Kostas Manolas facts for kids
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Manolas warming up for Roma in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Konstantinos Manolas | ||
| Date of birth | 14 June 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Naxos, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, forward | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Pannaxiakos | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2007 | Pannaxiakos | ||
| 2007–2009 | Thrasyvoulos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2009 | Thrasyvoulos | 6 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | AEK Athens | 66 | (3) |
| 2012–2014 | Olympiacos | 49 | (4) |
| 2014–2019 | Roma | 156 | (5) |
| 2019–2022 | Napoli | 60 | (4) |
| 2022 | Olympiacos | 14 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Sharjah | 26 | (0) |
| 2024 | Salernitana | 8 | (0) |
| 2024– | Pannaxiakos | 23 | (22) |
| International career | |||
| 2009–2011 | Greece U21 | 5 | (0) |
| 2013–2019 | Greece | 42 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 december 2024 | |||
Konstantinos "Kostas" Manolas (born on June 14, 1991) is a Greek footballer. He plays for Pannaxiakos, a club in the Kyklades FCA First Division. Kostas is mostly known as a defender. However, since 2024, he has also been playing as a striker for Pannaxiakos.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting with AEK Athens
Early Days and First Goals
Kostas Manolas started his youth football journey at Thrasyvoulos in 2008. In 2009, his uncle, Stelios Manolas, who was a director at AEK Athens, saw him play. His uncle was very impressed with Kostas's skills.
On June 16, 2009, Kostas signed a three-year contract with AEK. He was very happy to join the team he supported. He hoped to become a club legend, just like his uncle. Kostas played his first game against AO Kavala and was named the best player of the match. He said it was a dream to play for his favorite club. He also earned "man of the match" honors in five of his first seven games.
Kostas scored his first professional goal on May 19, 2010, against AEK's big rivals, Olympiacos. He scored early in the game, even though he was playing with a broken cheekbone. He refused to go to the hospital until the match was over. The next day, he had surgery and quickly returned to training.
Key Player and First Trophy
Kostas was a very important player for AEK Athens during the 2010–11 season. He played very well in the Superleague Greece and the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. Many European teams became interested in him. He scored a crucial goal against Hajduk Split in the Europa League, helping AEK win. He also scored in the Greek Cup against AEL, a cup AEK later won. His strong performances made him a regular starter.
Playing alongside AEK legend Traianos Dellas helped Kostas improve a lot. He said it was an honor to play with Dellas and that he learned a lot from him.
On April 30, 2011, Kostas won his first trophy, the Greek Cup. He played a great game in the final against Atromitos and was named "man of the match." After the win, he said it was a dream to win a trophy with his childhood club. He finished the 2010–11 season with 36 matches played and three goals.
Contract and Leaving AEK
On July 11, 2011, Kostas signed a new three-year contract with AEK, keeping him at the club until 2014. He turned down offers from other big European teams because he wanted to stay with his beloved club. He hoped to become the team's captain and win the league, just like his uncle.
Kostas started the 2011–12 season well. He scored his first goal of the season against Panionios. He also scored in the Europa League against Sturm Graz. During January 2012, Premier League club Everton showed strong interest in him. However, Kostas decided not to leave AEK because he felt it would put his club in a difficult situation. He played 85 games for AEK Athens, scoring 6 goals in total.
Moving to Olympiacos
Winning the Double
On July 1, 2012, Kostas joined AEK's rivals, Olympiacos, for free. His contract with AEK Athens had ended. He was very excited to play for Olympiacos. At this time, AEK was having financial problems, so losing a key player like Kostas was a big blow for them.
Kostas played his first game for Olympiacos on September 15 against PAS Giannina. He scored his first goal for his new team against Skoda Xanthi. He played 24 league games for Olympiacos that season, helping them win the Super League Greece. On May 11, 2013, he also helped Olympiacos win the Greek Cup, completing a league and cup double.
Champions League Success
During the 2013–14 season, several English clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland were watching Kostas. He scored his first goal in the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League against Benfica. He scored again in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain. These goals helped Olympiacos reach the round of 16 for the first time since 2009–10.
Olympiacos faced Manchester United in the round of 16. They won the first game 2–0 at home. However, Manchester United won the second game 3–2, and Olympiacos was knocked out. On March 22, 2014, Kostas extended his contract with Olympiacos until 2017. He played 73 games for Olympiacos, scoring 6 goals and making 2 assists.
