Sokratis Papastathopoulos

greek association football player
Sokratis Papastathopoulos ( greek : Σωκράτης Παπασταθόπουλος, born 7 June 1988 ), normally known mononymously as Sokratis, [ 4 ] is a greek professional football player who plays as a centre-back for Super League club Olympiacos and the Greece national team .

Club career [edit ]

AEK Athens [edit ]

Papastathopoulos joined AEK Athens from Apollon Petalidiou after being scouted by Toni Savevski. On 26 October 2005, he made his debut for AEK in a greek Cup match against PAS Giannina, scoring in the one-seventh infinitesimal of the game to help lead AEK to a 3–0 win. [ citation needed ]

Reading: Sokratis Papastathopoulos

In January 2006, he was loaned to Beta Ethniki club Niki Volou for six months to gain first-team football and gather valuable know. He made a sum of 15 appearances for Niki Volou. [ citation needed ] During the 2006–07 Super League Greece, Papastathopoulos managed to make 14 appearances whilst competing against the likes of Bruno Cirillo, Traianos Dellas and Vangelis Moras. In AEK Athens ‘ 2006–07 UEFA Champions League campaign, Papastathopoulos managed to play in three out of six group games. In these three games, AEK managed one acquire ( the celebrated 1–0 victory over A.C. Milan, where he man-marked Filippo Inzaghi ), one draw ( the 2–2 away draw with Anderlecht ) and one loss ( the 3–1 away get the better of to Lille ). During the 2007–08 Super League Greece, he was a mainstay in AEK ‘s defense, keeping out rival from Geraldo Alves. He besides played in the 2007–08 Champions League campaign, and in a Super League match, he became AEK ‘s youngest-ever captain, at age 19, in a game against local Athens rivals Panathinaikos in 2008. [ citation needed ]

genoa [edit ]

On 1 August 2008, Papastathopoulos agreed to transfer to Genoa of the italian Serie A for an undisclosed fee. [ 5 ] He besides played a club friendly against Genoa on the lapp day. [ 6 ] He made his debut for Genoa on 27 September 2008 against Fiorentina, followed by a start against Ravenna in the Coppa Italia a few days belated. His first goal for Genoa came on 5 October 2008 at home against Napoli. Genoa won the bet on 3–2, but Papastathopoulos was sent off in the 89th hour [ 7 ] [ 8 ] During the 2009–10 season, he managed to play in most games and became reasonably of a winnow favorite. [ citation needed ]

A.C. Milan [edit ]

On 20 July 2010, it was confirmed on A.C. Milan ‘s web site that Papastathopoulos had joined the team, after Genoa and Milan reached an agreement to transfer Papastathopoulos to the clubhouse for €14 million, with the follow payment schedule : Gianmarco Zigoni ( half of his registration rights, valued at €3.75 million ), Nnamdi Oduamadi ( half of his rights, valued at €3.5 million ) and Rodney Strasser ( half of his rights, valued at €2.25 million ) in a co-ownership conduct, plus €4.5 million in funds. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Papastathopoulos was the golf club ‘s first arrival under new director Massimiliano Allegri. [ 12 ] On 24 May 2011, Milan and Genoa executives Adriano Galliani and Enrico Preziosi, respectively, formed a verbal agreement to solve the player ownerships ( subject to player agreements ) of Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alberto Paloschi, Marco Amelia and Giacomo Beretta. The cope entailed that Milan bought back Gianmarco Zigoni, Rodney Strasser and Nnamdi Oduamadi ( all under original price ), [ 13 ] while Genoa bought back Papastathopoulos for €13 million, which efficaciously made the de facto loanword monetary value for Milan €1 million. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ]

Werder Bremen [edit ]

