Georgios Samaras facts for kids
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Samaras with Celtic in 2010
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Georgios Samaras | ||
| Date of birth | 21 February 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Heraklion, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–2000 | OFI | ||
| 2000–2002 | Heerenveen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2006 | Heerenveen | 88 | (25) |
| 2006–2008 | Manchester City | 54 | (8) |
| 2008 | → Celtic (loan) | 16 | (5) |
| 2008–2014 | Celtic | 156 | (48) |
| 2014–2015 | West Bromwich Albion | 5 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Al-Hilal (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Rayo OKC | 24 | (2) |
| 2017 | Zaragoza | 7 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Samsunspor | 25 | (2) |
| Total | 380 | (90) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2006 | Greece U21 | 5 | (0) |
| 2006–2014 | Greece | 81 | (9) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Georgios Samaras (born on February 21, 1985) is a Greek former professional footballer. He played as a forward, which means he was usually one of the main goal scorers on the team.
Samaras started his football journey at OFI in Greece. He then moved to the Dutch team Heerenveen in 2001. After playing there for a few years, he joined the English Premier League club Manchester City in 2006.
In 2008, Samaras moved to Scottish Premier League team Celtic, first on loan and then permanently. He became a very important player for Celtic, helping them win several league championships and cups. He scored 74 goals in 249 games for the club.
After leaving Celtic in 2014, he played for West Bromwich Albion in England and Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. He later played for Rayo OKC in the USA, Real Zaragoza in Spain, and Samsunspor in Turkey before retiring in 2018.
Samaras also played for the Greek national team. He made his debut in 2006 and played in major tournaments like the Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012, and 2014 World Cup. He earned 81 caps and scored 9 goals for his country.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Georgios Samaras was born in Heraklion, the capital city of Crete, a Greek island. His father, Ioannis Samaras, was born in Melbourne but moved back to Greece before Georgios was born. Georgios's grandfather, also named Georgios, was one of the people who helped start the Australian football club South Melbourne FC.
Growing up, Samaras loved football and his favorite player was Marco van Basten. He also enjoyed basketball and admired Michael Jordan.
In 1994, when he was 10 years old, Samaras joined his favorite team, OFI. His father played for OFI at the time and later became the head of their youth academy. Samaras often says his father was a huge help in starting his football career. He trained every day and spent a lot of time learning about the game behind the scenes at OFI. In 2001, he moved to the Dutch club Heerenveen.
Club Career Highlights
Starting Strong at Heerenveen
Samaras joined the Heerenveen first team during the 2002–03 season when he was only 18. He quickly showed his talent, scoring three goals in his first four games, even though he came on as a substitute in all of them. Because of his great start, Heerenveen extended his contract for three more years.
He continued to score important goals for Heerenveen in the following seasons. For example, in the 2004–05 season, he scored a last-minute winning goal against ADO Den Haag. He also scored a hat-trick in a big 7–1 win against RBC Roosendaal.
By the start of the 2005–06 season, big clubs like Sevilla and Arsenal were interested in signing him. He scored on the opening day of that season and continued to perform well. In total, Samaras scored 25 goals in 88 games for Heerenveen.
Time at Manchester City
On January 30, 2006, Samaras moved to Manchester City in England for about £6 million. This was a record fee for a Greek player at the time. He made his debut on February 1 and scored his first goal soon after against Charlton Athletic.
During the 2006–07 season, Samaras scored important goals, including two against West Ham United. However, he faced some criticism from fans and the media. Some people felt he wasn't adapting well to the English style of play. Samaras believed the high transfer fee made him an easy target for criticism.
When Sven-Göran Eriksson became the new manager for the 2007–08 season, Samaras was initially not a key player. However, he worked hard and improved. He scored a last-minute winning goal in a League Cup match against Norwich City. By January 2008, Manchester City decided to sell him, and he eventually moved to Celtic. He scored 12 goals in 63 games for Manchester City.
Success with Celtic
Loan Spell and First Title
On January 29, 2008, Samaras joined Celtic in Scotland on a six-month loan. He wanted to play regularly to earn a spot in the Greek national team for Euro 2008. He also liked the idea of playing in European competitions with Celtic.
He quickly made an impact, scoring on his debut in a Scottish Cup match. He scored several important goals that helped Celtic win the league title on the very last day of the season. This was his first winner's medal.
Permanent Move and More Goals
After his successful loan, Samaras signed a permanent three-year contract with Celtic on July 15, 2008. He started the 2008–09 season strongly, scoring two goals in several matches. He was even named the SPL Player of the Month for September.
He continued to be a key player for Celtic, scoring 17 goals in all competitions that season. He helped Celtic win the League Cup by beating Rangers 2–0 in the final.
Important Goals and Cup Wins
In the 2009–10 season, Samaras scored a crucial injury-time goal against Dynamo Moscow in the Champions League qualifiers. This goal helped Celtic win their first European away game in six years.
The 2010–11 season saw Samaras in great form. He scored a hat-trick in a League Cup game and then scored both goals in a 2–0 victory against rivals Rangers at Ibrox. He also captained Celtic for the first time in a Scottish Cup match. In March 2011, he signed a new contract to stay at Celtic until 2014. He ended the season by winning the Scottish Cup with Celtic.
Champions League Adventures
In the 2011–12 season, Samaras continued to perform well, providing assists and scoring goals. He helped Celtic win the league title again.
The 2012–13 season was special for Samaras in the UEFA Champions League. He scored his 50th Celtic goal in a qualifying match. He also scored a dramatic late winning goal against Spartak Moscow in the group stage. He became the first Celtic player to score in five straight away matches in Europe. His efforts helped Celtic reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. He also helped Celtic win their second league title in a row and the Scottish Cup.
