Apostolos Giannou

Apostolos Giannou

Giannou playing for Guangzhou R&F in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Apostolos Giannou
Date of birth	(1990-01-25) 25 January 1990
Place of birth	Naousa, Greece
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current team	Guangzhou R&F
Number	9
Youth career
2003–2004	Oakleigh Cannons
2004–2005	South Melbourne
2005–2006	VIS
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007	Oakleigh Cannons	7	(1)
2007–2009	Apollon Kalamarias	29	(6)
2009–2011	Kavala	14	(2)
2011–2013	PAOK	26	(3)
2013	→ Platanias (loan)	9	(1)
2013–2015	Panionios	60	(13)
2015–2016	Asteras Tripoli	21	(13)
2016–	Guangzhou R&F	22	(5)
National team‡
2006	Australia U17	8	(2)
2008–2009	Greece U19	7	(0)
2010–2012	Greece U21	13	(2)
2015	Greece	1	(0)
2016–	Australia	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 October 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2016

Apostolos Giannou (Greek: Απόστολος Γιάννου; born 25 January 1990) is a Greek Australian footballer who currently plays for Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F. He represented various Greek and Australian youth national teams, including one friendly with the Greece national football team, before appearing competitively for the Australia national football team.

Career

Early life and career

Giannou was born in Naousa, Greece, but moved to Australia at a young age and grew up in Melbourne, Victoria. In Australia he was known as Paul.

Giannou played junior football for Oakleigh Cannons and South Melbourne. Following state representative honours at under-14 and under-15 level, Giannou was selected for the VIS by Ernie Merrick. He took part in Melbourne Victory's pre-season friendlies prior to the 2006–07 A-League season with an intention of being signed in an apprenticeship capacity. However, Giannou secured a two-week trial with PSV Eindhoven's Reserve and Academy teams.^[2] Giannou was assured that if he did not sign with the Dutch club, he could return to Melbourne Victory.^[3] Despite the unsuccessful trial, Giannou came back to Melbourne and signed a six-month contract with Victorian Premier League side Oakleigh Cannons.

Apollon Kalamarias

On 2007, Giannou was transferred to Greek first division side Apollon Kalamarias. Giannou netted his first goal for Apollon Kalamarias in late 2008, an 81st minute consolation goal in a 3–1 defeat at home to Kerkyra.^[4] Giannou would go on to score 5 more times in the 2008–2009 Beta Ethniki season before being transferred to Kavala, who had gained promotion to Superleague Greece for the 2009–10 season, on a five-year contract.

Kavala

On 21 November 2009 Giannou debuted for Kavala where he was substituted on after 79 minutes, after being played through on goal Giannou neatly passed the ball into the back of the net on the 88th minute mark to seal a 2–1 victory against AEK Athens.^[5][6] Down the track, Giannou was one of five Australians in the Greek side as the club welcomed the arrivals of Robert Stambolziev, Zeljko Kalac, Andreas Govas and Craig Moore.

P.A.O.K.

After the relegation of Kavala, Zisis Vryzas had brought him to PAOK and Giannou was set free and on 30 September 2011 signed a three-year-contract with P.A.O.K.^[7] He made his first appearance for the club during the 2011–12 season in a 0–0 draw against OFI Crete on 16 October, where he was substituted onto the field for Vladimir Ivic in the 78th minute.^[8] Giannou scored his first goals for the club, a brace, in a 2–0 away victory against OFI on 11 February.^[9]

Panionios

On 2 September 2013 Panionios proceeded to a significant addition to its roster, by announcing the acquisition of Giannou. The 23-year-old striker was released by PAOK, as it was not in the plans of Huub Stevens, but did not stay for long time as unemployed and immediately signing a two-years' contract with the club.^[10]

Asteras Tripoli

On 9 June 2015, Giannou signed a three years' contract with Asteras Tripoli for an undisclosed fee.^[11] He scored on his debut against Panthrakikos F.C. he also scored 2 matchdays later a penalty against Kaloni F.C. On 27 September 2015, on the 5th day of the 2015–16 season he scored in a 2–1 away loss against Levadiakos.^[12] On 5 October 2015, he scored the only goal of his club in a 1–1 home draw against Platanias F.C. On 25 October 2015, after three consecutive unsuccessful results, he scored twice, one with a penalty-kick in the 2–1 away win against PAS Giannina. He was named man of the match.^[13] On 5 November 2015, Asteras Tripoli ended a run of seven European games without a win to breathe life into their flagging group campaign, by winning APOEL FC. Giannou scored the second goal in a 2–0 home win in the extra time of first half after Pablo Mazza's assist.^[14][15] It was his first goal in UEFA campaigns. On 29 November 2015, was anointed scorer with a second attempt after the successful repulse of the penalty from Roberto in overtime in a 3–1 away loss against Greek champions Olympiakos.^[16] On 5 December 2015, he scored the only goal in the 2–1 home loss against Iraklis,^[17] that keeping the unbeaten tradition against Asteras Tripoli. On 2 January 2016, he scored twice to a comfortable 4–0 home win against Panthrakikos.^[18] With these goals, he scored his eleventh goal in this year's season setting a new personal season's scoring record after last year's 10 goals with Panionios.^[19]

