Kostas Chalkias

Konstantinos Chalkias (Greek Κωσταντίνος Χαλκιάς, * May 30, 1974 in Larissa, Greece ) is a former Greek football player. The goalkeeper was recently at PAOK Thessaloniki in the domestic Super League under contract.

Career

Association

Konstantinos Chalkias, playing on the position of the goalkeeper, began his football career in the youth academies of Panathinakos Athens. Under Takis Ikonomopoulos he coached there until 1995 when he received his first professional contract at the age of 21 years and rose to the men's team. Although Khalkias won in the first year the Greek championship with the team, but was behind Poland's Josef Wantzik and Antonios Nikopolidis only third choice. In order to gain match practice Khalkias was eventually loaned 1996 to the league rivals Apollon Athens, where he replaced the retired main goalkeeper Antonis Minou and in the following two years only missed one league game. He landed with Apollon each in mid-table in the stands nine and twelve. After his good performances he returned after the expiry of the loan in the summer of 1998 to Panathinaikos back. But Wantzik and Nikopolidis were again preferred him, and so they gave Khalkias again in January to Apollo. There he played the second half again as regular keeper and helped to secure the league as a table Fourteenth.

In the summer of 1999 Khalkias returned to Panathinaikos. Because Wantzik no longer played at Panathinaikos, he now took the status of number two behind Nikopolidis. He graduated 1999/2000 and six games the following season again four games. 2000, he made his debut in the UEFA Champions League on the third day of group matches at Hamburger SV. In the 1-0 victory of guests Khalkias could keep a clean sheet as well as 0-0 in the second leg. In the following game he was substituted against Nikopolidis in the 0-1 defeat at Deportivo La Coruna in the 63rd minute but. Nevertheless, Panathinaikos reached second in the season, the second group stage of the competition where Khalkias but only in the last game, a 1:2 at FC Valencia, came into use because Panathinaikos had already left. But in the long term because he could not prevail against Nikopolidis despite its international operations, he was released in 2001 as part of a barter transaction to Iraklis Thessaloniki. Together with Khalkias and a transfer fee of approximately DM 30 million were replaced for two more players to Thessaloniki. In return, Panathinaikos secured the Cypriot national team, Michalis Konstantinou. Khalkias is thus received as part of this transfer in Greek football history, this is still to this day the most expensive transfer that a Greek club has ever made.

In Iraklis Khalkias played 50 games in the next two years, and was number one goalkeeper. In his first season he missed only one league game and reached Iraklis sixth place and hence the UEFA Cup. Four times he did not concede a goal and parried at the seventh match in a 2-1 victory over his former club Panathinaikos a penalty of Goran Vlaovic. Also 2002/2003 he performed well, Iraklis finished seventh and missed only only just a place in the European Cup. From the UEFA Cup one, however, was eliminated against Anorthosis Famagusta of Cyprus in the first round. In the cup Iraklis moved at least the semi-finals, where, however, Olympiakos defeated.

After his impressive performances Khalkias returned in the summer of 2003 back to Panathinaikos Athens. Again he had to do here but again behind Antonios Nikopolidis. To use it only came when Nikopolidis injured in late September. In the group stage match of the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United Khalkias was substituted at half -time break for Nikopolidis and had to take one goal at 0-5. Consequently graduated Khalkias his first game of the season in the domestic Super League and parried the 2-2 at AEK Athens on matchday four equal a penalty of Vasilios Tsiartas. After he had remained in the 2-0 over Ionikos Nikea without conceding a goal, he ran again in the Champions League on a 1-1 draw against Glasgow Rangers, before he had to go back on the bench behind the fit-again Nikopolidis and then end of the year injured himself, whereupon Stefanos Kotsolis shortly took his position as number two in the capital city. In early 2004 returned Khalkias and surprisingly he has now at last to number one in the Panathinaikos - box promotion. This was due to a dispute with the management of Nikopolidis because of his contract extension, which ultimately led to coach Itzhak Shum that took 21 Matchday Nikopolidis out of the gate and Khalkias left his place. Ironically 3-0 against his former club Iraklis so returned this back to the place and stayed the same in his first five games without conceding a goal. It was not until Matchday 26 in the 2-2 draw against Olympiakos Piraeus had Khalkias first time grab behind. At the end of the season he was able to celebrate with the team winning the championship - it was the first for the Athenians for eight years, ie since Khalkias ' first professional season. This, however, had to be replaced in the penultimate round injured in the 2-1 win at Proodeftiki against Stefanos Kotsolis. Nevertheless conceded Khalkias 2003/ 04 in eleven league games, only six goals, seven times he stayed at zero. Just in time for the cup final against Olympiakos he was then fit again and could with a 3-1 win at Panathinaikos next track.