On 21 July 2011, Papastathopoulos moved to german club Werder Bremen on a loan deal until the end of the 2011–12 season, with the option to purchase outright. [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] Following impressive performances on loan, on 16 April 2012, it was announced that Papastathopoulos would join Bremen on a permanent basis for a €5 million transfer tip. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] The 2012–13 season, however, was not a good one for the baseball club. In March 2013, in the midst of a relegation battle and with tensions high, Papastathopoulos engaged in a education ground brawl with teammate Marko Arnautović. [ 22 ] Bremen would ultimately finish the year in 14th, staving-off relegation. [ citation needed ]

Borussia Dortmund [edit ]

On 24 May 2013, the eve of the 2013 Champions League Final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, Papastathopoulos completed a €9.5 million transfer to Dortmund, agreeing to a five-year contract through to 2018. [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] Upon sign, he spoke about the share, saying, “ money did not play a function in my decision to join Dortmund. My own future was all that mattered and I am convert that I made the right decision. ” [ 26 ] With centre-back Felipe Santana departing Dortmund for Schalke 04, Papastathopoulos began as the effective third-choice behind bicycle-built-for-two Neven Subotić and Mats Hummels. Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc expressed his gratification with the softwood : “ We are please that Sokratis has decided to join Borussia Dortmund. He is a flexible actor capable to play in a variety show of positions in defense who we believe has frightful potential. ” [ 27 ] On 10 July 2013, Papastathopoulos made his debut for Dortmund in a pre-season friendly away to Swiss club Basel at St. Jakob-Park, along with chap BVB debutants Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. On 27 July, he won his beginning entitle with the club after entering the match as a substitute in a 4–2 gain over Bayern Munich for the 2013 DFL-Supercup. [ 28 ] On 1 November 2013, he scored his first goal for Dortmund in a 6–1 winnings over VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga. [ 29 ] Papastathopoulos ‘ strong first class with Dortmund was rewarded with his choice to the best eleven of the 2013–14 Bundesliga campaign. The survival was organized in a cosmopolitan fan vote by the governing body of the Bundesliga through its official web site. The description of his play following his nomination was, “ The definition of defense falls on him. The greek stopper took advantage of the opportunities given to him by the absence of Neven Subotić and Mats Hummels. stable, with leadership characteristics and inclination to win the ball without making well a mistake. ” [ 30 ] [ 31 ] In November 2014, Papastathopoulos was ruled out of action for two weeks with a break fibula. He suffered the injury to his correct leg in Dortmund ‘s 1–0 acquire over Borussia Mönchengladbach, a leave that ended a five-match Bundesliga lose streak for the club. After recovering early, he was deemed suit for BVB ‘s Champions League match against Arsenal on 26 November. [ 32 ] On 3 January 2015, football news web site Goal.com assessed statistics to determine which players maintained the highest undertake achiever pace in the first half of the 2014–15 season across Europe ‘s top five leagues ; Papastathopoulos finished joint-third, aboard Hamburger SV ‘s Matthias Ostrzolek, having won 92.59 per penny of all tackles. [ 33 ] In the summer of 2015, Papastathopoulos was linked with moves to assorted English Premier League clubs as Dortmund prepared for a new get down following long-time coach Jürgen Klopp ‘s departure. Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc, however, said Papastathopoulos would placid have a part to play for BVB in newly coach Thomas Tuchel ‘s debut season with the club. [ 34 ] On 26 October 2015, Papastathopoulos extended his contract with Borussia Dortmund until 2019. [ 35 ]