Final Season at Celtic
Samaras started the 2013–14 season by scoring in the Champions League qualifiers, helping Celtic reach the group stages once more. He scored a hat-trick against Kilmarnock in a league game. His final appearance for Celtic was on May 11, 2014, where he scored a penalty. He left the club as a free agent after his contract ended.
Later Career Moves
After leaving Celtic, Samaras joined West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League in August 2014. However, he didn't play much and didn't score any goals for them.
In February 2015, he went on loan to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. He scored his first goal for them in the Saudi Crown Prince Cup Final, but his team lost. He then suffered a serious hip injury that kept him out for almost three months. His contract with West Brom was ended in July 2015.
After recovering from injuries, Samaras joined Rayo OKC in the North American Soccer League in March 2016. He scored his first goal for them in July. When Rayo OKC closed down after one season, he moved to Real Zaragoza in Spain in February 2017. His last club was Samsunspor in Turkey, where he played until he announced his retirement from football on October 12, 2018, at the age of 33.
International Career for Greece
Georgios Samaras could have played for the Australian national team because his father was born in Melbourne. However, Samaras chose to represent his birth country, Greece.
He made his debut for Greece just after his 21st birthday, on February 28, 2006, in a friendly game against Belarus, where he scored the only goal. He became a regular player for Greece.
Samaras scored a very important goal in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Israel in his hometown of Heraklion. He also scored an amazing overhead kick goal against Latvia. He helped Greece qualify for the 2010 World Cup Finals by setting up the winning goal against Ukraine in a play-off match.
At the 2010 World Cup, Samaras played in all three of Greece's group matches. He also played in Euro 2012, where he scored a goal against Germany in the quarter-finals.
One of his most memorable moments for Greece came at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In the final group stage game against the Ivory Coast, Samaras helped set up Greece's first goal. Then, in the 90th minute, he scored the winning goal from a penalty kick. This 2–1 victory meant Greece qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time ever!
How Samaras Played
Samaras was known for his height, standing at 6 feet 4 inches (1.92 meters). This made him very good at heading the ball and difficult for defenders to play against, especially when long balls were played to him. He was also strong, which added to his physical presence on the field.
He was also a skilled dribbler, meaning he could run with the ball and get past several opponents using his quick feet and agility. Sometimes, he would hold onto the ball for too long, but his ability to beat players with pace and strength was a key part of his game. He could also be creative and set up goals for his teammates.
Even though he was mainly a striker, Samaras could also play as a left midfielder. He could play in different roles up front, sometimes dropping deeper to connect the attack with the midfield. His pace allowed him to run behind defenders and get onto through balls.
Despite his many skills, Samaras sometimes played inconsistently. His dribbling runs didn't always lead to something, and he occasionally lost the ball when a pass was a better option. His relaxed style of play sometimes made fans think he was "lazy," even though he had a lot of talent.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Heerenveen | 2002–03 | Eredivisie | 15 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 5 | ||
| 2003–04 | 27 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | 36 | 5 | |||
| 2004–05 | 31 | 11 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 37 | 11 | |||
| 2005–06 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | 2 | 21 | 9 | |||
| Total | 88 | 25 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 110 | 30 | ||
| Manchester City | 2005–06 | Premier League | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 |
| 2006–07 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Total | 54 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 12 | ||
| Celtic | 2007–08 | Scottish Premier League | 16 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 6 |
| 2008–09 | 31 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 17 | ||
| 2009–10 | 32 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 43 | 13 | ||
| 2010–11 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 34 | 7 | ||
| 2011–12 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 38 | 6 | ||
| 2012–13 | 25 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 40 | 14 | ||
| 2013–14 | Scottish Premiership | 20 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 33 | 11 | |
| Total | 172 | 53 | 21 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 47 | 13 | 249 | 74 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2014–15 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Al-Hilal | 2014–15 | Saudi Professional League | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| Rayo Oklahoma City | 2016 | NASL | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Zaragoza | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Samsunspor | 2017–18 | TFF First League | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| Career total | 380 | 90 | 39 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 66 | 16 | 500 | 122 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | 2006 | 7 | 3 |
| 2007 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 11 | 1 | |
| Total | 81 | 9 | |
- Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Samaras goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 February 2006 | Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus |  Belarus |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 1 March 2006 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Kazakhstan |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | |
| 3 | 11 October 2006 | Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
2–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying | |
| 4 | 1 April 2009 | Pankritio Stadium, Heraklion, Greece |  Israel |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 5 | 10 October 2009 | Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece |  Latvia |
4–2 | 5–2 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 6 | 17 November 2010 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria |  Austria |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly | |
| 7 | 7 October 2011 | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece |  Croatia |
1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying | |
| 8 | 22 June 2012 | PGE Arena‚ Gdańsk, Poland |  Germany |
1–1 | 2–4 | UEFA Euro 2012 | |
| 9 | 24 June 2014 | Estádio Castelão‚ Fortaleza, Brazil |  Ivory Coast |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup |
Trophies and Awards
Celtic
- Scottish Premier League: 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
- Scottish Cup: 2010–11, 2012–13
- Scottish League Cup: 2008–09
Al-Hilal
- Saudi Crown Prince Cup runner-up: 2014–15
Individual Awards
- SPL Player of the Month: September 2008
- Celtic Supporters' Player of the Year: 2012–13
- 2014 FIFA World Cup awards: Man of the match Greece vs Ivory Coast
See also
In Spanish: Geórgios Samarás para niños