Time at Roma
Joining a New League
On August 27, 2014, Kostas signed with Italian club Roma for about €15 million. He said he chose Roma because the club had big goals. He wanted to win the Scudetto (Italian league title) and go far in the Champions League.
Kostas made his first appearance for Roma on August 30, 2014, in a 2–0 win against Fiorentina. On September 17, he played his first European game for Roma in the Champions League, where they won 5–1 against CSKA Moscow. On October 5, he was sent off in a match against Juventus. He was later banned for two games.
Kostas had a great first season in Serie A, becoming a key defender for Roma. His strong play attracted interest from other big clubs like Arsenal. At the end of the season, Roma fans voted him the "best purchase of the season."
Continued Success and Important Goals
Kostas started the 2015–16 season as a leader in Roma's defense. On September 17, 2015, after a 1–1 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League, he praised his team's tactics. On September 26, he scored his first goal of the 2015–16 Serie A season in a 5–1 win against Carpi.
On February 17, 2016, he played very well in a Champions League game against Real Madrid, even though Roma lost 2–0. On April 20, 2016, he scored his second goal of the season in a win against Torino.
Leading the Defense
In July 2016, Roma's coach said that Kostas was happy and would stay at the club, despite rumors of interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea. Roma even turned down a €39 million offer from Arsenal for him.
On October 2, 2016, he scored the second goal in a 2–1 home win against rivals Inter. On October 18, he turned down a contract extension offer from Roma, hoping for a better deal.
On October 23, 2016, Kostas played his 100th game for Roma in a 4–1 win against Palermo. On October 31, he broke his nose in a game against Empoli, which made him miss some matches. On December 13, 2016, he had a great game against A.C. Milan, even assisting a goal. However, on December 18, he got another injury and was out for about two weeks.
Champions League Heroics
Kostas stayed at Roma for the 2017–18 season. On September 27, 2017, he scored the first goal in a 2–1 win against Qarabağ FK in the Champions League group stage.
On December 2, 2017, he signed a new contract with Roma until 2022. On November 5, 2017, he scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season in a 4–2 win against Fiorentina.
On April 4, 2018, in a Champions League quarter-final game against Barcelona, Kostas accidentally scored an own goal in a 4–1 loss. However, he made up for it in the second game. On April 10, 2018, he scored the winning goal with a header in Roma's amazing 3–0 victory over Barcelona. This sent Roma to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1984. On April 21, 2018, Kostas was captain for the first time in a game against SPAL. He was one of Roma's most consistent players that season.
Final Season at Roma
Kostas stayed at Roma for his fifth season, the 2018–19 season. He hoped to win his first title with the club. On August 27, 2018, he scored against Atalanta, helping Roma come back from 3–1 down to a 3–3 draw. On November 7, he scored a header against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, helping Roma win 2–1. His performance earned him a spot in the Champions League team of the week.
On March 6, 2019, Kostas played his 200th game for Roma. He played the full 120 minutes in a Champions League game against FC Porto, which Roma lost 3–1. He later had a muscle strain and missed some games.
Joining Napoli
New Team, New Goals
On June 27, 2019, Kostas was close to joining Napoli. Roma and Napoli agreed on a deal for him. Kostas signed a five-year contract with Napoli. Napoli bought him for €34 million. He officially joined Napoli on June 30.
On August 24, 2019, he made his debut for Napoli in a 4–3 win against Fiorentina. A week later, he scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 4–3 loss against Juventus. On September 28, he scored his second goal of the season, helping Napoli win 2–1 against Brescia.
On December 31, Kostas was named in the Roma Team of the Decade. On February 29, 2020, he scored a header to give Napoli the lead in a 2–1 win against Torino.
Injuries and Return to Greece
On May 16, 2020, Kostas was the first Napoli player to get injured after training started again following the COVID-19 pandemic. He was out for several weeks.
On January 12, 2021, Napoli confirmed that Kostas had a muscle injury. He was replaced early in a game against Udinese. On February 8, 2021, Napoli confirmed he would be out for three weeks with an ankle injury. He returned to play against Sassuolo on March 3.
In August 2021, there were reports that Kostas wanted to return to Greece and join Olympiacos. He still started the first Serie A game of the season for Napoli. On October 21, 2021, he got another injury during a Europa League game. In December 2021, he lost his starting spot and again said he wanted to leave the club.
