Loukas Vyntra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Loukas Vyntra
Λουκάς Βύντρα

Vyntra with Greece in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Loukas Vyntra
Birth name	Lukáš Vydra
Date of birth	(1981-02-05) 5 February 1981 (age 44)
Place of birth	Město Albrechtice, Czechoslovakia
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1998–1999	Almopos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2003	Paniliakos	67	(4)
2000–2001	→ Veria (loan)	24	(0)
2003–2013	Panathinaikos	227	(10)
2013–2015	Levante	75	(2)
2015–2016	Hapoel Tel Aviv	25	(0)
2016–2019	Omonia	70	(4)
2019–2022	Lamia	52	(0)
Total		540	(20)
International career‡
1997–2003	Greece U21	20	(3)
2004	Greece U23	3	(0)
2005–2015	Greece	57	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 June 2015

Loukas Vyntra (born on February 5, 1981) is a former professional footballer from Greece. He was a very flexible player. He mostly played as a central defender. However, he could also play as a right back, left back, or even a defensive midfielder.

Early Life and Background

Loukas Vyntra was born as Lukáš Vydra in Město Albrechtice, which was part of Czechoslovakia at the time. His father was Czech, and his mother was Greek. When he was young, he moved to Greece, his mother's home country.

Club Career Highlights

Starting with Paniliakos

Vyntra began his professional football journey in 1999. He signed his first contract with a team called Paniliakos. In the 2000–01 season, he played on loan for Veroia, a team in the third division. After returning to Paniliakos, he quickly became a key player. He helped his team get promoted to the top Greek league, the Alpha Ethniki, in the 2002–03 season.

Time at Panathinaikos

In 2004, Panathinaikos, a big Greek club, noticed Vyntra's talent. They brought him to their team in Athens. Vyntra quickly made a big impact and became a very important player for Panathinaikos. He was known for being able to play in different defensive positions.

European Competitions

On September 29, 2004, Vyntra played his first game in a European competition. This was a UEFA Champions League match against PSV. During the 2004–05 season, he scored two memorable goals. One was against Arsenal in the Champions League. The other was against Sevilla in the UEFA Cup.

Key Player and Coach's Praise

Vyntra was known as a hard-working player. His coaches often chose him for the starting team. In the 2009–10 season, he was one of Panathinaikos's most important players. He helped the team win both the league and the cup that year. He also played in 50 European matches.

After his coach, Henk ten Cate, left Panathinaikos in 2009, Ten Cate spoke highly of Vyntra. He said Vyntra was the only player he would recommend to a big European club. He praised Vyntra's speed, aerial skills, and good technique as a defender. He also noted Vyntra's strong mindset.

Moving to Levante in Spain

In 2013, Vyntra moved to Spain. He signed a contract with La Liga team Levante. He later extended his contract with the club.

Scoring Against Big Teams

On January 19, 2014, Vyntra scored his first goal for Levante. It was in a 1–1 draw against Barcelona. He headed the ball past the goalkeeper, Víctor Valdés. A few days later, on January 25, 2014, Levante won 3–2 against Sevilla. Vyntra scored again, heading in a corner kick.

Ten days later, in a Copa del Rey quarter-final match, Vyntra scored another header against Barcelona. Even though Barcelona won the game, Vyntra's goal was a highlight. On May 4, 2014, Levante had an impressive 2–0 win against Atlético Madrid. Vyntra was one of the key players in this victory. He made an important block to stop a shot from Filipe Luís.

Later Career Teams

After his time in Spain, Vyntra played for a few other clubs.

Hapoel Tel Aviv

On July 27, 2015, Vyntra signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. He played for them for one season.

AC Omonia

On August 29, 2016, Vyntra joined Omonia, a club in Cyprus. He made his debut on September 10, 2016. On February 5, 2017, he scored his first goal for Omonia.

Lamia

On July 17, 2019, Vyntra signed a contract with Lamia in Greece. He renewed his contract for another year on August 6, 2020. He retired from professional football in 2022.

International Career for Greece

Loukas Vyntra chose to represent Greece, his mother's home country, instead of the Czech Republic. He played for Greece at different levels.

Olympic Games and Senior Team Debut

He represented Greece at the 2004 Summer Olympics. These games were held in Athens, Greece. Vyntra's first game for the senior Greek team was on June 8, 2005. It was a qualifying match for the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Ukraine. He was also part of the team for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany.

World Cup and Euro Qualifiers

Vyntra often played as a right-back for Greece. He was chosen by coach Fernando Santos for the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. On March 23, 2015, Vyntra played in an important match against Hungary national football team. This game was a qualifier for UEFA Euro 2016.

Career Statistics

Honours and Achievements

Panathinaikos

• Superleague Greece: 2004, 2010
• Greek Cup: 2004, 2010

See also

In Spanish: Loukas Vyntra para niños