On 20 February 2016, the Chinese club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. offer more than €2 million to buy 26-year-old striker of Asteras Tripolis. The Greek club ask for at least €3 million to sell its first scorer, who can not be replaced with a transfer until summer, while Giannou seems to have already agreed terms with the team of his compatriot, Avraam Papadopoulos, which offers him more than €1 million for every year of contract.^[20]

Guangzhou R&F

On 24 February 2016, Giannou has agreed to continue his career at the Chinese club Guangzhou R&F F.C. instead of Shanghai Greenland Shenhua F.C. Asteras Tripolis have accepted a bid of €2,5 million for the Greek striker who is heading to China to undergo medical and complete his move. Giannou has agreed terms with Guangzhou with a lucrative three years' contract of €1,6 million yearly.^[21][22]

International career

In 2006 Giannou represented the Australia under-17 team at the AFC U-17 Championship 2006 Qualification. Giannou scored in Australia's 3–1 win against Indonesia.^[23] Giannou was the only Victorian player selected for Australia's under-17 side that took part in the International Youth Football tournament in Niigata, Japan. The team finished top of their respective group as Giannou scored a goal in a 5–1 win against Albirex Niigata.^[24]

In 2008 Giannou represented the Greece under-19 team at the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification where Greece qualified for the Championship finals, he played alongside Australian Dean Bouzanis. Under coach Alexis Alexiou, Giannou appeared twice at the European Under-19 Championships when he was substituted on in a 1–1 draw against Italy and started in a 3–0 loss against England as Greece finished at the bottom of their group.^{[25][26][27][28]}

On 5 September 2010 Giannou returned to the international stage after two years' absence, he was selected for the Greece under-21 team for a 2011 European Under-21 Championship qualifier against the Macedonia which Greece won 2–1.^[29][30][31]

On 24 March 2015, Apostolos Giannou was selected for the Greek National Team for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Hungary.^[32]

On 18 October 2015, a race between Australia and Greece to nail down the international allegiance of on-fire striker Giannou is looming, as the dual nationality hitman hovers between both nations. The 25 year old marksman was born in Greece but spent his formative years in Melbourne, and has represented both countries at youth level. Despite being on the bench for Greece in its Euro 2016 qualifier against Hungary earlier this year, Giannou could still be available for Ange Postecoglou’s Socceroos. And the prospect of a reunion with Postecoglou, who coached him at Under-17 level with the Joeys before Giannou returned to the land of his birth nearly eight years ago, is something he says he would savour as Football Federation Australia officials assess whether he meets the eligibility criteria enshrined within FIFA regulations. Giannou has been on and off the Socceroos radar since 2009 when he and Craig Moore, his then teammate at Greek side Kavala, were part of a train-on squad made up of European-based Australians ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Nearly two years later, while at PAOK, Socceroos scouts went to watch Giannou twice, only for then coach Pim Verbeek to leave him out, a move which Giannou said was “devastating”.^[33]

On 5 November 2015, Apostolos Giannou was selected for the Greek National Team for the upcoming friendly matches against Luxembourg and Turkey.^[34] On 17 November he made his debut with the Greek national team as a late substitute for Kostas Mitroglou in a 0–0 away draw against Turkey.^[35]

Despite being capped by Greece, on 25 February 2016, Giannou declared that he was switching allegiances to Australia.^[36] As his lone appearance for Greece was in a friendly, Giannou remains eligible to represent Australia, should he be called up and could possibly play for Socceroos against Greece in two internationals in Australia in June 2016.^[37]

Giannou was called up for Australia for their 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Tajikistan and Jordan on 9 March 2016.^[38] Giannou made his debut for Australia in a 7–0 win against Tajikistan on 24 March 2016. Giannou assisted Massimo Luongo for Australia's first goal of the match, and won two penalties for Australia, which were converted by Mile Jedinak and Mark Milligan for Australia's second and third goals.^[39]

References

External links

• Apostolos Giannou at National-Football-Teams.com
• Apostolos Giannou profile at Soccerway
• Apostolos Giannou – UEFA competition record