Stelios Manolas facts for kids

Stelios Manolas (Greek: Στέλιος Μανωλάς, born on July 13, 1961) is a Greek former professional footballer. He played as a center back for AEK Athens. Many people think he was the best Greek defender of his time. He is one of the few Greek footballers who played his entire career for just one club. In 2021, the IFFHS named him in Greece's all-time best team.

Playing for Clubs: Stelios's Career

Stelios Manolas started playing football when he was very young. He played on the streets and empty lots in Galatsi, a suburb of Athens. When he was a teenager, he played for a small amateur club called Aetos Galatsi. There, scouts noticed his talent and brought him to the attention of AEK Athens.

Joining AEK Athens Youth Teams

At 15, Stelios was already playing for the AEK Youth teams. People quickly saw how skilled he was with the ball. They also noticed his smart thinking and good tactical sense on the field. In January 1980, he signed his first professional contract with AEK.

Becoming a Key Defender

As a young player, Stelios showed great technical training and a strong fighting spirit. He always worked hard for his team, both in defense and attack. He was a true leader in defense, helping his teammates feel more confident. He started his career as a right back but later became a center back. This was the position he played for the rest of his career.

He played his first game on February 3, 1980, in a 1–1 draw against Kastoria. From the next season on, he was a regular player in AEK's defense until he retired. He was one of AEK's best players and a natural leader for almost his entire career. He helped AEK win many titles. He and Toni Savevski were key players in the 1990s.

Memorable Moments and Loyalty

One of his most famous moments was in a big game against Olympiacos in 1989. He used his head to block a shot from Lajos Détári right in front of AEK's goal. This helped AEK win the 1989 league title.

Clubs like Porto and Monaco wanted Stelios to play for them. But he always said he would never leave AEK. He wanted to finish his career there. He played for AEK for 19 years in a row and became their captain.

In 1997, Stelios was unhappy with the club's president at the time. He stopped playing for a few months. But he came back when ENIC became the main owner. He played his last game against Skoda Xanthi, which was his 700th appearance for the club.

Stelios's Playing Records

Stelios Manolas played 447 games in the league. This is the second-highest number of appearances for AEK, after Mimis Papaioannou. He scored 34 goals in the league. With AEK, he won the league 4 times. He also won the Cup 3 times and the Super Cup 2 times. He also won the only League Cup ever played in 1990.

Playing for Greece: International Career

Stelios Manolas also played for the Greek national team. He played in 71 matches between 1982 and 1994. He scored 6 goals for his country. He was part of the Greek team that played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA.

Coaching and Managing Teams

After he stopped playing, Stelios Manolas became a certified coach in 2002. He worked for the Greece U21 team until 2004. In 2008, he became the technical director at AEK, but he left in 2009.

In November 2012, he became the manager of Niki Volos for three months. In 2014, he returned to AEK to coach the AEK Athens U20 team.

Coaching AEK Athens Senior Team

In 2015, AEK asked him to be an interim coach for the main team. He took over after Traianos Dellas left. He was called again in 2016 to replace Gus Poyet. During his second time as interim coach, he helped AEK win the Greek Cup in 2016.

Stelios's Family Life

Stelios Manolas has a famous family connection in football. He is the uncle of Kostas Manolas, who is also a well-known defender. Kostas played for AEK Athens and Olympiacos. Stelios's son, Konstantinos, also played football for AEK.

Honours and Achievements

As a Player

AEK Athens

• Alpha Ethniki (Greek League): 1988–89, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94
• Greek Cup: 1982–83, 1995–96, 1996–97
• Greek Super Cup: 1989, 1996
• Greek League Cup: 1990

As a Manager

AEK Athens

• Greek Cup: 2015–16

See also

In Spanish: Stelios Manolas para niños

• List of one-club men in association football