Evangelos Mantzios
Encyclopedia
Vangelis Mantzios (born 22 April 1983) is a Greek
international football player currently playing as a striker
for OFI Crete
in Greek Super League.
giants Panathinaikos in 2005 in a deal that also included Alexandros Tziolis
. He dazzled in his debut (2005–2006) season for Panathinaikos as he became a first team regular under Alberto Malesani
and contributed many crucial goals towards the end of the season. Poor performances, lack of confidence and several coach changes saw Mantzios on the fringes of the first team squad in 2006–2007 as new coach Víctor Muñoz preferred a striking duo of captain, Dimitris Papadopoulos and Dimitris Salpigidis
. His season was summed up in the cup final loss to Larissa when Mantzios had the chance to level the match in stoppage time but missed a completely open goal, managing to hit the ball into the arms of the keeper.
Mantzios had limited chances during the 2007–2008 season and he was loaned out to Eintracht Frankfurt
for the second half of the season. He played only a few games scoring one in Bundesliga
and the German club chose not to activate the clause to purchase his contract.
Mantzios gained an improved role during the 2008–2009 pre-season for Panathinaikos
after he impressed his new manager Henk Ten Cate
, playing as the lone striker in a 4–2–3–1 system. However in the beginning of the season an injury and a possible conflict with the manager limited his participation in the first team. Mantzios was recalled in October and he managed to put together a very impressive string of perfofmances especially against Werder Bremen for the UEFA Champions' League. Mantzios scored three goals in two games against the German team helping Panathinaikos
to gain the first four points in his group.
On 31 December 2009, Mantzios completed a loan move to the Cypriot
club Anorthosis Famagusta FC
.
On 31 September 2010, Mantzios completed a loan move to the Portuguese
Club Sport Marítimo. Mantzios was ruled out of the season due to a long term injury on his right knee which led him only playing 1 match.
in a 2006 FIFA World Cup
Qualifying match against Georgia
on 12 October 2005. He stayed in the squad throughout the rest of 2005 and into early 2006 but was dropped for almost a year, finally being called up again for the friendly loss to South Korea
on 6 February 2007.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
international football player currently playing as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for OFI Crete
OFI Crete
OFI , the Sportfriends Association Heraklion, is a Greek association football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Outside Greece, the club is generally known as OFI Crete F.C., however, the name Crete is not actually part of the club's official title.OFI is the club with most...
in Greek Super League.
Club career
Mantzios and was signed by Panionios from Kallithea in the summer of 2001. After making 67 league appearances and scoring 12 goals, he was snapped up by GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
giants Panathinaikos in 2005 in a deal that also included Alexandros Tziolis
Alexandros Tziolis
Alexandros Tziolis is a Greek international footballer who plays for Racing de Santander.-Early club career:...
. He dazzled in his debut (2005–2006) season for Panathinaikos as he became a first team regular under Alberto Malesani
Alberto Malesani
Alberto Malesani is an Italian association football manager, currently in charge of Genoa.-Early career and breakthrough at Chievo:...
and contributed many crucial goals towards the end of the season. Poor performances, lack of confidence and several coach changes saw Mantzios on the fringes of the first team squad in 2006–2007 as new coach Víctor Muñoz preferred a striking duo of captain, Dimitris Papadopoulos and Dimitris Salpigidis
Dimitris Salpigidis
Dimitris Salpigidis Dimitris Salpigidis Dimitris Salpigidis (Greek: Δημήτρης Σαλπιγγίδης, (born 18 August 1981, Thessaloniki) is a Greek football striker. He plays for PAOK FC and the Greek national team.-Playing career:...
. His season was summed up in the cup final loss to Larissa when Mantzios had the chance to level the match in stoppage time but missed a completely open goal, managing to hit the ball into the arms of the keeper.
Mantzios had limited chances during the 2007–2008 season and he was loaned out to Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
for the second half of the season. He played only a few games scoring one in Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
and the German club chose not to activate the clause to purchase his contract.
Mantzios gained an improved role during the 2008–2009 pre-season for Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
after he impressed his new manager Henk Ten Cate
Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate is a Dutch football manager and a former professional player.In the 2005–06 season, he was the assistant of Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona that guided the team to a Champions League Trophy and La Liga title...
, playing as the lone striker in a 4–2–3–1 system. However in the beginning of the season an injury and a possible conflict with the manager limited his participation in the first team. Mantzios was recalled in October and he managed to put together a very impressive string of perfofmances especially against Werder Bremen for the UEFA Champions' League. Mantzios scored three goals in two games against the German team helping Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
to gain the first four points in his group.
On 31 December 2009, Mantzios completed a loan move to the Cypriot
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
club Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Anorthosis Famagusta FC
Αnorthosis Famagusta FC is a Cypriot football and volleyball club which is originally based in Famagusta, but is now temporarily based in Larnaca, due to the Turkish invasion. Anorthosis is one of the most successful clubs in Cypriot football, having won 13 league titles, 10 Cypriot Cups and 6...
.
On 31 September 2010, Mantzios completed a loan move to the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Club Sport Marítimo. Mantzios was ruled out of the season due to a long term injury on his right knee which led him only playing 1 match.
National team
Mantzios made his debut for GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in a 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
Qualifying match against Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
on 12 October 2005. He stayed in the squad throughout the rest of 2005 and into early 2006 but was dropped for almost a year, finally being called up again for the friendly loss to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
on 6 February 2007.
Honours
Individual- Greek Young Footballer of the year: 2003