After Antonios Nikopolidis Panathinaikos had left in the summer of 2004, a new keeper was obliged to Mario Galinović. Khalkias could be the beginning of the season 2004 /05 but for the time being to decide the competition for the starting berth still for and pointed in the first ten games of the season again after a good rate of only five goals against and six to zero games. In the Champions League he was still represented on the opening day of the group stage of Galinović, in the second game at PSV Eindhoven ( 0-1), the Greek was then back on the field. Also in the following matches against Arsenal (2-2, 1-1) and Rosenborg BK (2-2 ) came Khalkias used. But in December, after the 10th league game day, a 0-1 at Olympiakos, took coach Zdenek Scasny Khalkias out of the gate and replaced him with Galinović.

After losing his stem square is Khalkias decided in January 2005 to change the first time in his career abroad. The former Panathinaikos manager Velimir Zajec, now at FC Portsmouth active, submitted to the Greeks an offer that took this. In the fourth round of the FA Cup at FC Southampton Khalkias debuted in England. On 1 February, he gave the occasion the 25th game day in a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough FC made ​​its debut in the Premier League. However, in the following games against Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Arsenal London Keeper could convince her and inflicted some of its eleven goals, so that he lost his place in early March to Jamie Ashdown. After the commitment of Sander Westerveld Khalkias moved into the keeper 's hierarchy of " Pompey " further down and came in the first half of 2005 /06, no further games more.

Therefore Khalkias and Portsmouth in January 2006 parted amicably. The Greeks then moved to the Spanish second division side Real Murcia. But even there he had behind the number one Juanmi with the square of the Substitute goalkeeper content. Was referred to only as Juanmi 31 on game day at 0-1 against Gimnàstic de Tarragona of the field, Khalkias came on eight minutes before closing and completed a week later at 0-1 at Recreativo Huelva his only use about 90 minutes.

After his unsuccessful foreign stations Khalkias returned in August 2006 in his home to newly promoted Greek Aris Thessaloniki back. Here he was able to establish itself immediately as a stock keeper and service providers. Also Khalkias ' strong performances, it was thanks to them that Aris reached the fourth place, thus qualifying for the UEFA Cup. He missed only one league game and conceded in 29 games only 24 goals conceded. Thirteen times he played at zero and parried four out of six penalties against his team. In the following season 2007/ 08 Khalkias was a performer and finished at the end of the season again in fourth place with Aris. In the UEFA Cup, the keeper played all games of his team. In Erstrundenhinspiel on 20 September 2007 against Real Zaragoza ( 1-0) made ​​his debut in this competition. After a 1:2 in the second leg in Spain Aris drew surprisingly one in the group stage, where one was solved, among others, with the German side FC Bayern Munich in a season. In the very first game 3-0 against Red Star Belgrade Khalkias was able to keep his goal for the second and final time in the tournament clean. After the duels with the Bolton Wanderers, where you conquered a surprising 1-1 draw in England, and Sporting Braga ( also 1:1 ), there was in the last game to clash with Bayern. The appearance at the Allianz Arena had failed especially for Khalkias, who had six grab behind the 0:6. Four goals were scored alone Luca Toni. After this defeat, Aris was eliminated from the UEFA Cup. This year, he could deny the end only 22 league games due to health difficulties in which he had to take only thirteen goals and played twelve times to zero. In the play-offs at the international competition in which Aris moved again in the UEFA Cup, Khalkias played three times against Panathinaikos ( 1-1, 1-3) and AEK Athens ( 4-0), due to his injury but missed Khalkias the cup final against Olympiakos ( 0-2).

On 28 May 2008 it was announced that Khalkias would change as a substitute for the VfL ​​Bochum migrated Daniel Fernandes to arch-rivals PAOK Thessaloniki and sign a two year contract. He is only the third player in the history of Greek football by Apostolos Tsourelas and Stefanos Borbokis who has been in all three major clubs from Thessaloniki in his career under contract. In his first season with the number one PAOK finished equal second place in the Super League Olympiakos behind. Khalkias missed only one league game and only suffered fifteen goals. 17 of 29 games, he finished to zero. After the end of regulation time nor the play-offs were on to the international competition. Here PAOK finally able to conquer only rank three and thus failed to reach the Champions League, instead you qualified for the newly-created UEFA Europa League. Four of the six play-off matches were lost, Khalkias conceded nine goals. After all, he stayed with the two victories against AE Larisa (2-0, 1-0) without conceding a goal. When 1:3 at AEK Athens, however, he underwent in the 60th minute own goal to the final score. In Greek Cup PAOK reached the quarterfinals; in the 5th round the discussions led to Derby with Khalkias ' old club Aris. After a 0-0 draw in the first game had to decide in the second match, a penalty shoot-out. Khalkias parried the penalty of Vitolo, PAOK won 9-8.

