Zisis Vryzas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Zisis Vryzas

Personal information
Date of birth	(1973-11-09) 9 November 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth	Kavala, Greece
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1991–1996	Skoda Xanthi	122	(31)
1996–2000	PAOK	118	(19)
2000–2003	Perugia	108	(25)
2003–2005	Fiorentina	20	(4)
2004–2005	→ Celta Vigo (loan)	32	(7)
2005–2006	Torino	11	(2)
2006–2007	Skoda Xanthi	16	(1)
2007–2008	PAOK	13	(0)
Total		440	(89)
International career
1994–2006	Greece	68	(9)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Greece UEFA European Championship Winner 2004 World Military Cup Winner 1997
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zisis Vryzas (born 9 November 1973) is a Greek former professional footballer. He played as a forward for many teams. These included clubs in Greece and other countries. He also played for the Greek national team. He was part of the team that won the Euro 2004 tournament.

After he stopped playing, Vryzas worked for PAOK. He was a technical director and even became president for a short time. In 2010, he became an assistant coach for the Greece national team.

Zisis Vryzas: A Football Journey

Early Career at Skoda Xanthi

Zisis Vryzas was born in Kavala, Greece. He began his football journey at Skoda Xanthi. His skills and talent quickly caught the eye of bigger clubs. Both Greek and foreign teams became interested in him.

Playing for PAOK: A Fan Favorite

In 1996, Vryzas joined PAOK. He became very popular with the fans there. They admired his strength, determination, and dedication on the field. He scored many important goals for the club.

One of his most memorable moments was in the 1997–98 UEFA Cup. He scored a crucial goal against Arsenal. This goal helped PAOK qualify in a historic match. Arsenal was a very strong English team at the time.

Moving to Italy: Perugia and Fiorentina

In 2000, Vryzas moved to Italy. He joined Perugia, a team in Serie A. He quickly became popular with the fans there too. His hard work helped Perugia stay in the top league.

His good performances led him to Fiorentina in 2003. Fiorentina was a big club, but they were playing in Serie B then. Interestingly, Fiorentina returned to Serie A by beating Perugia in a play-off.

Loan to Celta Vigo

In 2004, Vryzas went on loan to Celta Vigo in Spain. This was a temporary move from Fiorentina.

Joining Torino

In January 2006, Vryzas moved to another Italian club. He joined Torino in northern Italy. He stayed there until his contract ended.

Returning Home: Skoda Xanthi and PAOK

In the summer of 2006, Vryzas came back to Greece. He rejoined Skoda Xanthi, the club where he started.

In June 2007, he made an emotional choice. He signed a two-year contract with PAOK, the club he loved. He reunited with his old teammate, Theodoros Zagorakis, who was then the club's president. Vryzas said PAOK was his final stop.

On 6 January 2008, Vryzas played his last professional game. It was a home match for PAOK against AEL. PAOK won 1–0, and the goal was dedicated to Vryzas. He came on as a substitute and received a huge standing ovation. Fans sang his name as he thanked them.

Playing for Greece: Euro 2004 Champion

International Debut and First Goal

Vryzas first played for the Greek national team in October 1994. This was a Euro 1996 qualifier against Finland, which Greece won 4–0. He scored his first goal for Greece three months later. This was in a friendly match against Cyprus. However, he had to wait until 2004 to play in a major tournament.

Key Role in Euro 2004 Victory

Vryzas was not known for scoring many goals. But he was a very valuable player. He worked tirelessly against defenders. He created chances and space for his teammates. His ability in the air and passing skills made him important.

He was a key member of the Greek team that won the European Championship in 2004. He scored a very important goal against Russia. This goal, a clever chip over the goalkeeper, helped Greece advance to the quarter-finals. Greece moved forward because they had scored more goals than Spain, even though both teams had the same goal difference.

After Playing: A Career in Management

Technical Director at PAOK

On 8 January 2008, Vryzas became the Technical Director of PAOK. He joined the club's board with Theodoros Zagorakis. In this role, he helped bring many talented players to PAOK. These included Pablo Contreras, Zlatan Muslimović, Vieirinha, Lino, and Pablo Garcia in 2008.

He also managed to sell players for good amounts of money. For example, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and Christos Melissis were sold to Panathinaikos. Daniel Fernandes was sold to Bochum.

In July 2009, he continued to bring in new players. These included Mirko Savini, Olivier Sorlin, Lucio Filomeno, Bruno Cirillo, Mohammed Abubakari, and Vasilios Koutsianikoulis.

Becoming PAOK Chairman

On 9 October 2009, Vryzas was appointed chairman of PAOK. This happened after Zagorakis resigned.

On 11 August 2010, Vryzas stepped down from his role at PAOK. Just five days later, he joined Fernando Santos. Santos was the head coach of the Greek national team.

Return to PAOK and Other Roles

In 2012, Vryzas returned to PAOK as president. From the summer of 2014, he became their technical director again. He made smart decisions during a difficult time for the club. PAOK faced serious financial problems around 2010. Vryzas helped create a team with a lower budget. This team could still compete in European competitions like the UEFA Europa League.

When Ivan Savvides invested in the club, Vryzas continued to make good moves. He brought in international players who became very important for PAOK.

On 18 February 2015, Vryzas offered his resignation from PAOK. He later joined Veria as a technical director. He resigned from that position on 4 July 2016.

On 9 December 2016, Vryzas took on new responsibilities. He became responsible for the Directorate of Competition at the Hellenic Football Federation. This role included organizing the Greek Cup. He ended his contract with the Hellenic Football Federation on 7 November 2018.

Career Statistics

Honors and Achievements

Perugia

• Intertoto Cup: 2003

Greece

• UEFA European Football Championship: 2004

See also

In Spanish: Zisis Vryzas para niños