I think Nikopolidis is the first to receive such an honour ThrylosG7!?
However what you may find is that it's probably happened a couple of times the other way around. Ex-Olympiacos players that moved to Panathinaikos may have ended up becoming captains? For example: Sarganis, Kirastas, Vamvakoulas and Apostolakis? We need someone like Greekaus who know what they're on about to confirm!

Just so we can get an idea of the players, here's the movements between the "eternal enemies":

Mihalis Sofianos (1960 from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos via Panegaleo)
Harris Grammos (1976 from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos)
Antonis Antoniadis (1978 from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos)
Giorgos Delikaris (1978 from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos)
Lefteris Poupakis (1981 from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos via OFI. 1982 from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos)
Mike Galakos (1981 from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos)
Yiannis Kirastas (1981 from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos)
Nikos Sarganis (1985 from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos)
Nikos Vamvakoulas (1985 from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos)
Stratos Apostolakis (1990 from Olympiacos to Panathinaikos) The Super Cup final was cancelled that year due to this move.
Chris Kalantzis (1992 from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos)
Giorgos Kapouranis (1992 to Panathinaikos via other clubs)
Tasos Mitropoulos (1994 to Panathinaikos via AEK)
Antonis Nikopolidis (2004 from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos)
Michalis Konstantinou (2005 from Panathinaikos to Olympiacos)

* Bonus trivia: Lakis Petropoulos is the only Greek manager to have coached both teams, and also to have won championships with both clubs.

http://www.imscouting.com/global_news_item.aspx?id=2408

Nikopolidis according to this site is the European Goalkeeper who conceded the least amount of goals per minute in his league. The report also says that he is a European legend.

Go to the home page and you'll find that 4 greek goalkeepers are on the list too!!

although its not exactly the best league in europe its nice to know hes regarded as a "legend" by some foreigners

I'm pretty sure that both ex-OLY players, Kyrastas and Apostolakis captained PAO on quiet a few occasions.

Nikopolidis , deservedly is OLYs captain. Great servant and good performer for both clubs. Never should of been allowed to leave the Greens and his position has never been filled with one of equal quality since then.


Nice list Atillio naming all the players that have moved through History from one rival to the other.


I wish can remember accurately or find a link of all the coaches that have sat on the bench of both teams. Only thing certain is that Alefantos has not coached PAO.

Some off the top of my head are Petropoulos,Gorski,Senekovic,Gmoch etc.

This site is sick. I've been giong through it and I see Galletti is near the top of one list, and K. Papadopoulos etc. really cool site
http://www.imscouting.com/Special_Reports.aspx?id=29

I have big worries that we decided to go with Niko again to be the starting keeper. I'm not saying we have better currently, I don't know exactly. But this guy isn't leading us anywhere in Europe. I am actually a little shocked we are going again with him in the net.

Was there no other option?

last year should have been his swan song.

^^

No one will take you seriously when you talk about arguably our third most important player of the season like that!

If you really cant understand why he is our starting keeper, then you dont watch enough Olympiakos matches.

well, we will have to agree to disagree. he's good but I think he is riding his reputation over his actual ability. I'm just saying you think a big club in Europe would have him in net like a Juve or even a Porto or Atletico which is more around our level? I doubt it.

he's a good shot stopper but he is not agile or quick enough to be a truly dominant goalkeeper and makes bad decisions too often.

No i disagree then too...He still has at least one more good year in him.

This is the same guy that beat AEK all by himself in the cup final. And he always comes up with big saves that has saved our team over and over. Nikopolidis is definetely not the guy to pick on or critisize.

in the NT forum it seems to be

cant understand why people think his not good enough, after last season and in particular the cup final, i want him in goals for as long as possible

Everybody are free to have their own opinions, but that is just bullshit. Look at the previous two seasons. Who held us into the game vs Werder (2x) and Real Madrid at home? Last season, who was our best player in the deciding game against Hertha? Not to mention his incredible game against Benfica, where the GolTV-reporters easily stated that he still is one of the top keepers. We can't blame him for the games against Chelsea and St. Etienne, where he was unlucky in both.

I would be disrespectul, and just plain stupid to "sack" Nikopolidis after the two previous seasons. He has been of our most important players the last five years, and still is. Let's see after this one. All his team-mates (Djole e.x), and the guys in the system is all talking about how serious and good Nikopolidis is on the training field. Serious keepers who avoid injuries, can be going for a long time.

And HellasLEAF, feel free to mention one experienced goal-keeper of the same quality as Antonis, which Olympiakos could have bought.

