13 Facts About Antonios Nikopolidis

Antonis Nikopolidis is a Greek professional football manager and former player.

Antonios Nikopolidis is regarded among the best Greek goalkeepers of all time having been awarded the most goalkeeper caps in the Greece national team and playing an integral part in the UEFA Euro 2004 triumph.

Antonios Nikopolidis made his first steps at his local team of Anagennisi Arta, from which he was transferred to Panathinaikos in the summer of 1989.

Just before UEFA Euro 2004, rumours were circulating that Antonios Nikopolidis had been approached by arch-rivals Olympiacos.

At his new team, Antonios Nikopolidis earned a reputation for making game-winning saves in the most important games.

Antonios Nikopolidis took part in the international match "8th Match Against Poverty", on 14 December 2010, in Karaiskakis Stadium in Greece, as the UNDP team's goalkeeper.

Antonios Nikopolidis was listed as one of the best goalkeepers of the years 1987 to 2011.

Antonios Nikopolidis made his debut for the Greece national football team on 18 August 1999 against El Salvador.

Antonios Nikopolidis played in the qualifying rounds of the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2004 where he excelled as Greece qualified for the finals.

Antonios Nikopolidis was one of the cornerstones of the Greek win in Portugal, where he kept three clean sheets in the knockout stages.

Antonios Nikopolidis was voted goalkeeper of the Euro 2004 All Star team.

On 15 June 2008, Antonios Nikopolidis announced his retirement from international football after Euro 2008, claiming that he had made this decision before the tournament started, and stating that it is about time for a major change in the Greece national team.

Antonios Nikopolidis was promoted to manager in January 2013 on an interim basis following the dismissal of Leonardo Jardim.