Georgios Katidis

Georgios Katidis (Greek: Γεώργιος Κατίδης; born 12 February 1993) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. He is best known for performing a Nazi salute after scoring a game winning goal in 2013, which led to his permanent suspension from every level of the Greece national team and his suspension from AEK Athens for the remainder of the 2013 season.

Georgios Katidis
Katidis with Greece in 2012 UEFA Euro U19
Personal information
Full name Georgios Katidis
Date of birth (1993-02-12) 12 February 1993
Place of birth Thessaloniki, Greece
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
2008–2010 Aris
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Aris 15 (0)
2012–2013 AEK Athens 20 (2)
2013–2014 Novara 10 (0)
2014–2015 Veria 4 (0)
2015 Levadiakos 9 (1)
2016–2017 Panegialios 12 (0)
2017 FF Jaro 10 (3)
2017–2018 FK Olympia Prague 22 (8)
2018 FK Příbram 7 (0)
2021–2022 Irodotos 11 (0)
2022 Proodeftiki
2022 Panelefsiniakos
International career
2009–2011 Greece U17 8 (2)
2011–2012 Greece U19 30 (9)
2012–2013 Greece U21 6 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Greece
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Runner-up2012 Estonia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 November 2018

Club career

Aris

Katidis rose through the youth ranks at Aris and managed to make his debut for the team at 16 years old.

AEK Athens

On 27 August 2012, Katidis signed a four-year contract with AEK Athens which would keep him at the club until 2016. AEK Athens and his former club Aris agreed on a €100,000 transfer fee.[1]

Katidis created an international controversy on 16 March 2013, when he gave a Nazi salute after scoring the winning goal against Veria. His action drew condemnation from politicians, fans and the media. He later told the public he was unaware of the gesture's connotations, stating that he just wanted to dedicate the goal to a colleague in the stands.[2] AEK coach Ewald Lienen remarked that Katidis "doesn't have an idea about politics".[3] As a result of the salute, the Hellenic Football Federation voted unanimously to give Katidis a lifetime ban from all Greece national teams and he was fined €50,000.[4] He was furthermore suspended by AEK for the rest of the season.[5]

Novara Calcio

Italian Serie B side Novara signed Katidis. Novara's owner Massimo de Salvo said that they would not be 'playing down' the incident. "We don't have the intention to play down his gesture," he said. "It was disrespectful to the millions of people that suffered and paid with their lives for those who believed in false ideals and myths." De Salvo also said Katidis' remorse was a key factor in beginning negotiations with the 20-year-old. "We want to give him another chance, because we believe that making such a mistake is serious, but acknowledging it is worthy." The Italian media have dubbed Katidis the 'Greek Di Canio', referring to the former Lazio striker Paolo di Canio, who caused controversy by giving a Nazi salute whilst celebrating a goal. Eventually Katidis signed a 1+1 year contract with the club.[6][7]

On 31 July 2014, Novara announced the end of cooperation with the player.[8][9]

Veria

After being away from Greece for a year, Katidis returned to his home country by signing a two-year contract with Veria.[10] Giorgos made his official debut on 20 September 2014 in an away loss against Olympiacos in Pireaus. He made his second appearance against Ermionida in the Greek Cup. He made his third appearance as a substitute as he replaced Sotiris Balafas against PAS Giannina. On 26 January 2015, Katidis was released by the club as he didn't impress with his performances.

Levadiakos

On 29 January 2015, Katidis penned a 2+1⁄2-year deal with fellow Superleague Greece side Levadiakos.[11] He made his last appearance with the club in a 1–0 away loss against PAOK.

Panegialios

On 10 January 2016 Katidis signed a year contract with Football League club Panegialios.[12]

FF Jaro

On 30 January 2017, Katidis signed a season contract with the Finnish club FF Jaro.[13] On 4 February 2017, in his first match with the club, Katidis was involved in FF Jaro goals by giving the two assists in a 2–1 Suomen Cup win against SJK. Two weeks later, he scored a brace in an 8–1 away win against SJK Akatemia for the Suomen Cup. On 4 March 2017, he scored a brace in a 6–1 home win against FC Jazz for the Suomen Cup. On 6 May 2017, he made his debut in the League with the club scoring in a 2–0 away win against EIF.

FK Olympia Prague

On 7 August 2017, Katidis left FF Jaro, signing a two-year contract with FK Olympia Prague of the Czech National Football League.[14] On 12 August 2017, he made his debut with the club in a FNL 2-2 home draw against FK Viktoria Žižkov. On 27 August he netted the only goal in a 1–0 away win against Vlašim.

FK Příbram

On 11 July 2018, Katidis signed a two-year contract with 1. FK Příbram of the Czech First League .[15]

Irodotos

On 18 September 2021, George Katidis returns to professional football after almost three years, as he signed for Super League 2 club Irodotos. The last time to note that the 28-year-old played at a professional level was on November 24, 2018, in the Bohemians Prague vs Pribram match for the Czech championship. [16]

International career

Katidis quickly became under 17, under 19 and then under 21 captain of Greece due to excellent performances while he was still playing for Aris FC. He was the captain of the under-19 team that lost in the final to Spain in the 2012 European Championship in Estonia.[17] Scoring in a game on 16 March 2013, Katidis controversially celebrated the goal by giving the crowd a Nazi salute. Katidis later apologized. The Hellenic Football Federation imposed a lifetime ban on Katidis, banning him from participating in all Greece national teams.[18]

Honours

International

Greece U19

Individual

References
  1. "Katidis signs with AEK". aekfc.gr. Archived from the original on 1 November 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  2. "Greek footballer Giorgos Katidis banned for Nazi salute". BBC News online. 17 March 2013.
  3. "Giorgos Katidis 'Nazi Salute' Earns Greek Footballer Lifetime National Ban". The Huffington Post. 17 March 2013.
  4. "Greek soccer player gets life ban for Nazi salute. Rumors tell that Katidis is thinking about studying at UCN". CBS News. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  5. "The New Age - SA Shares Newspaper (South Africa)". 27 June 2020.
  6. "Katidis in talks with Italian side Novara". neoskosmos.com. 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  7. "Relegated Novara sign controversial Katidis". foxsportsasia.com. 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014.
  8. "Τέλος από Νοβάρα ο Κατίδης". sport-fm.gr. 31 July 2014.
  9. "Παρελθόν ο Κατιδης από τη Νοβάρα!". newsit.gr. 31 July 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  10. Antonis. "Παίκτης της Βέροιας ο Γιώργος Κατίδης". Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  11. Στον Λεβαδειακό ο Κατίδης (in Greek). sport24.gr. 29 January 2015.
  12. Ο Κατίδης στον Παναιγιάλειο (in Greek). sport24.gr. 1 September 2016.
  13. "Katidis klar för Jaro". online.vasabladet.fi. 30 January 2017.
  14. Στην Ολίμπια Πράγας για 2 χρόνια ο Κατίδης. www.sport24.gr. 7 August 2017.
  15. "Deal Done: Giorgios Katidis signs deal with 1. FK Pribram!". www.worldinmotion.com. 11 July 2018.
  16. "Στον Ηρόδοτο ο Κατίδης: Επιστρέφει στο επαγγελματικό ποδόσφαιρο μετά από τρία χρόνια". www.protothema.gr. 18 September 2021.
  17. "Spain Under-19 win again". espnfc.com.
  18. Robert Mackey, Greek Soccer Player Banned for Nazi Salute, New York Times (18 March 2013).
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