World Cup GK Profile: Konstantinos Chalkias (Greece)

Konstantinos Chalkias

Squad: Greece
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 36
Birth Date: May 30, 1974
Birth Place: Larissa, Greece
Height: 6' 6" (1.98m)
Weight: 181 lbs (82 kg)
Club: PAOK (Greece)
International Caps: 26

Club History
PAOK (GRE): 2008-
Aris Saloniki (GRE): 2006-2008
Real Murcia (ESP): 2006-2006
Panathinaikos (GRE): 2003-2005
Iraklis (GRE): 2001-2003
Panathinaikos (GRE): 1999-2001
Apollon Athinai (GRE): 1996-1998
Panathinaikos (GRE): 1995-1996

from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Konstadinos Halkias made his debut the 10 November 2001 against Estonia. In the summer 2004 he won Euro 2004 included in the team together with the other goalkeepers Antonis Nikopolidis and Fanis Katergiannakis. Otto Rehhagel called him also for the qualification of Euro 2008.

Konstantinos Chalkias during the qualification for the World Cup 2010 play as the first goalkeeper for Greek national team, after the retirement of the legendary goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis and he is the only goalkeeper from the Euro 2004.


from ESPN SoccerNet
Greece's long-time back-up custodian finally got his chance to establish himself as the first choice in the national team after Euro 2004 hero Antonios Nikopolidis retired and he made the most of his opportunity during 2010 World Cup qualifying, playing in eight of the 12 ties played by Otto Rahhagel's men.

His wait on the sidelines as been lengthy, with Chalkias making his Greece debut against Estonia back in 2001, but he has been as patient as they come. "Everyone appreciated what Nikopolidis meant to the Greek team after the success of Euro 2004 and I knew my moment would arrive," he says philosophically.

Chalkias has done well to bounce back from a horrible and brief period in England's Premier League, as he made mistake aplenty during a spell with Portsmouth. He is not always so reliable under high balls into his box.

from FIFA.com
PAOK Thessaloniki’s towering veteran goalkeeper started his career back in the early 1990s.

Learning his trade at the Panathinaikos academy, Chalkias spent two seasons on loan at Apollon Athens. On his return to Pana he had to battle for a starting place with Polish legend Jozef Wandzik and, not for the last time in his career, the emerging Antonis Nikopolidis. After several seasons as the club’s third-choice custodian, he was shipped out to Iraklis, where his fine performances led to the Athens giants recalling him once more. More frustration ensued, however, with Nikopolidis barring his path to the first team.

Nikopolidis’s move to Olympiakos finally opened the door for Chalkias, who nevertheless chose to move abroad. After failing to impress at Portsmouth in England, he fared little better with Spain’s Real Murcia.

Brought back home by Aris Saloniki, he regained his form and was subsequently called up to the Greece squad for their victorious UEFA EURO 2004 campaign. Aside from being a European champion, he has also won Greek league and cup winners’ medals with Panathinaikos, and helped Aris reach the Greek Cup final in 2008 and PAOK to second place in the league in 2009.

Chalkias had to wait patiently for his first international call-up, which finally came in 2001. Once again he found himself deputising for undisputed first-choice Nikopolidis, whose recent retirement gave the PAOK gloveman the chance to shine for his country at last, though he now faces facing stiff competition from Alexandros Tzorvas for the No1 slot at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Greece National Team World Cup 2010 Scarf
adidas Giorgos Karagounis Greece World Cup 2010 Home Jersey