36 Facts About Kostas Katsouranis

Kostas Katsouranis is a Greek former professional footballer.

Kostas Katsouranis was not even 17 years old when he debuted in 1996 for the Patras-based club Panachaiki.

Kostas Katsouranis spent six seasons in Patras and by the third, he was a regular.

The talks with the vice-president of the club, Giorgos Louvaris, seemed final, but Louvaris asked Kostas Katsouranis to wait until the president, Sokratis Kokkalis, returned from a business trip to the United States for the final negotiations.

Kostas Katsouranis's continuing progress in the top-level rapidly made him one of the team's best players with great performances, both domestically and internationally.

Kostas Katsouranis was used mainly as a central midfielder but can be used in the wings.

Kostas Katsouranis scored the winning goal against Olympiacos in Rizoupoli Stadium at the stoppage time.

Kostas Katsouranis signed a four-year contract with Portuguese club Benfica on 22 June 2006, joining his former manager Fernando Santos and his teammate with Greece, Giorgos Karagounis.

Kostas Katsouranis quickly became a key player for Benfica, scoring some important goals and captaining the team on a few occasions.

Benfica were reluctant to sell and, on 14 September 2007, Kostas Katsouranis agreed to a contract extension with Benfica for another two years.

On 2 March 2009, Kostas Katsouranis was named "Benfica Player of the Year".

Kostas Katsouranis has stated that it's the team he supported since childhood.

Kostas Katsouranis scored his first goal against Sparta Prague for the Champions League.

Kostas Katsouranis scoring abilities were a key part of Panathinaikos' good run during the first half of the season, as the defensive midfielder scored 8 goals in just half a season.

Kostas Katsouranis was the team's second top scorer behind Djibril Cisse with eight goals in the Super League Greece triumph.

Kostas Katsouranis left Panathinaikos with rumours for a lot of problems with foreign players and the accusation of controlling the changing rooms.

Kostas Katsouranis never replied to a series of miseries which were released and related to him.

Kostas Katsouranis made his debut with his new club on 6 January 2013 against Panthrakikos.

Kostas Katsouranis formed a strong partnership with Gordon Schildenfeld in the defence reducing to a great extent the goals which PAOK conceded.

Kostas Katsouranis believed that PAOK needed time and patience to identify changes to a club that really tries to make a break with problematic situations and detach from stereotypical stories.

Kostas Katsouranis became the first player and captain of this year's FIFA World Cup to feature in the ISL.

Kostas Katsouranis signed for Atromitos in a six-month deal with an option for one year more the Athens club decided not to keep Katsouranis in their squad ahead of next season.

On 15 September 2015, Kostas Katsouranis signed with NPL Victoria club Heidelberg United on a one-match contract, with the option to extend it should they win their following FFA Cup match.

On 29 September 2015, Kostas Katsouranis officially announced his retirement from professional football.

On 14 November 2017, Kostas Katsouranis was appointed as Ambassador of the United Nations.

Kostas Katsouranis made his international debut for Greece on 20 August 2003 against Sweden and scored his first goal against Kazakhstan in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Kostas Katsouranis was one of the key factors in Greece's triumph at UEFA Euro 2004, beating Portugal in his own "home" and, following Greece's success at the tournament.

Kostas Katsouranis was a regular for Greece in their unsuccessful 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Kostas Katsouranis believes that the worse moment of the Greece national team was the elimination from the 2006 World Cup, realizing his own percentage in this unsuccessful tournament in a game against Albania national football team.

Kostas Katsouranis became one of Greece's impact players in their UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers when he helped Greece consecutively qualify for the finals to defend their crown.

Kostas Katsouranis has captained Greece on several occasions and was selected for his country in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification.

On 17 October 2012, Kostas Katsouranis reached a milestone on the international level as he made his 100th appearance in a Greece shirt.

On 19 June 2014, Kostas Katsouranis became the first Greek player in World Cup history to be shown a red card.

Kostas Katsouranis was dismissed in the 38th minute of the group match against Japan for committing two bookable offences.

Kostas Katsouranis believes Greece face a tricky task to reach the tournament, which will be held in France, but believes the side are well prepared for the challenge.

Kostas Katsouranis has been described as "a reasonable goal threat despite being notionally a midfielder".