“ The defensive work that Sokratis puts in is merely improbable. ”

german defender Mats Hummels on Papastathopoulos [ 36 ]
After the propagation, Zorc said, “ We are very please that we have been able to sign with Sokratis, another clear performer, on a long term. ” [ 37 ] During Tuchel ‘s tenure, Papastathopoulos was promoted to be partner-in-chief to Mats Hummels over Neven Subotic. [ citation needed ] On 19 December 2015, Papastathopoulos scored his beginning finish in the 2015–16 Bundesliga in an eventual 2–1 away loss to 1. FC Köln, giving his club the lead in the first-half from a heading from a corner. [ 38 ] On 30 January 2016, in a league game against Ingolstadt 04, Papastathopoulos reached his hundredth Bundesliga appearance with Dortmund. On 22 February 2016, Papastathopoulos missed the second leg of the UEFA Europa League round-of-32 necktie against FC Porto and the Bundesliga clash with Bayern Munich due to an adductor injury, as tests confirmed that the 27-year-old would be out for up to three weeks. The greek center back picked up the injury during Dortmund ‘s 1–0 win against Bayer Leverkusen and was replaced 13 minutes from time at the BayArena. [ 39 ] [ 40 ] On 21 May 2016, Papastathopoulos featured in his third gear DFB-Pokal final examination in a rowing, putting in a frightful performance despite a miss punishment, but he did not succeed in winning the DFB-Pokal for first meter in his career. [ 41 ] He started the 2016–17 season as the undisputed leader in BVB defense. On 15 September 2016, he netted the moment goal in an away crashing 6–0 against Legia Warsaw on a Group Champions League equal. [ 42 ] On 4 January 2017 the german magazine “kicker” listed the greek international as one of the best players in the german Bundesliga. The magazine paid a tribute to the best players presently playing in the german Bundesliga, separating them out into unlike categories. In the first class ( World Class ) no defenders were listed, however, Papastathopoulos was one of three defenders listed in the moment category, International Class. The other two defenders included Mats Hummels of Bayern Munich and Jonathan Tah of Bayer Leverkusen. [ 43 ]
On 8 February 2017, in a DFB Pokal home win on penalties ‘ game against Hertha Berlin, Papastathopoulos ‘ two quickfire ( in a minute ) bookings for dissent examine Dortmund finish extra time with 10 men before fabian Lustenberger, Vladimír Darida and Salomon Kalou all erred from the spot, rendering christian Pulisic ‘s miss irrelevant. [ 44 ] On 25 February 2017, Dortmund made three changes from last weekend ‘s 3–0 gain over VfL Wolfsburg and it was two of those, Papastathopoulos and Raphaël Guerreiro, who combined to open the score in the 13th hour in a 3–0 away win against SC Freiburg. Papastathopoulos looked to be offside as Guerreiro swing in a free-kick from the correct, which the Greece defender met with a heading planted inside the right-hand post. [ 45 ] [ 46 ] On 16 April 2017, Papastathopoulos was the one who had a promptly reaction to an Eintracht Frankfurt equalising, by scoring a goal after Sven Bender ‘s aid giving a leash to the sexual conquest in his team in a concluding 3–1 home succeed. [ 47 ] On 26 April 2017, helped Borussia Dortmund to a 3–2 gain over Bayern Munich and their fourthly consecutive DFB-Pokal final. On 20 May 2017, Papastathopoulos reached 100 appearances with Dortmund in Bundesliga in a home game against SV Werder Bremen and secured automatic qualification to the group stage of future temper ‘s UEFA Champions League. On 27 May 2017, in his one-fourth DFB-Pokal final examination in a quarrel, Borussia Dortmund claimed a beginning DFB-Pokal win since 2012 as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ‘s punishment defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2–1. [ 48 ] [ 49 ] On 5 August 2017, as the captain of the golf club, he lost the 2017 DFL-Supercup on penalties ‘ bet on against Bayern Munich. On 17 September 2017, he scored at the end of the inaugural half against 1. FC Köln, giving a lead of two goals in his club. It was his first finish for the 2017–18 season and was secured with the use of VAR ( Video Assistant Referee ) method acting. [ 50 ] On 14 October 2017, Borussia Dortmund ‘s unbeaten starting signal to the season was ended by RB Leipzig ‘s 3–2 away succeed, as the greek defender initially in trying to push the ball away helped Leipzig winger Yussuf Poulsen to score, while at the begin of moment half, was sent off for a clog in the box and Jean-Kévin Augustin scored the punishment. [ 51 ] On 17 October 2017, after losing its UEFA Champions League opening games in Group H to Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, Dortmund needed a win to kick-start its campaign in Europe ‘s premier club contest, but they succeeded only to seal an away hook against Cypriot champions APOEL, as the greek defender equalized with a header to Mario Götze ‘s crossbreed. [ 52 ] [ 53 ] On 4 November 2017, in the bowler hat against rivals Bayern Munich he suffered a leg injury, during the beginning half, and was substituted by Jeremy Toljan, [ 54 ] and two weeks by and by in an away game against VfB Stuttgart has received a heavy blow and replaced at the end of the first half from Dan-Axel Zagadou. [ 55 ]

