29 Facts About Sotiris Ninis

Sotiris Ninis was born in Himara, Albania to ethnic Greek parents.

Sotiris Ninis began his career in 2004 as a youngster in Panathinaikos' football academies, joining from the academy of Apollon Smyrnis.

Sotiris Ninis became the second youngest player ever to wear the club's shirt in a league match, at the age of sixteen.

On 15 February 2007, Sotiris Ninis became the youngest player to participate with a Greek football team in a European cup match, against Lens in France.

Sotiris Ninis is the youngest player to have won this award.

On 11 August 2008, it was revealed that ten Cate had selected Sotiris Ninis to be one of the new captains of Panathinaikos, along with fellow players Dimitris Salpingidis and Gilberto Silva.

Sotiris Ninis is the youngest ever player to be chosen as captain of Panathinaikos, at the age of 18 years and 125 days.

In February 2010, Sotiris Ninis made his best appearances with Panathinaikos and generally in his personal career so far in the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League against AS Roma.

Sotiris Ninis won a penalty, which Djibril Cisse converted to equalizer for Panathinaikos, then the Greek young attacking midfielder scored from 28 meters and in the stoppage time of the first half he made a great pass to Djibril Cisse, who did not have a problem to score.

In September 2011, Sotiris Ninis suffered an injury and did not make his return until March.

In total, Sotiris Ninis made 137 appearances for Panathinaikos, scoring 15 goals.

Sotiris Ninis's contract was terminated by mutual consent in August 2014.

On 6 November 2014, Sotiris Ninis signed a new contract with Panathinaikos for two-and-a-half years.

On 10 September 2017, Sotiris Ninis signed for one year at Maccabi Petah Tikva of the Israeli Premier League as a free agent, after being released from KV Mechelen a week earlier.

In October 2018, Sotiris Ninis joined Liga Leumit side Hapoel Ashkelon.

On 18 November 2022, Sotiris Ninis signed two-year contract with PAS Giannina.

Sotiris Ninis played with Greece national under-19 football team in the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in Austria, where he scored the equaliser against Germany, assisted two others and helped his team to progress to the final.

Sotiris Ninis was eventually selected by UEFA in the "U19 names to note", containing the best eleven players of the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.

Sotiris Ninis returned to duty for the Under-19 Elite qualifying round of the European Championships, after making his senior international debut.

Sotiris Ninis was a key player in games against Moldova and the Netherlands, particularly impressing in the latter game.

Sotiris Ninis assisted one goal, and scored the match winner from 12 yards as he kept Greece's hopes of qualification alive.

Sotiris Ninis was officially called up by Greece coach Otto Rehhagel on 16 May 2008 for the game against Cyprus on 19 May This was Sotiris Ninis' first ever senior call-up and offers him a chance to stake a claim for the Euro 2008 squad.

On his debut Sotiris Ninis scored the opening goal of the games versus Cyprus in the fifth minute, after a solid pass by Dimitris Salpingidis, Sotiris Ninis slotted the ball underneath Antonis Georgallides and into the back of the net making the perfect debut and start for his country and becoming the youngest ever scorer for Greece with 18 years and 46 days, breaking Kostas Eleftherakis' old record by 244 days.

Sotiris Ninis won the Man of the Match award for his performance.

Sotiris Ninis was omitted from Greece's provisional Euro 2008 squad by coach Otto Rehhagel on 20 May.

Sotiris Ninis was used twice, as a substitution in the matches against Nigeria and Argentina.

Sotiris Ninis is the youngest player to have been selected by Rehhagel, at just 20 years of age.

On 2 September 2011, Sotiris Ninis scored the winning goal in a qualifying match for the UEFA Euro 2012 against Israel, in Tel Aviv.

Sotiris Ninis normally plays centrally as a creative midfielder, but can play on the right.