Ioannis Okkas
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Ioannis Okkas (born February 11, 1977 in Larnaca, Cyprus) is a football striker who currently plays for Olympiacos in the Greek Championship. He also plays for the Cyprus national football team. A talented, speedy forward, Ioannis Okkas possesses excellent dribbling skills. Although he is not very tall, he frequently finds the target with his head.
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[edit] National team
At the age of 19, he was called into the Cypriot national team and has been a regular ever since, passing the 50-cap mark in 2003. He scored three goals in his side's failed attempts to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and was also on target in UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying, notably against France. Cyprus may have lost 2-1 at home to France in a recent Euro 2004 qualifier, but those 90 minutes were a personal triumph for Yiannakis Okkas.
The forward opened the scoring early on with a delicate chip that left French keeper Gregory Coupet completely stranded, and generally was a man inspired. His clever movement, speed and ability with the ball at his feet meant he often proved too hot to handle for France's much- vaunted centre-backs, Marcel Desailly and Philippe Christanval. His forward's dribbling skills posed a conundrum that the former rarely solved, while the latter seemed a nervous wreck every time Okkas came near him.
[edit] Club
Now renowned as one of the most talented players to emerge from Cyprus, he started his career at the age of 16 with Nea Salamis FC and joined Anorthosis Famagusta FC four years later after 16 goals in 53 matches.
1997: Joining the league champions was a step up for Okkas, who helped Anorthosis make it four titles in a row.
2000: Okkas signed for FC PAOK and scored seven times during a first year which brought success in the Greek Cup and the Cypriot Player of the Year award. At the final against Olympiakos, Okkas scored two goals and PAOK won 4-2. Missed just one league game in his final season at PAOK, scoring eleven goals before joining AEK Athens FC.
2003: It was a tough first full season at AEK for Okkas, who scored just five goals. Following a FIFA intervention over unpaid wages, however, he secured a fresh start at Olympiacos CFP in August, signing a three-year contract.
2004/05: In his first season in Piraeus, Okkas played in 25 league matches including 19 substitute appearances and scored five times as the club completed the double. Notably, the first goal he scored was also Olympiacos' in the newly re-built Karaiskákis Stadium. In addition, he featured in all six UEFA Champions League matches.
2005/2006: Joined by the other Cypriot star Michalis Konstantinou, Okkas had a similarly successful season, celebrating another double. Both of his most memorable performances came against former team AEK FC. He scored and was declared MVP in the first derby, that ended 1-3 in favour of Olympiacos and also scored the first goal in the repeat triumph.
The ease with which he misses goal scoring opportunities, however, makes him a scapegoat for the Olympiacos fans when the team isn't performing well and they are becoming increasingly vocal about it. His coach, Trond Sollied has faith in his ability, but it remains to be seen if this season is going to be as successful for Okkas as the last two.
[edit] Trivia
For two consecutive years, Okkas scored the first league goal of the season in Greece, with AEK in 2003/04 and Olympiacos the next season.
[edit] External links
| Olympiacos - Current Squad |
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1 Kafes | 2 Patsatzoglou | 3 Domi | 5 Kapsis | 6 Stoltidis | 7 Castillo | 8 Marić | 9 Okkas | 10 Rivaldo | 11 Đorđević | 14 Żewłakow | 16 Né | 17 Taralidis | 18 Borja | 19 Kostoulas | 21 Georgatos | 22 Bulut | 23 Konstantinou | 27 Ouaddou | 28 Mendrinos | 30 Pantos | 32 Anatolakis | 33 Lemmens | 34 Giannou | 36 Fakinos | 40 Babangida | 55 Correa | 71 Nikopolidis | 74 Butina | 77 Pappas | 87 Panagopoulos | Manager: Sollied |
