Kyriakos Papadopoulos
Kyriakos Papadopoulos ( 2011)
Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Greek Κυριάκος Παπαδόπουλος, nicknamed Papa, * February 23, 1992 in Katerini ) is a Greek football player. He plays since 2010 in the German Bundesliga FC Schalke 04 at the position of central defender.
Career
Association
Olympiakos Piraeus
Papadopoulos played in his home town of Katerini in GAS Svoronos in the amateur league, before he signed a three-year contract in the summer of 2007 at Olympiakos Piraeus. On 2 December 2007, he had at the age of 15 years and 283 days as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Atromitos his first appearance in the Super League. He is the youngest player to have ever completed a competitive game in the top Greek league, also the youngest player to have played in the U-18 team Olympiakos. In September 2008, Papadopoulos signed a new contract with Olympiakos for three years.
FC Schalke 04
On June 23, 2010, he moved to FC Schalke 04, in which he signed a contract until 30 June 2014, which was extended ahead of schedule in June 2011 for a further year. His first Bundesliga game for Schalke Papadopoulos denied on Matchday 1 of the 2010/11 season against Hamburger SV. On December 17, 2011 Papadopoulos scored on matchday 17 of the season 2011/2012 in his 34th Bundesliga goal for his first deployment to Schalke interim 4-0 in the 5-0 home win against Werder Bremen. With Schalke 04 Papadopoulos won on 21 May 2011 the DFB Cup and 23 July 2011 the DFL - Supercup. On September 27, 2012 Papadopoulos extended his contract again prematurely by one year to 30 June 2016. Middle of the first round of the 2012/13 season Papadopoulos injured his knee and fell hard for the rest of the season. During rehab he suffered setbacks and so he missed the preparation and the first games of the 2013 season / 14th On December 15, 2013 Papadopoulos was after over a year his Bundesliga comeback in a 2-0 win against SC Freiburg.
National
Papadopoulos took part in the UEFA U-19 European Football Championship in 2008 with Greece. He played in all three qualifying matches against Moldova, the Netherlands and Russia, in which Greece qualified for the group stage. In the preliminary round Papadopoulos Konstantinos Lambropoulos stood in the center of the Greek defense and was instrumental in the Czech Republic scored a goal against his team. Among the official site of UEFA as " stars of tomorrow " listed ten best players of the tournament he was the youngest.
On 19 November 2008, he ran as hitherto youngest debutant in the Greek U- 21 team.
At the age of 19 he graduated 4 June 2011 the first deployment for the A- team of his country. In the European Championship qualifier against Malta him doing his first goal was scored. Papadopoulos was in the final squad of the Greek national team for the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine. After he even acted in the first game against Poland as a substitute, he stood in the following games against Russia and Czech as a regular player from the start, on the course and managed his team a place in the quarter-finals. There one difference against Germany from 4-2. Overall Papadopoulos denied all possible appearances for his country at the position of central defender.
Play
Papadopoulos is considered -tackling player and for his age as an extremely clarified. He is good in the air dangerous and has good technique and excellent positional play. His offensive actions are straightforward and uncompromising. Are estimated to be faster pace and a willingness to take on leadership and responsibility, usually in the back four. In addition, its enormous bounce and its generally good athletic ability. Despite tough duel leadership he mainly without fouls and warnings. In fan circles he made himself popular by attitude and fighting spirit. In the picture he was called Greece crashes with his two combative style of play.
Achievements
- Greek champion in 2008 and 2009 with Olympiakos Piraeus
- Greek Cup Winner 2008 and 2009 with Olympiakos Piraeus
- DFB Cup winner in 2011 with FC Schalke 04
- DFL - Supercup Winner 2011 with FC Schalke 04