Back to Olympiacos
Coming Home
On December 16, 2021, Napoli announced that Kostas would be sold to Olympiacos in January 2022 for €2.5 million. He had last played for Olympiacos in April 2014. Eight years later, he came on as a substitute in a game against Apollon Smyrni, marking his return.
Short Stays at Sharjah and Salernitana
In late September 2022, Kostas joined Sharjah, a club in the United Arab Emirates. His contract was ended by agreement on January 17, 2024.
On February 8, 2024, Kostas returned to Serie A to sign a short contract with Salernitana. His contract ended in June 2024.
Return to Pannaxiakos
On October 16, 2024, Kostas Manolas returned to his first club, Pannaxiakos. He signed a one-year deal to play in the Cyclades FCA First Division. Five days later, he scored five goals in his debut game against Marpissaikos, helping Pannaxiakos win 12-1.
International Career
Kostas Manolas was called up for the Greek national team's training squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, he did not make the final team. He made his first international appearance in a friendly game against Switzerland about three years later.
His strong performance with Olympiacos in the 2014 World Cup earned him a spot in Greece's final squad. In Brazil, he played very well, helping Greece reach the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time ever. He was named one of the 50 best players at the World Cup by The Independent. Greece was eventually defeated by Costa Rica.
On September 12, 2018, Kostas scored his first goal for Greece. He headed in a free kick in a 2–1 loss against Hungary in the Nations League.
How Kostas Manolas Plays
Kostas Manolas is known for his speed, which helps him keep up with faster attackers. He also has the strength to challenge stronger opponents. When he doesn't have the ball, he marks opponents closely and is always ready to tackle. Even though he is a big player, he is surprisingly quick. This allows him to play well both close to his own goal and further up the field.
He is known as a "stopper," meaning he is great at stopping opposing players. But he is also a good passer of the ball. He combines the skills of an old-fashioned central defender with the modern need to start plays from the back. He is also excellent at tackling and winning balls in the air.
Personal Life
Kostas Manolas is related to famous Greek footballer Stelios Manolas, who is his uncle. He is also the cousin of another footballer named Konstantinos Manolas.
Kostas speaks Greek, Italian, and English very well.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Thrasyvoulos | 2008–09 | Super League Greece | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||||
| AEK Athens | 2009–10 | Super League Greece | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| 2010–11 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | — | 36 | 3 | ||||
| 2011–12 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | — | 38 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 66 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | 13 | 2 | — | 85 | 6 | ||||
| Olympiacos | 2012–13 | Super League Greece | 24 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | — | 37 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | 7 | 2 | — | 37 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 49 | 4 | 11 | 0 | — | 14 | 2 | — | 74 | 6 | ||||
| Roma | 2014–15 | Serie A | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | — | 41 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 45 | 2 | ||||
| 2016–17 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | — | 45 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 2 | — | 40 | 4 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | — | 35 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 156 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | 45 | 3 | — | 206 | 8 | ||||
| Napoli | 2019–20 | Serie A | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | — | 35 | 4 | ||
| 2020–21 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 60 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 4 | |||
| Olympiacos | 2021–22 | Super League Greece | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | ||||
| Sharjah | 2022–23 | UAE Pro League | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Total | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| Salernitana | 2023–24 | Serie A | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Pannaxiakos | 2024–25 | Cyclades FCA First Division | 8 | 15 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 15 | ||||
| Career total | 393 | 31 | 31 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 91 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 525 | 39 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | 2013 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 42 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 September 2018 | Ferencváros Stadion, Budapest, Hungary |  Hungary |
1–1 | 1–2 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League C |
Honours
AEK Athens
- Greek Cup: 2010–11
Olympiacos
- Super League Greece: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2021–22
- Greek Cup: 2012–13
Napoli
- Coppa Italia: 2019–20
Sharjah
- UAE President's Cup: 2022–23
- UAE League Cup: 2022–23
- UAE Super Cup: 2022
Individual
- PSAP Best Greek Player playing Abroad: 2017–18
- UEFA's Top 50 Footballers: 2018
- AS Roma Team of the Decade: 2010–2020
Images for kids
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Manolas (top, left-centre) lining up for Roma before the match against CSKA Moscow, 25 November 2014.
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See also
In Spanish: Kostas Manolás para niños