Geez what are they doing to out GK's making them into body builders

hey, I have no problem being in the minority on this one. yet another year leaning on Niko is a bit of gamble imo. Greek league he is fine I suppose. But in Europe, tremoun ta xeria mou.

I don't know what's wrong with Nikopolidis, he is a top class goal keeper, good shot stopper, and great in the air, Niko is still in shape for this year, but I really like Pardo, I do want him to play some matchs in Europe and the greek league, he is a promising goal keeper.

HellasLeaf dont let his age scare you, Kahn at 38 was a war horse for Bayern Schmeichl at 38 was a war horse for a united Antonaki at the same age is a war horse for us.

This is where you are wrong. Nikopolidis has been at the top of his game in Europe the last two seasons.

Wow I keep forgetting he is 38...But like you said thats not a problem for goalies. They get better with age at the goalie position

Why dont you investigate how long Buffon was in the net for Juve before you make blanket statements about our goalkeeper?

Meanwhile, we dont have the luxury of paying a goalkeeper the amounts that teams like Juve, Porto and Athletico can attract, seeing as we pay the same for some of our best players who we expect to change games.

Here is an important question for you, considering all the information you have, why would you upgrade our GK position seeing as we have two decent performers there, when the only left midfielder in the squad is an 18 year old from our academy?

The world really has lost the plot it seems!

Despite approaching the end of his career, Antonios Nikopolidis (38) is currently Greece's top goalkeeper. He won UEFA Euro 2004 and in his sixth season with top team Olympiakos is showing no signs of losing his touch.

fifa.com

I think fifa.com have his birth date incorrect, it's 14/01/1971 and not 14/10...

Haha its really funny how fifa.com is like one of the most unreliable websites around

Nikopolidis taking nothing for granted

Antonis Nikopolidis knows his Olympiacos FC side are just a point away from guaranteeing a place in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round, but the goalkeeper is taking nothing for granted before Wednesday's meeting with Arsenal FC.

Arsenal changes
With Arsenal enjoying an unassailable lead atop Group H and tipped to field a weakened XI against the Greek titleholders, Nikopolidis knows his team should have more than just home advantage at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. Second in the section, Olympiacos enjoy a three-point lead over R. Standard de Liege, though they would miss out on head-to-head record if they lose and the Belgian side beat eliminated AZ Alkmaar. The veteran keeper, who helped Greece win UEFA EURO 2004? and will turn 39 next month, is well aware of the stakes.

Qualification close
"We are close, yet far away," he told uefa.com. "It will be tricky and we will have to put on our best performance. Let's not forget that so far this season we've been unlucky, with many important players sidelined. It's been a rough period, but we've managed to cope and as my team-mates recover and return to action, we only can get better."

Wenger tribute
Nikopolidis managed to cope with Arsenal's strikeforce for much of September's meeting between the sides in north London, before Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin struck in the last 12 minutes for a 2-0 win. Arsene Wenger, for one, was impressed: "Nikopolidis was not only good, he was intelligent as well because he read everything. You could see why he played for the Greek national team for such a long time."

Doing homework
The keeper himself called it a "special performance" and the prospect of a Matchday 6 decider will be another test. "A goalkeeper has to be patient and cash in on his experience," he said. "He has to observe everything that happens around him during the game... and what he wants from his defenders. He also has to keep observing his opponents, every player: how they take their penalties, how they shoot, their crossing skills, their finishing touches. That's why it's my firm belief that a goalkeeper's preparation is more mental than physical."

"When I'm no longer eager to play football, when I can't concentrate as hard as I want to, when other things besides football become more important; then it will be time to go."
Antonis Nikopolidis

Goalkeeping legacy
It is an analysis that begs an obvious question - how much longer can he keep doing it? Though he retired from international football in 2008, Nikopolidis has been a key figure in Olympiacos's domestic success since joining in 2004. "It's my mind, rather than my body, that will dictate when I retire," he said. "When I'm no longer eager to play football, when I can't concentrate as hard as I want to, when other things besides football become more important; then it will be time to go. However, my main concern is to retire when I'm still top of my game and not deteriorating. I want people to remember me at my very best."

uefa.com

A true gentleman and Professional.

Once he retires he will be on of the best Greek GK in history

Bravo re Antoni.

True Gentleman of the sport.

Bravo Niko!!! When he retires, there is going to be a huge hole to fill. Hopefully he goes another season

id say not only in Greece but one of best in world

I read on Redplanet that he will most likely sign another 1 year contract....

Reallistically he has saved our team from coping many poutses in Europe, Saved Free kicks and Penalties, and scored Penalties in the SL and has helped us to many titles.

