Stelios Manolas

Stelios Manolas
Personal information
Full name Stylianos Manolas
Date of birth (1961-07-13) 13 July 1961[1]
Place of birth Naxos, Greece[1]
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Center back
Youth career
1976 Aetos Galatsi
1976–1980 AEK Athens
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1998 AEK Athens 447 (35)
Total 447 (35)
International career
–1981 Greece U19
1982–1995 Greece 71 (6)
Managerial career
2002–2004 Greece U21
2012–2013 Niki Volos
2014–2016 AEK Athens U20
2015 AEK Athens (caretaker)
2016 AEK Athens (caretaker)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stelios Manolas (Greek: Στέλιος Μανωλάς, born 13 July 1961) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a centre-back for AEK Athens and a current manager. Widely regarded as the best Greek defender of his era, he is one of the few Greek footballers to have played his entire professional career for a single club. In 2021, the IFFHS chose him in Greece's best XI of all time.[2]

Club career

Manolas started football from a young age, playing on the streets and vacant lots in and around the suburb of Galatsi, where he lived during his childhood. In his early teens he played for a local amateur club, Aetos Galatsi alongside his friend, Kostas Antoniou.[3] During that period he was discovered by scouts and was brought to the attention of AEK Athens. In 1976 he joined the academies of the club. Over time, he was distinguished for his technical skill, intelligence and tactical mind. On 2 January 1980, he signed his first professional contract and was promoted to the men's team.[4] He made his debut shortly after on 3 February 1980 in a 1–1 draw against Kastoria and from the next season onwards, he became a regular in the team's defense.[5]

As a youngster, he presented solid technical training, dynamism, perception and a fighting spirit. He was a mastermind of the defense, influenced his teammates and boosted their confidence. Even though he was started his career as a right back, he was converted into a centre-back by Hans Tilkowski, a position where he was established for the rest of his career. On 29 June 1983 he played in the final of the Greek Cup, where they won 2–0 against PAOK and lifted the trophy.[6] He didn't take him long to become amongst the best players of the team and one their natural leaders. In the summer of 1988 despite his desire to depart from AEK, the new president, Stratos Gidopoulos alongside the new manager Dušan Bajević persuaded him to stay and renew his contract, which he did on 8 July.[7] On 7 May 1989 in the crucial game against Olympiacos at the Olympic Stadium, he made a save with his head on the goal line after a shot by Lajos Détári,[8] that brought AEK their first Championship after 10 years.[9] In the following season AEK went to win the Super Cup and the League Cup.[10]

Under Bajević, AEK Athens went into a title-winning era. Manolas alongside Toni Savevski, became the main players that the team was based during the 90's, while he also served as their captain. On 19 November 1993 he renewed his contract for another 1,5 years.[11] Manolas was targeted by Porto and Monaco, but as he stated, he didn't intend in leaving the club, as his desire was to retire there. In the summer of 1994, after the conquest of 3 consecutive Championships,[12][13][14] he led the club in reaching the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, becoming the first Greek club to qualify in the new format.[15] On 6 July 1995 he renewed his contract for another year.[16] AEK went to win the Cup at the end of the season,[17] while the lost the league to a margin by Panathinaikos.[18] Despite the departure of Bajević in the following summer, Manolas stayed at the club and renewed his contract for another year on 18 July 1996.[19] Under the new manager and his former teammate, Petros Ravousis, they won the Super Cup and another Cup at the end of the season.[20]

In the summer of 1997 Manolas, dissatisfied with the owner Michalis Trochanas, withdrew from the club's activities,[21] until ENIC became the major shareholder of the club. The former player Lakis Nikolaou was appointed as the club's president and persuaded Manolas to return and end his career at the end of the season.[22] His last match was against Skoda Xanthi which earned him his 700th appearance.[23] Manolas ended his career after 19 seasons, being second in league appearances behind Mimis Papaioannou and 12th in the history of the tournaments. With AEK, he won in total 4 Championships, 3 Cups, 2 Super Cups and the League Cup in 1990.[24]