armory [edit ]

On 2 July 2018, Arsenal announced that Papastathopoulos had agreed a long-run abridge with the cabaret for a report fee £17.6 million and would wear the count 5 shirt. [ 56 ] [ 57 ] On 12 August 2018, he made his official debut with the club as a newcomer at Emirates Stadium, in a 2–0 passing against champions Manchester City. On 4 October 2018, Papastathopoulos scored his first for the golf club, setting the Gunners on their way to a comfortable 3–0 victory over Qarabag in the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League group stage : after just four minutes of play in Baku, the centre-back was left unmarked inside the opposing penalty area, deflecting the ball home after an initial header fell into his way. [ 58 ] Papastathopoulos was named to the UEFA Europa League Team of the Week. [ 59 ]

Olympiacos [edit ]

On 25 January 2021, Papastathopoulos joined greek slope Olympiacos on a biennial narrow. [ 71 ] On 21 April 2021, he scored his first gear finish with the club, in a 1–0 home win game against Asteras Tripolis. [ 72 ]

International career [edit ]

Papastathopoulos playing for Greece in 2013 Papastathopoulos was called up for the Greek senior team on 1 February 2008 [ 73 ] and made his debut on 5 February 2008 in the 1–0 friendly victory against the Czech Republic. The Greece team for UEFA Euro 2008 was announced by Otto Rehhagel on 27 May 2008, and Papastathopoulos was the unfortunate player to be cut from the probationary team of 24 to the final 23-man choice. [ 74 ] Papastathopoulos became the first musician to be sent off at UEFA Euro 2012 during the open game of the tournament against co-hosts Poland after receiving two yellow cards, following what pundits decried as two poor decisions by reviewer Carlos Velasco Carballo. [ 75 ] In June 2014, Papastathopoulos was named to Greece ‘s team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [ 76 ] He started in each of the team ‘s group matches, helping them to a scavenge sheet against Japan. [ 77 ] In the round off of 16, Papastathopoulos scored his first external goal, equalising in second half blockage time against Costa Rica. however, the Greeks were finally defeated 5–3 in a penalty shoot-out by the central american champions. [ 78 ] On 11 June 2019, following the loss to Armenia at the Olympic Stadium, Papastathopoulos called for contiguous changes to be made to the Greek national team set-up, and he allegedly requested for Angelos Anastasiadis to be removed from his character of drumhead coach when speaking to EPO president, Evangelos Grammenos. [ 79 ] [ 80 ]

personal life [edit ]

Papastathopoulos was born in Kalamata, Peloponnese. [ 81 ] He married Xanthippi Stamoulaki in 2014. together they have three children. [ 82 ]

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of match played 21 November 2021[83]

International [edit ]

As of match played 8 September 2019[85]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

Greece

2008
5
0

2009
5
0

2010
8
0

2011
7
0

2012
12
0

2013
9
0

2014
8
1

2015
8
1

2016
9
0

2017
7
1

2018
7
0

2019
5
0

Total
90
3

As of match played 8 September 2019. Greece score listed first, score column indicates score after each Papastathopoulos goal.[85]

Honours [edit ]

A.C. Milan
Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal
Olympiacos
Individual