Whoever his successor may be will have the Biggets boots to step into, his experiance is what we need in the CL but he cant go on forever.

Ok Ive Always wanted to ask this why is nikos hair whitish grey?!?? He looks like 50 when he's in his 30s. I don't know if this is true or not but I've always noticed alot of Greek men I see always have greyish hair when they are typically younger what's the deal with that do they age quicker or is it that they have alot of stress or something

Its not more usual in Greece than anywhere else with many people having dark hair. Not cut the stupid posts and off-topic questions.

the same reason why most turkish men are bald and hairy.

Something is defs up with his hair, he dies it a weird colour maybe? but singling Greeks out with the hair bizzo is totally wrong

For gods sake nothin is up with his hair. EVeryone are different. Some start to get gray-ish hair as soon as at the year of 18-20... Some don't even get gray hair untill they are about 125... See Otto

He started greying in his 20s, that's why he's called Clooney for a reason.

hey Otto rehaggel looks great for his age, hes in his 70s I thought he was like 52 or somethin

There's a good chance Otto dyes his hair.

Κάηκαν στη σκιά του Αντώνη

ΤΡΙΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΑ Ο ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ ΔΕΝ ΜΠΟΡΕΙ ΝΑ ΒΡΕΙ ΤΟΝ ΔΙΑΔΟΧΟ ΤΟΥ. Ο ΠΑΡΝΤΟ ΠΟΥ ΔΕΝ ΠΕΙΘΕΙ, Ο ΣΗΦΑΚΗΣ ΠΟΥ ΧΑΘΗΚΕ ΚΑΙ ΟΙ ΥΠΟΛΟΙΠΟΙ.-

Ο Αντώνης Νικοπολίδης σκέφτεται σοβαρά να βάλει τέλος στην καριέρα του το ερχόμενο καλοκαίρι και το να βρει ο Ολυμπιακός τον διάδοχό του, αναμφίβολα αποτελεί ένα τεράστιο ζήτημα.

Έξι χρόνια, οι «ερυθρόλευκοι» βρήκαν την… υγεία τους με τον διεθνή γκολκίπερ, αλλά η επόμενη μέρα είναι από μόνη της ένα μεγάλο ερωτηματικό.

Έως τώρα άλλωστε, οι απόπειρες που έκανε ο Ολυμπιακός για να έχει έτοιμη λύση, όταν σταματήσει ο Νικοπολίδης, δεν στέφθηκαν από επιτυχία.

Ο Πάρντο και το χτύπημα της πεντάρας…

Ο τελευταίος χρονικά γκολκίπερ, που έπιασε λιμάνι με την προοπτική να διαδεχθεί ακόμη και τη νέα σεζόν τον Νικοπολίδη, είναι ο Ούρκο Πάρντο. Έχοντας ως προίκα μια καλή χρονιά με τον Ηρακλή, οι «ερυθρόλευκοι» τον πήραν με τη μορφή δανεισμού από τη Ραπίντ Βουκουρεστίου και το καλοκαίρι μπορούν να τον αγοράσουν με ένα ποσό κοντά στις 300.000 ευρώ.
Ακόμη ωστόσο, δεν έχει παρθεί απόφαση για την αγορά του. Ο Ισπανός δεν έχει πείσει πως μπορεί να εμπνεύσει σιγουριά κάτω από τα δοκάρια. Στη πεντάρα στο φιλικό με τον Εργοτέλη δέχθηκε ένα ισχυρό πλήγμα, ενώ στη μοναδική επίσημη εμφάνιση του, ήρθε η ήττα αποκλεισμός από τον Πανσερραϊκό στο κύπελλο, με τον ίδιο να απογοητεύει.

Ακόμη και αν ο Ολυμπιακός αποφασίσει να ενεργοποιήσει την οψιόν αγοράς του Πάρντο, θεωρείται βέβαιο πως το καλοκαίρι θα κινηθεί για τερματοφύλακα. Αν σταματήσει δε ο Νικοπολίδης, θα κινηθεί για βασικό γκολκίπερ, πιθανότατα, απ’ την αγορά του εξωτερικού.

Δεν πίστεψαν στον Σηφάκη

Και, όμως, αν οι «ερυθρόλευκοι» είχαν κινηθεί διαφορετικά πριν από δύο χρόνια, ενδεχομένως τώρα να μην έψαχναν για τον αντί – Νικοπολίδη. Το καλοκαίρι του 2007, με εισήγηση του Ίλια Ίβιτς αποκτήθηκε ως δανεικός από τον ΟΦΗ ο Μιχάλης Σηφάκης.

