Kostas Manolas facts for kids
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Manolas warming up for Roma in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 June 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Naxos, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.87 m | ||
| Playing position | Defender, forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | 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 | 8 | (15) |
| National team | |||
| 2009–2011 | Greece U21 | 5 | (0) |
| 2013–2019 | Greece | 42 | (1) |
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Konstantinos "Kostas" Manolas (born on 14 June 1991) is a Greek footballer. He plays for Pannaxiakos in the Kyklades FCA First Division. Kostas is mostly known as a defender. However, he has been playing as a striker for Pannaxiakos since 2024.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
AEK Athens
Starting Out: 2009–10 Season
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 16 June 2009, Kostas signed a three-year contract with AEK. He was very happy to join the team he supported. He made his first game appearance against AO Kavala. He was even named the best player of that match.
Kostas scored his first goal as a professional player on 19 May 2010. This was against their big rivals, Olympiacos. He played with a broken cheekbone but still managed to score! He refused to leave the game until it was over.
Becoming a Key Player: 2010–11 Season
Kostas became a very important player for AEK Athens in the 2010–11 season. He played very well in the Greek league and in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. Many European teams started to notice him.
He scored a crucial goal against Hajduk Split, helping AEK win. The next week, he scored again in the Greek Cup. AEK later won this cup. His great playing earned him a regular spot in the team.
Kostas learned a lot from playing with AEK legend Traianos Dellas. He said it was an honor to play with such a great player. He felt he became a better and more confident player because of Dellas.
On 30 April 2011, Kostas won his first trophy, the Greek Cup. He played a big part in the win. He was even named the best player of the final match. He played 36 games and scored three goals that season.
Contract and Continued Success: 2011–12 Season
On 11 July 2011, Kostas signed a new three-year contract with AEK. This kept him at the club until 2014. He agreed to stay even though big European teams were interested in him.
He started the 2011–12 season well. He helped AEK win a Europa League qualifier against Dinamo Tbilisi. He scored his first goal of the season against Panionios.
During January 2012, Everton from England showed interest in him. Their manager, David Moyes, said Kostas was a huge talent. However, Kostas decided to stay with AEK. He felt it was important not to leave his club when they were in a difficult situation. He played 85 games for AEK Athens in total, scoring 6 goals.
Olympiacos
Joining a Rival: 2012–13 Season
On 1 July 2012, Kostas joined AEK's rivals, Olympiacos. He signed a contract until 2016. He was very excited to play for Olympiacos. This move was a big blow for AEK, who were having financial problems.
Kostas played his first game for Olympiacos on 15 September. He scored his first goal for them in a 4–0 win against Skoda Xanthi. He played 24 league games that season. He helped Olympiacos win the Superleague title.
On 11 May 2013, he played in the Greek Cup Final. Olympiacos won 3–1, completing a league and cup double.
Champions League Success: 2013–14 Season
Kostas scored his first goal in the 2013–14 UEFA Champions League for Olympiacos. This was in a 1–0 home win against Benfica. He scored again in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain.
Olympiacos reached the round of 16 of the Champions League. This was the first time since 2009–10. They faced Manchester United. Kostas believed they could win.
Olympiacos won the first game 2–0 at home. However, they lost the second game 3–2. Manchester United went through to the next round. Kostas extended his contract with Olympiacos until 2017. He played 73 games for Olympiacos, scoring 6 goals.
Roma
Moving to Italy: 2014–15 Season
On 27 August 2014, Kostas joined Italian team Roma. He moved for about €15 million. He said he chose Roma because he wanted to win the Italian league title. He also hoped to go far in the Champions League.
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He made his first game appearance for Roma on 30 August 2014. Roma won 2–0 against Fiorentina. On 17 September, he played his first European game for Roma. They won 5–1 against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.
Kostas had a great first year in Italy. He became a key player in Roma's defense. His team finished second in the league. Roma fans voted him the "best purchase of the season."
Continued Strong Play: 2015–16 Season
Kostas started the 2015–16 season as a leader in Roma's defense. On 17 September 2015, he praised his team's tactics after a 1–1 draw against Barcelona.
On 26 September, Kostas scored his first goal in the 2015–16 Serie A. Roma won 5–1 against Carpi. He scored by kicking the ball into the net from close range.
Defensive Leader: 2016–17 Season
On 25 July 2016, Roma's coach said Kostas was happy and would stay at the club. Roma turned down a big offer from Arsenal for him. This showed how much Roma valued him.