The season 2009/10 started for PAOK goalkeeper Khalkias with the qualifying round of the Europa League. After they had prevailed against Vålerenga Oslo still with 2:1 and 0:1, was here, however, already in the fourth round against SC Heerenveen terminus ( 1:1; 0:0). In the domestic Super League PAOK finished third in this year. Once again pointed Khalkias a very strong rate of only fourteen goals conceded in 28 games on. Whole eighteen times he stayed at zero, 26 Matchday he held at 0:2 Aris a penalty kick. Injury problems plagued Khalkias end of October and in November 2009. On the eighth and ninth Matchday he had to be replaced each time in the second half and missed subsequently also its only two league games. After finishing the regular season PAOK celebrated a great success in the play-offs, as you leave the competitors AEK, Aris and Olympiakos behind him and was able to enroll in the Champions League. Khalkias stood in the first four of the six decision games on the lawn and played four times promptly to zero. In his duty game balance 2009/10 also two games came in the domestic cup in which PAOK in the quarterfinals against PAS Giannina failed ( 0:4 ). In January Khalkias had extended his contract with PAOK for a further two years.

In the new season 2010/11 Khalkias injured in the first competitive match of the Champions League qualifying game at Ajax Amsterdam (1-1) and had to be replaced after a quarter of an hour against his substitute Dario Krešić. But even after his return to the Greeks had to make do with the status of number two behind Krešić once. Only in December, Round on the thirteenth of the Super League, Khalkias displaced its competitors out of the gate. In February, during the 0-1 at Panionios Athens, however, he had to be injured again replaced and returned a month later and could even help to secure fourth place and thus a place in the international play-offs. In only fourteen games of the regular season, which denied Khalkias, he suffered eight goals and remained eight times to zero. In the play-offs PAOK reached the second place behind Panathinaikos and thus qualified for the Europa League. Keeper Khalkias competed in all six games on the court and suffered seven goals. In the last game, a 5-1 win over Olympiakos Volos, however, he had to be replaced after half an hour injured for the fourth time this season. Before him was in the Champions League qualifiers in the league and in the Europa League befall at halftime during intermediate round match against CSKA Moscow ( 0:1). In Greek Cup Khalkias led his team to wins against PAS Giannina (2:1) and Olympiakos Piraeus ( 1:1; 1:0) to the semifinals, which he missed, however, due to his injury in February.

At the beginning of the season 2011/12 Khalkias was displaced again by Dario Krešić out of the gate and thus experienced only by the bank, how PAOK qualified against Vålerenga Oslo Karpaty Lviv and for the group stage of the Europa League. But in mid-October, on matchday six of the Super League against OFI Crete ( 0-0) returned Khalkias back into the gate back and played a few days later, his first international game of the season in the Europa League against Shamrock Rovers (2-1). Also in the next two group matches at the Rovers ( 3-1 ) and Tottenham Hotspur ( 2-1 ) of the Right had to reach behind each one. But the end of November he was injured again and missed the beginning of February, so he could not see on the court PAOKs way into the second round of the Europa League. It was not until the beginning of March Khalkias became the number one of his club again and led the club up to third rank of the final table of the regular season. In this he had but again can only fourteen complete games and had to resort to zero fifteen times behind him in seven appearances. In the play-offs for international business PAOK finished last this year. Khalkias had to hurt after an hour from the field in the penultimate game at AEK Athens ( 0-2).

In summer 2012 Khalkias ended his active career.

National

Konstantinos Khalkias went through all the youth teams of the Greek national football team. In early October 2001, he was first appointed by the new German coach Otto Rehhagel for the A-Team remained in the final World Cup qualifier of the Greeks against England at Old Trafford (2-2 ) but on the bench. A month later, on 10 November 2001, it was then complete and Khalkias completed in a friendly against Estonia his first cap when he came on at half time for Antonios Nikopolidis. Ten minutes before the end, he suffered his first goal from the penalty spot to make it 4-2 final score for the Greeks from the penalty spot. Four days later Khalkias came in the Test match against Cyprus (1:2) also from the mid-term for use, even here he had to even pick up behind him.