Στον έναν χρόνο που έμεινε στον Ολυμπιακό, ο Κρητικός γκολκίπερ χρησιμοποιήθηκε κυρίως στο κύπελλο, στάθηκε σχετικά καλά, αλλά δεν έπεισε τους υπεύθυνους της ομάδας πως αξίζει να παραμείνει. Έτσι, δεν δόθηκαν τα 350.000 ευρώ για την αγορά του από τον ΟΦΗ.

Η συνέχεια είναι γνωστή, αφού ο Σηφάκης πήγε στον Άρη, έκανε μια καλή πρώτη σεζόν, φέτος είναι ακόμη πιο σταθερός, ενώ έφτασε μέχρι και την Εθνική ομάδα. Βλέποντας την εξέλιξη του, ενδεχομένως στο λιμάνι να… χτυπάνε το κεφάλι τους. Η αλήθεια, όμως, είναι πως δεν πίστεψαν στην αξία του.

Σίγουρα ο διεθνής γκολκίπερ ήταν η καλύτερη περίπτωση από όσους γκολκίπερ πέρασαν, για να μπορέσει κάποια στιγμή να διαδεχθεί τον Νικοπολίδη. Ο τελευταίος μάλιστα, έχει εκφραστεί με θερμά λόγια για την αξία του.

Απ’ τον Μπούτινα στον Κόβατς

Το καλοκαίρι του 2006 ο Ολυμπιακός απέκτησε τον Τόμισλαβ Μπούτινα, με εισήγηση του Τροντ Σόλιντ. Ο διεθνής Κροάτης είχε μείνει ελεύθερος από τη Μπριζ και υπέγραψε τριετές συμβόλαιο. Απ’ τη πρώτη στιγμή είχε δηλώσει πως θα διεκδικήσει τη θέση του βασικού από τον Νικοπολίδη.

Δεν τα κατάφερε και σε δύο σεζόν έπαιξε σε μόλις τέσσερα επίσημα ματς. Το καλοκαίρι του 2008 μάλιστα, ζήτησε ο ίδιος να λυθεί το συμβόλαιό του, καθώς ήθελε να παίζει και γύρισε στη Ντιναμό Ζάγκρεμπ. Όταν ο Μπούτινα πήγε στον Ολυμπιακό ήταν 32 και ο Νικοπολίδης 35.

Ίσως στο λιμάνι να είχαν σκεφτεί πως ο Αντώνης θα παίξει ένα – δύο χρόνια ακόμη και μετά θα βασιστούν στον Μπούτινα. Ο Έλληνας γκολκίπερ, όμως, είχε άλλη άποψη και έτσι ο Κροάτης, ένας καλός γκολκίπερ, με διεθνή εμπειρία, δεν μπόρεσε να δείξει την αξία του στην Ελλάδα.

Οι… διακοπές του Λέμενς!

Ένα χρόνο πριν πάντως, ο Σόλιντ είχε φέρει τον πιο… τρελό γκολκίπερ που πέρασε τα τελευταία χρόνια από τον Ολυμπιακό, τον Έρβιν Λέμενς. Ο Ολλανδός δεν έπαιξε ποτέ, έκανε τις διακοπές του, πήρε καλά λεφτά, κοντά στα 800.000 ευρώ για δύο χρόνια και μας χαιρέτησε.

Ο Λέμενς πάντως, δεν είχε έρθει ως διάδοχη λύση για τον Νικοπολίδη, αλλά για δεύτερος γκολκίπερ. Όπως και ο Πάβελ Κόβατς το καλοκαίρι του 2008. Ο Σλοβάκος έχει συμβόλαιο ως το καλοκαίρι, οπότε και αναμένεται να πει το «αντίο».

Με δεδομένο λοιπόν, πως στο ρόστερ θα μείνει ο νεαρός Παναγόπουλος, αν σταματήσει ο Νικοπολίδης, είναι πιθανό να παραμείνει ως δεύτερος ο Πάρντο.

Όπως προαναφέραμε, αυτό που δείχνει βέβαιο είναι πως ο Ολυμπιακός θα πάει για βασικό γκολκίπερ, αν «χάσει» τον Αντώνη. Και η επιλογή δεν χωρά περιθώρια λάθους, αν οι «ερυθρόλευκοι» θέλουν να συνεχίσουν να νιώθουν τη σιγουριά των τελευταίων έξι ετών.

Na feroume piso ton Mitsara an stamatisei o Antonis! However, he will be 34 years old, at the start of next season. I cant believe we let Sifakis go. I didnt even understand why. Anyway, if Antonis retires, we need to really find a good goalkeeper.

