PAOK dominates the women
For the second season in a row, Fotis Ioannidis was awarded as the best Greek footballer at tonight’s (9/12) 43rd Celebration of of the Panhellenic Association of Paid Footballers and Footballers (PSAPP), collecting the most votes of the players-members of the Association themselves.
Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiakos was voted best foreign footballer, last year’s Greek champion with PAOK, Razvan Lucescu, was voted best coach and Dominic Kotarski of PAOK was voted best goalkeeper (also for the second season in a row).
Among the Greeks abroad, the award went to Vangelis Pavlidis for last year’s terrible season with Alkmaar which led to his transfer to Benfica instead of 20 million. euros, while the best young footballer was Yiannis Constantelias of the “two-headed man of the North”.
“It is my great honor. I thank my colleagues and my team. I am thrilled because this award is named after George. We will never forget you, you are always by our side…” said Ioannidis shortly after being named the best Greek footballer for 2024, receiving the award from George Baldock’s brother, Sam.
“It’s a great honor. I thank my family, my wife, my teammates, Olympiakos. To achieve more in the future with the help of his family and Olympiakos. It’s teamwork, I always work for the goal, but everyone helps me” said the best foreign player of the season, Ayoub El Kaabi, while the top young Greek player, Yiannis Constantelias added: “It’s the second year in a row, but next year I can’t take it, I’m already over 21. But let’s go for something better.”
Razvan Loucescu, as the best coach of the year (he received his award from the young Giannakis Papastephanakis), gave a very “full” and emotional speech praising the opposing coaches, while dedicating it to all the members of the PAOK family, he referred to the APE BEE.
“This is a players’ award. This is the award of those who worked in the team. This is a management award. This is our owner’s award. This is PAOK’s award for a fantastic season. I thank them all for the fantastic moments we lived”, was the initial statement of the Romanian technician, who did not forget to refer to his colleagues:
“I want to express my appreciation to Mr. Ivan Jovanovic for the fantastic job he is doing and to Mr. Medilibar for the fantastic results for Greek football. To send greetings to another fantastic technician, Matias Almeida, for his excellent work. Finally, I would like to say a few good words to all the coaches who did not have the opportunity to be in a big team and be on stage, like us, but they are doing an excellent job”.
In women’s football, PAOK dominated in almost all categories, with Maria Mitkou of the Northern League as the top player for another year.
In the most touching moments of the PSAPP evening, was the special award to PAOK, for its initiative to finance the trip of Yiannis Papastephanakis to America, for the surgery that the 11-year-old had with the aim of getting back on his feet.
“I came to award the beloved team, whatever problems you have in life be faced with positive energy. I am here to award my second family, Mr. Savvidis and all of PAOK considered me a member of them and I thank them. A big thank you to Mr. Razvan is meant for what he offered. I will not forget the great experiences you offered me”, said little Giannakis who awarded his favorite team, with the audience giving him the warmest applause.
At the start of the 43rd celebration of PSAPP, the president Giorgos Bandis called the Minister of Sports, Yiannis Vroutsis, to the podium, asking him to make the women’s basketball and soccer championships professional, after the volleyball one.
Afterwards, the Olympiacos Youth team, represented by Sotiris Sylaidopoulos and Jose Anigo, was honored for winning the UEFA Youth League last year, with the Greek coach stressing: “Unfortunately, we are not talking about the value of the Greek coach. This has to change.
The success of Olympiakos, which consisted of only Greek players, should be a guide to what we can achieve. I want to thank Olympiakos, the management, the president, the technical directors and the guys who are not here, for this trip.
We are glad that a man like Mr. Mendiliber and we can see the development of the children”. For his part, Jose Anigo said: “You see a manager and four footballers, but there are more people who contributed to this. This award belongs to the footballers, but also to all the academies. I dedicate this title to Vangelis Marinakis, who gives us the means to work.”