In successful for Greece qualification for Euro 2004, Khalkias had indeed continue with the role of replacement Keepers behind his Panathinaikos club colleagues Nikopolidis resign, but at least it was enough to two other test stakes in early 2003. 's 2-1 success in Cyprus, he was just as much again at half-time substitute in the 2-2 draw as in Austria. In Cyprus, he stuck to it for the first time without conceding, as he conceded two goals against Austria. Although he had already replace the club Nikopolidis, coach Rehhagel also in the finals of Euro 2004 in Portugal on this while Khalkias only keeper number two remained and witnessed from which bank, as the team sensationally became European Champion, which also applies to Khalkias the represents the biggest title of his career.

Even after the Championship Khalkias was only replacement and was not in the failed qualification for World Cup 2006 or 2005 at the Confederations Cup staged in Germany for use. His fifth international match he graduated after three years on the bench in March 2006 in a 2-0 over Kazakhstan, after Substitutes at halftime for Stefanos Kotsolis. His next assignment was in February 2007 against South Korea again for 45 minutes, where he had to accept the winning goal of the Koreans. Then succeeded Khalkias even goalkeeper Nikopolidis to displace the short term, and in March 2007 he played in the 1-0 victory at Malta 's first competitive match of his national team career. In the next match against Hungary in June, he did not concede a goal after four days it Nikopolidis went back into the goal. As a result, the two took turns in the box: at 2:3 in the test against Spain each played a half long, the qualification match in Norway ( 2:2 ) played by Khalkias. In October Nikopolidis completed the game against Bosnia- Herzegovina, a few days later with Khalkias helped to secure the pre-decisive for finals appearance 1-0 in Turkey. A month later, after Nikopolidis chance in the 5-0 against Malta, Khalkias had to be replaced in the final qualifying match in Hungary (2:1) injured at the break.

In the friendlies before Euro 2008 Khalkias played against the Czech Republic (1-0 ) a half- time against Cyprus ( 2-0) ninety minutes and at 2:3 in Hungary 69 minutes long. Nevertheless, coach Rehhagel opted for the finals in Austria and Switzerland for Nikopolidis and thus against Khalkias. During the European Championships this drew in the training of the national team to a middle finger fracture of the left hand and could not therefore intervene in the tournament. Khalkias remained in the camp of the Greeks up to leaving after the group stage as a group last.

After Nikopolidis had finished his Nationalelfkarriere, Khalkias finally managed to climb to number one Greek and denied the first qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, where he pocketed seven goals and three test matches. But after he has been plagued in autumn 2009 by minor injury problems, he was taken in the national team of Otto Rehhagel out of the gate and sat in the last two qualifying performances on the bench. For the subsequent play-offs, which could make the Greeks against the Ukraine is successful, he was therefore no longer considered. In March 2010, he returned in the test against Senegal for a half back, but it was already too late to make its competitors Alexandros Tzorvas still the status as number one in the finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in dispute. Khalkias came in any of the three games of his team to use.

After the World Cup Khalkias was hurt and was held under the new national team coach Fernando Santos, who had also trained him at PAOK again until early 2011 for consideration of the Greek squad in the 1-0 over Canada when he completed a half. A month later against Poland (0:0), he played ninety minutes, but in the official matches of the European Championship qualifier in 2012 he did not get past Michalis Sifakis and Tzorvas. But ahead of the Euro resulted but an opportunity for Khalkias on the status of the tribe Keepers, as Sifakis due to an injury and also Tzorvas in the previous season had little match practice can collect. Khalkias denied prior to the EM test match against Slovenia (1-1).

National Coach Santos finally opted for Khalkias as Greek number one, so this was the first choice goalkeeper of his country in his fourth major tournament. He is also the age of 38 the oldest European Football Cup in 2012 at all. In the opening match against Poland (1:1) Khalkias suffered after 17 minutes, the first goal of the tournament by Robert Lewandowski. In the second game against the Czech Republic (1:2) the Greeks came after six minutes behind 0:2, where Khalkias was partly to blame for both goals against. Due to a thigh problem he, moreover, had already after 23 minutes against Sifakis have it replaced, which his tournament was over. After the tournament, he announced his retirement from international football.

Achievements

• Greek champion: 1996, 2004
• Greek Cup winner: 2004
• European Championship: 2004