34 at the start of next season?, are you sure on that? He's older than me and I'm 38

I think he's talking about Ele from Pas!

Ele is only 33 surprisingly and is tearing it up for PAS when healthy.

Nikopolidis to me even if he retires now I will remember him as the best ever goalkeeper that's graced Greece. Legend in every sense of it!

As much as I would like Ele to return here, it wont happen.

Why didn't we ever give Panagopoulos a chance?

probably the same reason you never really gave sifakis a chance, instead opting not to play the 375k clause to buy him outright...

it could be an error you live to regret for years if you pull a pao and get flop goalie after flop goalie for a few years...

Nikopolidis is already 39 years old and his time is up. Will go down in history as perhaps the most Succesful ever Greek keeper ( domestic championships and the Euro 04 ) but he is absolutely not even close to being regarded the Best goalkeeper to ever play.

Perhaps OLY should of given Sifakis a real chance to stake his claim as the next keeper now it looks like you will need to go foreign to find a proper replacement as sadly there is no quality in depth with Greek keepers these days.

Why not bring Eleftheropoulos back? Better the devil you know then the devil you dont. People are whinging about age...when Nikopolidis came to us he was around 34 years old as well.

Also,does anyone remember Sifakis when he was with us?? The few chances he got he fucked up royally...im talking about letting in goals because the ball rolled through his legs, we made a smart move at the time im happy that hes doing well at Aris but OSFP did what it though best at the time i mean Sifakis 2 years ago did not have the credentials to be Nikopolidi's successor.

Anyways bottom line is we need a solid keeper as a replacement hopefully something thats long term.

Thas because he wasn't strong mentally to take the goalkeepers spot for your team. But the talent was there.

Nikopolidis seems to me to get better with age, I can see him playing at least another 2 years easily. As far as his replacement goes, Ele is not good enough to fill Antoni's shoes IMO, once Nikopolidi decides to call it quits we should sign a proven GK with a good track record. Not a goalie who was a promising young keeper and then went on to be a career bench warmer.

«Καλοί και οι τσακωμοί»!

«Μια χαρά είναι και οι τσακωμοί! Καλοί είναι! Εμένα μου αρέσουν αυτά. Για να μην παρεξηγούμαι, μου αρέσουν υπό την έννοια ότι ανάβουν τα αίματα. Αλλά δεν μου αρέσουν να λέμε για Έλληνες και ξένους. Δεν υπάρχουν αυτά στον Ολυμπιακό. Μπάλα παίζουμε. Και παρεξηγήσεις θα υπάρχουν και τσακωμοί. Ποδόσφαιρο παίζουμε. Τι θα το κάναμε εδώ; Το Κολέγιο Αθηνών; Δεν είναι κακό να είναι ζεστό το αίμα. Από το να είσαι κοιμισμένος, καλό είναι να ξυπνάς. Να δείχνεις ότι ενδιαφέρεσαι. Δεν πας καλά, εκνευρίζεσαι, τσατίζεσαι και τον βγάζεις τον εκνευρισμό σου καμία φορά με άσχημο τρόπο. Αλλά δεν έγινε και τίποτα που δεν έχει ξαναγίνει. Και εγώ έχω τσακωθεί. Τι να κάνουμε τώρα… Ακόμη και με αυτόν τον τρόπο δείχνεις ότι είσαι ζωντανός. Τι είναι η ομάδα; Ένας ζωντανός οργανισμός είναι. Τι είμαστε ζόμπι; Χάνουμε-κερδίζουμε, προχωράμε σα να μη συμβαίνει τίποτα; Καμιά φορά οι τσακωμοί είναι καλοί», είπε αρχικά ο 39χρονος γκολκίπερ και εξέφρασε την πίστη ότι «θα φανεί η καλή δουλειά. Η ομάδα ήδη έχει καλύτερα πατήματα, καλύτερα τρεξίματα, βελτιώνεται. Δεν μπορεί, θα βγει αυτή η δουλειά, όλων»

http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/216456

As you all know, I love this club more than anything, that also includes the players.
I don't want to turn this into a blame game...
But do you think that the years have finally caught up with Antonis? He's 39! What is the club doing in regards to his replacement?

Unofrtunally I think that's reality. Yesterday he showed bad positioning and decision making on the two free-kicks from which one costed us a goal. He also has a part in the second goal, his aerial game is just levels below the level we compete in. I love Niko and he has saved us many time, even this year, but misses like these are too expensive on this level.

According to Gata we are interested in the mexican goalie Ochoa, Fernandez of Iraklis and the Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel


click

if gata wrote it, it probably means nikopolidis will play another 10 years