Michael Theo
Michael Theoklitos (2008)
Serafim Michael Theo (formerly Theoklitos, born February 11, 1981 in Melbourne) is an Australian football goalkeeper with Greek roots.
Career
Theoklitos began his career in the Victorian Premier League at the Bulleen Inter Kings and Bulleen Zebras. In the 2000 /01 season he had in South Melbourne his first engagement in the top division of Australia, the National Soccer League ( NSL), but in the course of the season was not used. In the 2001 /02 season he played for the New Zealand NSL club Football Kingz, where he was first-choice goalkeeper.
For the following season, he made the jump to the English third division side FC Blackpool and was there behind Phil Barnes substitute goalkeeper. A damage ligaments in his knee kept him away for much of the second half from the league and his contract was not renewed after the end of season three completed appearances for Blackpool. Back in Australia he again played for South Melbourne and the setting of the NSL to the end of the 2003/04 season at the Bulleen Zebras.
In 2005 he signed with Melbourne Victory in the newly formed professional league A-League and stood with only the keeper to the Australian Olympic selection, Eugene Galekovic in competition. An unusual rotation system of coach Ernie Merrick looked for both goalkeepers in the season 2005 /06, the same number of bets before. After the season ended with a disappointing seventh place, the goalkeeper position was permanently assigned to the new season and Theoklitos prevailed there. The winner of the regular season they moved on into the finals and put them first in the semifinals and then in the championship final against Adelaide by each. Theoklitos remained in eleven of 20 completed games without conceding a goal and won the award as the best goalkeeper in the league. The following season was a disappointing one for Melbourne, as reigning champion could not qualify for the finals. Theoklitos was despite the moderate season performance of his team again voted the best goalkeeper in the league. In the 2008 /09 season could be in the finals against Adelaide the regional championship win for the second time in three games.
In March 2009, he stood first in the line-up of the Australian national team, was in the 0-1 defeat against Kuwait but behind his former opponents Galekovic only reserve keeper. In the summer of 2009 Theoklitos refused a contract extension at Melbourne and changed free transfer to the English third division side Norwich City. In his league debut against Norwich Colchester United became a debacle, as he had several durable balls happen in the 1:7 home defeat. Norwich manager Bryan Gunn, who had committed Theoklitos was dismissed because of this result a few days later, his successor Paul Lambert sat on Ben Alnwick on the goalkeeper position and considered Theoklitos in the following match days not. After an injury Alnwick, Lambert decided to borrow Fraser Forster and declared Theoklitos could leave the club in the event of a bid. His contract was finally terminated by mutual agreement in March 2010 and he returned to the Australian A-League. There he signed a three -year contract with Brisbane Roar.
In August 2012, it was announced that Theoklitos has shortened his surname by deed poll to Theo.
Achievements
At club level:
- Australian champion: 2006/ 07, 2008/ 09, 2010/11, 2011/12
- A-League Premiership: 2006/ 07, 2008/ 09, 2010/11
Individual:
- A-League Goalkeeper of the Year: 2006/ 07, 2007/ 08, 2010/11
- PFA Team of the Year: 2008/ 09 ( bench ), 2010/11