International career

Manolas played for Greece in 71 matches from 1982 to 1994 and scored 6 goals.[25] He was a member of the squad that played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, in the USA.[26]

Managerial career

After his retirement, Manolas became a certified manager in 2002 and worked at the bench of Greece U21 until 2004.[27] In 2008 he held the post of technical director in AEK, where he resigned in 2009.[28] In November 2012 he became the manager of Niki Volos where he stayed for three months.[29] In the summer of 2014 he returned to AEK, as the coach of AEK Athens U20.[30] In 2015, he was called from AEK as an interim coach to replace Traianos Dellas in the men's team, and was then called again at the same position to replace Gus Poyet. During his second managerial period, he won the Cup in 2016.[31]

Personal life

Manolas is the uncle of former AEK Athens and Olympiacos international defender, Kostas.[32] His son, Konstantinos, was also a footballer who played for AEK.[33]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[1]
Club Season League Greek Cup Europe Balkans Cup Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AEK Athens 1979–80 Alpha Ethniki 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
1980–81 23 1 5 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 32 1
1981–82 32 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 0
1982–83 29 1 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 38 1
1983–84 27 1 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 34 1
1984–85 25 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 0
1985–86 20 3 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 29 4
1986–87 20 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 23 1
1987–88 21 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 4
1988–89 24 4 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 30 5
1989–90 33 3 4 0 4 1 0 0 5 0 46 4
1990–91 24 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 5
1991–92 31 4 12 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 47 7
1992–93 30 1 7 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 41 1
1993–94 24 2 8 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 34 3
1994–95 23 1 10 2 6 0 0 0 0 0 39 3
1995–96 22 3 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 34 3
1996–97 23 2 6 2 6 0 0 0 1 0 36 4
1997–98 13 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
Career total 447 35 96 11 38 1 4 0 8 0 593 47
  1. ^ Includes Greek Super Cup and Greek League Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Greece 1982 1 0
1983 1 0
1984 7 1
1985 5 0
1986 8 0
1987 7 0
1988 6 2
1989 7 0
1990 8 2
1991 4 1
1992 5 0
1993 6 0
1994 6 0
Total 71 6

Last updated: 2022-07-15
Source: Stelios Manolas at National-Football-Teams.com

Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Manolas goal.[34]
List of international goals scored by Stelios Manolas
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 October 1984 Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece  Israel 2–2 2–2 Friendly
2 17 February 1988 Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece  Northern Ireland 1–1 3–2 Friendly
3 2–2
4 28 March 1990 Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece  Israel 1–0 2–1 Friendly
5 2–1
6 23 January 1991 Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece  Portugal 2–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying

Managerial statistics

As of match played 17 May 2016
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record PPM Ref.
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Greece Greece U21 1 July 2002 30 June 2004 17 5 6 6 20 18 +2 029.41 1.24 [35]
Greece Niki Volos 6 November 2012 17 February 2013 16 6 7 3 16 9 +7 037.50 1.56 [35]
Greece AEK Athens U20 1 July 2014 13 October 2016 34 18 4 12 58 38 +20 052.94 1.71 [35]
Greece AEK Athens (caretaker) 20 October 2015 30 October 2015 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 100.00 3.00 [35]
Greece AEK Athens (caretaker) 20 April 2016 19 May 2016 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 050.00 1.75 [35]
Total 73 33 18 22 105 70 +35 045.21

Honours

As a player

AEK Athens[6][9][10][12][13][14][17][20]

