Kostas Fortounis facts for kids
Fortounis playing for Greece in 2013
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 October 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Trikala, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.83 m | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder Winger |
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| Club information | |||
| Current club | Al-Khaleej | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2008 | Olympiacos | ||
| 2008–2009 | Trikala | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2008–2010 | Trikala | 13 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Asteras Tripolis | 24 | (1) |
| 2011–2014 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 70 | (2) |
| 2014–2024 | Olympiacos | 230 | (75) |
| 2024– | Al-Khaleej | 14 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2010–2011 | Greece U19 | 15 | (1) |
| 2011–2015 | Greece U21 | 14 | (4) |
| 2012–2023 | Greece | 56 | (9) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Konstantinos 'Kostas' Fortounis (born October 16, 1992) is a Greek professional footballer. He plays as an attacking midfielder for the Saudi team Al-Khaleej. Kostas was born in Trikala, Greece.
Contents
Kostas Fortounis's Football Journey
Starting with Trikala
Kostas Fortounis began his journey in football with the youth team of Olympiacos in 2008. After that, he joined AO Trikala. He played very well for their Under-21 team, scoring four goals in 14 games. He then moved up to the first team, playing 13 matches and scoring one goal between 2008 and 2010.
Playing for Asteras Tripolis
Because of his strong performances, especially with the Greece under-17 national team, Kostas was asked to join Asteras Tripolis. He made his first appearance for them in a game against PAOK. Even though he often came on as a substitute, he played in 24 league games. He scored his first goal in the Super League on September 19, 2010, in a 2–2 draw against AEK Athens.
Time with 1. FC Kaiserslautern
In the summer of 2011, Fortounis moved to Germany to play for Kaiserslautern. He signed a contract until June 2015. In his first season, he played 28 league games. In the 2012–13 season, he scored two goals in 24 games. He helped Kaiserslautern finish third in the German second league.
Returning to Olympiacos
On July 21, 2014, Fortounis signed a five-year contract with Olympiacos. This was a return to the club where he started as a youth player. He chose Olympiacos because they could offer him Champions League football. He scored his first goal for Olympiacos in a match against PAS Giannina on December 6. He scored 7 goals in 25 games during the 2014–15 Superleague season.
Kostas also helped Olympiacos reach the 2015 Greek Cup Final. He scored a fantastic goal from 25 yards out as they beat Skoda Xanthi 3–1. This win helped Olympiacos achieve the double, winning both the league and the cup.
Key Moments in Olympiacos
- 2015–16 Season: Fortounis scored Olympiacos' first goal of the 2015–16 Superleague season. He scored twice in a 3–1 win against Skoda Xanthi and was named "Man of the Match."
- Champions League Success: In a Champions League game against Arsenal on September 29, he played a big part in two goals. His performance earned him a spot in the Champions League Team of the Week.
- Record Breaking: On November 29, he scored two goals, helping his club win 3–1 against his old team, Asteras Tripolis. This was Olympiacos' 11th win in a row, matching a club record from the 1966–67 season.
- Top Scorer and Assister: By March 20, 2016, Fortounis became only the third player in Olympiacos' history to score 10 goals and make 10 assists in a single season. He finished the season as the league's top scorer with 18 goals and also had the most assists with 12. His team won their sixth league title in a row.
Continued Success and Challenges
Despite interest from other big clubs, Fortounis extended his contract with Olympiacos until 2020. In the 2016–17 season, he scored his first goal on October 2, 2016, in a 3–0 win against AEK. He also scored a free-kick in a UEFA Europa League game and was chosen as the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the match.
In August 2018, Fortounis was named captain of Olympiacos. He continued to be a key player, scoring and assisting goals in important matches, including in the Europa League group stage. On December 13, 2018, he scored a penalty against AC Milan that helped Olympiacos qualify for the knockout rounds. He finished the 2018–19 season with 17 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.
Dealing with Injuries
In July 2019, Fortounis suffered a serious injury, tearing a ligament in his knee. He was expected to be out for six months. He made his return on January 15, 2020, in a Greek Cup game. On February 15, 2020, he scored his first goal after his injury.
He faced another similar injury in June 2021, tearing a ligament in his other knee. Despite these challenges, he worked hard to return to play. The 2023–24 season was one of his best, with 11 goals and 19 assists in 49 appearances.
Moving to Al-Khaleej
On August 30, 2024, Fortounis joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Khaleej on a two-year deal.
Playing for Greece
Kostas Fortounis has played for Greece at different youth levels, including U-21, U-19, and U-17.
He made his debut for the senior Greece in February 2012 against Belgium. He showed great skill and was part of the Greece national team for UEFA Euro 2012.
He was not part of the team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, after joining Olympiacos, he became a key player for the national team again. On March 29, 2016, he scored two goals in a friendly game against Iceland. He continues to be an important player for his country.
How Kostas Fortounis Plays
Fortounis is known as a fantastic playmaker for Olympiacos. This means he is great at creating chances for his teammates. He loves to have the ball and control the game from the middle of the field.
He is a very skilled player who can:
- Carry the ball well
- Pass accurately
- Cross the ball into the box
- Take excellent set pieces (like free kicks and corners)
Even though he is naturally right-footed, he can score goals with both feet. He creates many chances for his team and has a great vision for making the final pass that leads to a goal. When he is healthy, he often leads the league in goals, assists, successful passes, and crosses.
Honours and Awards
Kostas Fortounis has won many awards and titles throughout his career:
With Olympiacos
- Super League Greece: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 (6 times)
- Greek Cup: 2014–15, 2019–20
- UEFA Europa Conference League: 2023–24 (This is a big European club competition!)
Individual Awards
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2011
- Super League Greece Player of the Season: 2015–16, 2018–19
- Super League Greece Greek Footballer of the Season: 2015–16, 2018–19
- Super League Greece Top scorer: 2015–16
- Super League Greece Team of the Season: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19
- Super League Greece Player of the Month: November 2020
- Super League Greece Goal of the Season: 2022–23
- Super League Greece top assist provider: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21
- Olympiacos Goal of the Season: 2015–16
- UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2023–24
Records
- Most assists in the history of Olympiacos
Images for kids
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Fortounis playing for Greece in 2013
See also
In Spanish: Kostas Fortounis para niños