On 2 October 2016, he scored a goal that helped Roma win 2–1 against rivals Inter. On 23 October 2016, Kostas played his 100th game for Roma. This was in a 4–1 win against Palermo.
On 31 October, he broke his nose in a game against Empoli. He missed some games because of this. On 13 December 2016, Kostas played a great game. He even helped set up a goal for his teammate.
Champions League Hero: 2017–18 Season
Kostas stayed at Roma for the 2017–18 season. On 27 September 2017, he scored in a 2–1 win against Qarabağ FK in the Champions League.
On 2 December 2017, he signed a new contract with Roma until 2022. On 5 November 2017, he scored his first goal in the 2017–18 season against Fiorentina.
On 4 April 2018, in a Champions League quarter-final game, Kostas scored an own goal against Barcelona. However, he made up for it in the second game. He scored the winning goal with a header, sending Roma to the Champions League semi-finals! This was the first time since 1984.
On 21 April 2018, Kostas was captain for the first time for Roma. This was in a 3–0 win against SPAL. He was one of Roma's most reliable players that season.
Final Season in Rome: 2018–19 Season
Kostas stayed at Roma for his fifth season. On 27 August 2018, he scored against Atalanta. This helped Roma come back from being down 3–1 to draw 3–3.
On 7 November, Kostas scored another header in the Champions League. This helped Roma win 2–1 against CSKA Moscow. His great play earned him a spot in the Champions League team of the week.
On 6 March 2019, Kostas played his 200th game for Roma. This was in a Champions League game against FC Porto. Roma lost the game and exited the competition.
Napoli
New Chapter in Naples: 2019–20 Season
On 27 June 2019, Kostas moved to Napoli. He signed a five-year contract. Napoli paid €34 million for him. He officially joined Napoli on 30 June.
On 24 August 2019, he played his first game for Napoli. A week later, he scored his first goal for the club against Juventus. On 28 September, he scored his second goal of the season. This helped Napoli win 2–1 against Brescia.
On 31 December, Kostas was named in the Roma Team of the Decade. On 29 February 2020, he scored another goal for Napoli in a 2–1 win against Torino.
Later Seasons with Napoli: 2020–22 Seasons
On 20 September 2020, Kostas started in a 2–0 win against Parma. In January 2021, he had a muscle injury. In February 2021, he had another injury to his ankle.
In August 2021, there were talks about him returning to Olympiacos. He told Napoli he wanted to go back to Greece. In December 2021, he again said he wanted to leave the club.
Return to Olympiacos
Coming Home: 2021–22 Season
On 16 December 2021, Napoli announced that Kostas would be sold to Olympiacos in January 2022. The transfer fee was reportedly €2.5 million. He made his return to Olympiacos on 16 April 2022, coming on as a substitute.
Sharjah
In September 2022, Kostas joined Sharjah, a club in the United Arab Emirates. He played there for 18 months. On 17 January 2024, his contract ended by agreement.
Salernitana
On 8 February 2024, Kostas returned to Italy to play for Salernitana. He signed a short-term contract until June 2024.
Pannaxiakos
On 16 October 2024, Kostas returned to his first club, Pannaxiakos. He signed a one-year deal. He scored five goals in his first game for them, helping Pannaxiakos win 12–1.
International Career
Kostas Manolas was first called up for the Greek national team in 2010. However, he did not make the final squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He made his official international debut in a friendly game against Switzerland three years later.
His strong play in the 2013–14 season earned him a spot in Greece's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In Brazil, he played very well. His strong performances helped Greece reach the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time ever. He was even named among the 50 best players at the World Cup.
On 12 September 2018, Kostas scored his first goal for Greece. He headed the ball into the net in a game against Hungary.
Style of Play
Kostas Manolas is known for his speed and strength as a defender. He can keep up with fast attackers and battle with stronger opponents. He is very good at marking players and always focuses on his defensive duties.
He is also surprisingly quick for his size. This allows him to cover a lot of ground in defense. He is known for his strong tackles and his ability to win headers in the air. He is a solid passer of the ball too, helping his team start attacks from the back.
Personal Life
Kostas Manolas is related to a famous Greek footballer, Stelios Manolas. Stelios is his uncle. Kostas also has a cousin named Konstantinos Manolas, who is also a footballer.
Kostas can speak 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
Club
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