As a manager

AEK Athens[36]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Στέλιος Μανωλάς". football.aek.com.
  2. ^ "IFFHS MEN'S ALL TIME GREECE DREAM TEAM". IFFHS.com. Online. 23 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Η αλάνα της οδού Κουρτίου,δίπλα στο "Μικτόν Γυμνάσιο Γαλατσίου"". e-galatsi (in Greek).
  4. ^ Στράτος Σεφτελής (3 January 1980). "Στέσλ: Μ' αφήνουν εντελώς αδιάφορο οι διαδώσεις". Athletic Echo (in Greek). p. 6.
  5. ^ "Ο Στέλιος άρχισε να γράφει ιστορία". aek365.org (in Greek).
  6. ^ a b "Greece 82/83". RSSSF.
  7. ^ Γιώργος Πάστρας (9 July 1988). "Για πάντα μαζί". Athletic Echo (in Greek). pp. 1, 3.
  8. ^ "Η μυθικη αποκρουση-μισο πρωταθλημα του ΣΤΕΛΙΟΥ ΜΑΝΩΛΑ στην κεφαλια του ΝΤΕΤΑΡΙ" – via YouTube.
  9. ^ a b "Greece 1988/89". RSSSF.
  10. ^ a b "Greece 1988/89". RSSSF.
  11. ^ Γιάννης Βενετούλιας (20 November 1993). "Για πάντα στην ΑΕΚ ο Μανωλάς". Athletic Echo (in Greek). pp. 1, 3.
  12. ^ a b "Greece 1991/92". RSSSF.
  13. ^ a b "Greece 1992/93". RSSSF.
  14. ^ a b "Greece 1993/94". RSSSF.
  15. ^ "ΑΕΚ: Η πρώτη ελληνική ομάδα που έπαιξε στο Τσάμπιονς Λιγκ". sportdog.gr. 10 August 2013.
  16. ^ Γιάννης Μπίλιος (7 July 1995). "Συνεχίζουν μαζί Μανωλάς και ΑΕΚ". Athletic Echo (in Greek). p. 3.
  17. ^ a b "Greece 1995/96". RSSSF.
  18. ^ "Περίοδος 1995-1996". aekpedia.com (in Greek). 22 May 2015.
  19. ^ Γιάννης Μπίλιος (19 July 1996). "Και του χρόνου με τον Μανωλά". Athletic Echo (in Greek). pp. 1, 5.
  20. ^ a b "Greece 1996/97". RSSSF.
  21. ^ "Δεν υπάρχει λόγος να μιλήσουμε". tanea.gr (in Greek). 12 July 1997.
  22. ^ "Ο Σέμπουε από σήμερα στη διάθεση του Ντουμιτρίου". tanea.gr (in Greek). 30 December 1997.
  23. ^ "AEK: Το τελευταίο παιχνίδι του "στρατιώτη" Στέλιου Μανωλά". gazzetta.gr (in Greek).
  24. ^ "Στέλιος Μανωλάς". aekpedia.com.
  25. ^ "Greece matches 1981–1985" (PDF). epo.gr (in Greek).
  26. ^ "Greece matches 1990–1995" (PDF). epo.gr (in Greek).
  27. ^ "Η διαδρομή του προπονητή Στέλιου Μανωλά". sport24.gr (in Greek).
  28. ^ "Παραιτήθηκε ο Στέλιος Μανωλάς από την ΑΕΚ". in.gr. 1 June 2009.
  29. ^ "Στον πάγκο της Νίκης Βόλου ο Στέλιος Μανωλάς". protothema.gr (in Greek). 6 November 2012.
  30. ^ "Ο Στέλιος Μανωλάς επέστρεψε στην ΑΕΚ!". contra.gr (in Greek).
  31. ^ "Manolas as interim coach". aekfc.gr.
  32. ^ "Kostas Manolas Profile New". A.S. Roma. 14 August 2018.
  33. ^ "Η ΑΕΚ απέκτησε τον γιο του Στέλιου Μανωλά". iefimerida.gr (in Greek). 5 August 2016.
  34. ^ "Stelios Manolas". eu-football.info.
  35. ^ a b c d e "Stelios Manolas". sofascore.com.
  36. ^ "Greece 15/16". RSSSF.
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