At the same time, Olympiacos was awarded for winning the Conference League last year with Christian Karebbe and Darko Kovacevic representing the “red and whites”. “The trophy does not belong only to Olympiakos, but also to all of Greek football. The journey was long. Today we are here to celebrate this trophy, especially in the 100 years of the club. Here we are a football family and we inspire each other. This does not belong only to us, but to everyone,” emphasized the French former great ace.
AWARDS IN DETAIL
SUPER LEAGUE
BEST TEN 2024:
Goalkeeper: Dominik Kotarski (PAOK)
Right back: Rodney (Olympic)
Central defender: Konstantinos Koulierakis (PAOK)
Central defender: Domagoi Vida (AEK)
Left back: Abdul Rahman Baba (PAOK)
Midfielder: Tsiquinio (Olympic)
Midfielder: Orbelin Pineda (AEK)
Midfielder: Niklas Eliasson (AEK)
Midfielder: Yannis Constantelias (PAOK)
Striker: Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympic)
Forward: Fotis Ioannidis (Panathinaikos)
Forward: Loren Moron (Mars)
*There was a tie in the forward positions.
First scorer: Lorraine Moron (Mars)
Best Greek abroad: Vangelis Pavlidis (Alkmaar)
Best Goalkeeper: Dominik Kotarski (PAOK)
Best Foreigner: Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympian)
Best Referee: Tassos Sidiropoulos (Dodecanese)
Best Newcomer: Yannis Constantelias (PAOK)
Best Coach: Razvan Lucescu (PAOK)
Best Greek: Fotis Ioannidis (PAOK)
SUPER LEAGUE 2 – GROUP A / GROUP B
Best young footballer A’ Group: Argyris Darelas (PAOK B’)
Best young footballer B’ Group: Babis Kostoulas (Olympiakos B’)
Best player A’ Group: Kostas Papageorgiou (AEL)
Best player B. Group: Giorgos Manalis (Chania)
First scorer Group A: Alberto Simoni (Macedonian)
First scorer Group B: Yiannis Loukinas (Athens Kallithea), Giorgos Manalis (Chania)
Best Coach A’ group: Stelios Malezas (Macedonian)
Best Coach Second Group: Yiannis Tatsis (Panachaiki)
Best Goalkeeper Super League 2 – Group A: Kleton Perdreu (Macedonian)
Best Goalkeeper Super League 2 – Group B: Yiannis Gelios (Ionian)
Best Foreign Group A (tie): Fabrizio Pedroso (AEL), Alberto Simoni (Macedonian)
Best Foreign Group B: Juan Salazar (Ionian)
FIRST CATEGORY WOMEN
Best Goalkeeper: Danny Neuhaus (PAOK)
Best News: Georgia Chalatsogianni (PAOK)
Best coach: Thalis Theodoridis (PAOK)
First scorer: Nikola Rybanska (OFI)
Best Greek: Maria Mitkou (PAOK)
Best Greek woman abroad: Beatrice Sarri (Brighton)
Best Foreigner: Nikola Rybanska (OFI)
BEST ELEVEN FIRST DIVISION WOMENN
Danny Neuhaus (PAOK), Maria Paterna (OFI), Anastasiou Gatsou (REA), Maria Gouni (PAOK), Maria Mitkou (PAOK), Georgia Chalatsogianni (PAOK), Vasia Giannaka (PAOK), Mania Rogan (Panathinaikos), Chelsea Domont (Panathinaikos), Nikola Rybanska (OFI), Emily Helmvall (PAOK).
SPECIAL PRIZES
-Olympic: To win the Conference League 2024.
-Olympiakos Youth Team: To win the UEFA Youth League.
-National Team 2004: For the anniversary of winning EURO 2004.
-Otto Rehagel: As the coach of the National Team’s unimaginable journey to winning EURO 2004. The award was given by the current coach of the “blue and white”, Ivan Jovanovic.
-PAE PAOK: For the support it provided to Yiannis Papastephanakis for the surgery he did in the USA.
– Dimitris Sahinidis: For his selfless love for Aris.
– Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Costas Giannoulis, Christos Aravidis, Giorgos Tzavellas, Marios Oikonomou, Klaus Athanasiadis who completed their football careers.
