Ilias Kotsios

Ilias Kotsios
Personal information
Date of birth (1977-04-25) 25 April 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Larissa, Greece
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 12 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1992-1995 Ikaros Neapolis
1995–1996 Iraklis Larissa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2004 OFI 112 (10)
2004–2007 Panathinaikos 39 (2)
2007–2009 AEL 43 (1)
2009–2012 PAS Giannina 81 (6)
2012–2013 AEL Kalloni 32 (3)
2014–2015 Levadiakos 40 (5)
2015–2017 OFI 33 (3)
Managerial career
2017 OFI (technical director)
2019 Kentavros Vrilission
2020 Lamia (assistant)
2021 AEL (technical director)
2022 Karaiskakis (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ilias Kotsios (Greek: Ηλίας Κώτσιος; born 25 April 1977) is a former Greek footballer who played as defender. He has also played for Levadiakos, Panathinaikos, AEL, PAS Giannina and AEL Kalloni.

Career

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Kotsios started his career from the youth department of Ikaros Neapolis, a clb based in Larissa. After two years he moved to Iraklis Larissa and he was recommended to OFI Crete by his Ikaros Neapolis coach Ilias Selionis,[1] also an ex-player of the Cretan club. He first worked with renowned Dutch coach Eugene Gerrard and stayed with OFI for 8 seasons before signing for Panathinaikos.
Kotsios stayed with Panathinaikos for 3 years and in 2007 he returned to his hometown club Larissa playing in the UEFA Cup. In 2015 he signed for OFI Crete again to finish his career in 2017.

On 2 November 2005 Pnathinaikos were defeated by Barcelona with 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League in Lionel Messi.[2] After the end of the game Kotsios swapped jerseys with the 18-year old then Lionel Messi who scored his first ever goal in Europe.

Honours

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Panathinaikos

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References

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References

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  1. ^ "Selionis passed away, aged 65" (in Greek). patris.gr. 13 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Kotsios and Messi swapped jerseys in 2005" (in Greek). patris.gr.
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