanish league. They are: Sevilla CF's 28 year old winger Sergio Paulo Barbosa Valente also known as "Duda", Real Zaragoza's 26 year old midfielder Oscar Gonzalez and Racing de Santander's attacking midfielder Alvaro Pedro Duscher also known as Aldo Duscher who has been approached by the Greek champions in the past.

Other wild rumors have Olympiakos looking for a central & left midfielder with the likes of Luis Garcia and Jose Antonio Reyes from Atletico de Madrid being in the spotlight! Spanish press are stating that Reyes will depart from Atletico but his destination will be either Newcastle or Monaco.

In any case it looks like Olympiakos' transfer season will end shortly as on Thursday (6/24) all Olympiakos personnel return from Spain as it is the first day of the preseason for the Greek champions.

[Zizis]

Larisa sign Mbo Mpenza

now they have Zurawski and Mpenza and Tuemer Metin as there attacking three.

[Zizis]

Olympiakos sign Oscar Gonzales from Real Zaragoza

[Zizis]

Papadopoulos future uncertain 30 Jun 2008
A third meeting between Aris president Lampros Skordas and Avraam Papadopoulos was not enough to get the 24 year old defender to renew his Aris contract.

Papadopoulos' future with Aris looks gleam and it is not at all impossible that the young footballer will not even attend his club's first training session of the preseason (Monday, 6/30/0.

The defender's transfer future is left wide open as well. Panathinaikos and Olympiakos have shown great interest by putting offers on the Aris negotiations table but if Aris refuse to sell the player he could end up out of Dusan Bajevic's plans as well.

[Frantzeskos]

Gilberto quits Arsenal for Panathinaikos


Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has completed his move to Panathinaikos.

The 31-year-old passed a medical and signed a three-year deal after Arsenal accepted an offer of around £1m.
"I'm hungry to win more titles," said Gilberto, who has now become the highest-paid player in Greece.
"I came to Greece because I have big ambitions, it's very important for me to be able to continue to give my best. I couldn't say no to the offer."
Gilberto was keen to join up with Panathinaikos boss Henk ten Cate, who left his post as Chelsea assistant coach at the end of last season.
"I'm sure we will qualify through to the group stages of the Champions League," added Gilberto. "I'm exited about being a Panathinaikos player."
The 31-year-old has followed AC Milan signing Flamini and Barcelona recruit Alexander Hleb out of the Emirates.

[Zizis]

Olympiakos sign Dudu 04 Aug 2008


Greek champions Olympiakos have signed Brazilian footballer Dudu Cearense from Russian side CSKA Moscow.

The club announced their signing with a brief statement on their official web site late Monday night.

"P.A.E. Olympiakos would like to announce that they have come to terms with CSKA Moscow for the transfer of Brazil international Dude Cearense, who will sign a three year contract. The footballer will arrive in Greece tomorrow afternoon."



Dudu is expected to go through the scheduled medical examinations and then put pen to paper.

[Zizis]

Leto completes Olympiakos switch 05 Aug 2008


During the Olympiakos C.F.P. player presentation, a confident Sebastian Leto stated that he came to Olympiakos to compete for the starting position that up to now has been dominated by captain Predrag Djordjevic.

"I know what is happening on the left hand side but I feel ready to take over Djordjevic's role. I will work hard, and I will make it."

"Olympiakos are a great club and it is very important to me that I will be playing in the Champions League. I have talked to Valverde who told me that I will have a great season at Olympiakos. I can help the team in both the Greek championship, as well as the Champions League."



"Benitez wanted me to stay at Liverpool and they tried their best to keep me there. I did not get my work permit so I decided to come and play for Olympiakos," said Leto commenting on Benitez's statements that he wanted the young footballer to stay at Liverpool.

When asked if he knows the rest of the Argentine footballers at Olympiakos Leto noted: "No, I have not spoken to them, but I know of them as I have played against them."

The Olympiakos official announcement read.

"Olympiakos C.F.P. would like to announce the signing of Argentine footballer Sebastian Leto on loan from Liverpool."

[Zizis]

AEK players, jerseys set for display 05 Aug 2008


AEK Athens will present their new signings (except Basinas and Kyrgiakos), and their 2008/2009 season jerseys at the Holiday Inn Attica (Central hall) on Wednesday, August 6 at 12:00GR.

Players present at the reception will be Maistorovic, Rikka, Skoko, Burns, and Saha.

[PAOK e Mon]

oh there is another thread here lol

[PAOK e Mon]

Larisa are currently drawing with Panathinaikos

Zurawski scored a great goal and Cleyton the Brazilian striker scored the equaliser.