Nikos Machlas is a retired Greek former professional footballer who played as a striker.
12 Facts About Nikos Machlas
1.
2.
Nikos Machlas had the Dutchman Eugene Gerards as a coach at OFI Crete.
3.
Nikos Machlas signed for Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in 1996 from Greece.
4.
Nikos Machlas scored 60 goals in 92 matches for Vitesse.
5.
Nikos Machlas joined Eredivisie giant Ajax Amsterdam in June 1999 for a then-club record $8.6 million.
6.
Nikos Machlas made things worse by 'insulting and injuring' police officers who tried to arrest him after the offence had been committed.
7.
Nikos Machlas played under the man he calls his "footballing father", Dutch coach Eugene Gerards, who gave Machlas his break aged 18 at OFI Crete.
8.
Nikos Machlas returned to his first club, OFI and stayed there for two seasons.
9.
Nikos Machlas won 61 caps for the Greece national team and scored 18 goals.
10.
Nikos Machlas scored a crucial goal against Russia that led Greece to 1994 FIFA World Cup at only 20 years of age.
11.
Nikos Machlas started each of Greece's group games in the USA though they lost all three, to Argentina, Nigeria and Bulgaria and failed to score a goal.
12.
Nikos Machlas played his last game for Greece against Cyprus in May 2002.