Stelios Malezas ( el, Στέλιος Μαλεζάς; born 11 March 1985) is a Greek former professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...
who played as a
centre back
In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield position whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring.
Centre-backs are usually positioned in pairs, with one full-back on either s ...
.
Club career
PAOK
He started his career at AEP Katerini and moved to PAOK in 2003, thus signing his first professional contract. He plays as a centre back, having formerly played as a defensive midfielder.
In the 2008–09 season, he gained his place in the starting eleven, making some regular first-team appearances. On 6 February 2009, he signed a new contract with
PAOK, which would keep him at the club until 2013. During all these years he played 164 games with
PAOK in all competitions.
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Defender Malezas of Greek club
PAOK FC
P.A.O.K. FC ( el, ΠΑΕ ΠΑΟΚ, Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινουπολιτών, '' Panthessaloníkios Athlitikós Ómilos Konstadinoupolitón'', "Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of ...
, is making the move to Germany for a reported fee of €577,000 (£450,000), with the money being paid in installments over the next 12 months. Malezas was on Monday undergoing a medical and
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Düsseldorfer Turn- und Sportverein Fortuna 1895 e.V., commonly known as Fortuna Düsseldorf (), is a German football club in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, which competes in the 2. Bundesliga.
Founded in 1895, Fortuna entered the league ...
, who last season won promotion via the play-offs, are then expected to officially announce a three-year contract. General manager Wolf Werner told Express newspaper: ''"We are about to sign Stelios Malezas from PAOK of Greece."''
In December 2013, Malezas was informed that is already named for returning to his former club
PAOK and in an interview held from PAOK24 he said: ''"As a mark of respect for the club, it must be clear that the given time there has been no communication with people of
PAOK nor the possibility of my return to it. I have a contract with Fortuna until summer. I do not know what will happen in January and after that I have the right to negotiate, but as we speak there is absolutely not any communication with PAOK."'' Otherwise Malezas would not say no to the possibility of a return to PAOK, but this time there is nothing to confirm that he wants to leave Germany.
The German dream seems to take a fee for Stelios Malezas, who the summer of 2014 will be past for the roster of
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Düsseldorfer Turn- und Sportverein Fortuna 1895 e.V., commonly known as Fortuna Düsseldorf (), is a German football club in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, which competes in the 2. Bundesliga.
Founded in 1895, Fortuna entered the league ...
. He failed to prove his worth to the people of the German club and specifically, the former PAOK defender has only made 10 appearances after half of the season passed.
The coach of Fortuna,
Lorenz-Günther Köstner
Lorenz-Günther Köstner (born 30 January 1952) is a retired German footballer who is now a football manager who last managed Fortuna Düsseldorf. Following the sacking of Armin Veh on 25 January 2010, he was named interim manager of VfL Wolfsbur ...
believes that the former Thessalonian player can not cope with the demands of the team, so it can be assumed that is almost in exit. Eventually on 23 May 2014 after two years with the club was informed that there was not in the staff's plan for next season. Malezas stated that ''" Everybody does not like goodbyes, but I must do it. I have no choice"''.
Panetolikos
On 11 July 2014, Malezas joined
Panetolikos
Panetolikos Football Club ( el, ΠΑΕ Παναιτωλικός), or with its full name Panetolikós Yimnastikós Filekpedeftikós Síllogos ( el, Παναιτωλικός Γυμναστικός Φιλεκπαιδευτικός Σύλλογος'' ...
on a two-year contract, after he completed his transfer from
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Düsseldorfer Turn- und Sportverein Fortuna 1895 e.V., commonly known as Fortuna Düsseldorf (), is a German football club in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, which competes in the 2. Bundesliga.
Founded in 1895, Fortuna entered the league ...
as a free agent.
Return to PAOK
On 10 August 2015, Malezas joined for a second spell
PAOK, signing a two years' contract for an undisclosed fee. His first year after his return, was disappointed but gradually became a member of the starting XI especially under
Vladimir Ivić
Vladimir Ivić (; born 7 May 1977) is a Serbian football manager and former player who is currently head coach of Krasnodar.
A former Serbia and Montenegro international, Ivić is best remembered for his time with Partizan and PAOK at club le ...
coaching. As a result of his performances, the administration of
PAOK has decided to extend the contract of the experienced central defender. He is expected to sign a new two-season contract, as he was recently informed by athletic director of the club,
Lubos Michel.
On 1 March 2017,
PAOK made public his agreement for a one (plus one) year contract with the international defender, and Malezas was extremely happy as he signed with the team that showed him, in whose ranks he spent less than ten years. On 27 June 2017, the probability to continue his career in the club will be changed as there is interest from
Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League (RPL; russian: Российская премьер-лига; РПЛ), also written as Russian Premier Liga, is the top division professional association football league in Russia. It was established at the end of 2001 ...
club
FC Anzhi Makhachkala
Football Club Anzhi Makhachkala (russian: link=no, Футбо́льный клуб «Анжи́» Махачкала́, ), known simply as FC Anji, was a Russian professional football club based in the Dagestani capital of Makhachkala. Founded ...
. On 16 December 2017,
PAOK achieved its second consecutive away victory at the
2017-18 season, against struggling
Platanias
Platanias (Greek: Πλατανιάς) is a village and municipality on the Greek island of Crete. It is located about west from the city of Chania and east of Kissamos, on Chania Bay. The seat of the municipality is the village Gerani. Platania ...
at
Perivolia Municipal Stadium
Perivolia Municipal Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Mournies, Chania, Greece.
From the 2012-2013 season, Platanias FC were based at Perivolia Municipal Stadium, which led to extensive upgrading and modernization work at all levels during t ...
, as the experienced central defender and captain of the Greek Cup winners, bagged the only goal of this clash, with a close-range effort at 56'. It was his first goal with the club since his return from summer of 2015. On 6 June 2018, experienced central defender and captain of PAOK, Stelios Malezas, will renew his contract with the
Greek Cup
The Greek Football Cup ( el, Κύπελλο Ελλάδος Ποδοσφαίρου), commonly known as the Greek Cup or Kypello Elladas is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation.
The Greek Cup is the second most im ...
winners until the end of 2018–19 season. The owner and president of historic Thessaloniki club,
Ivan Savvidis
Ivan Ignatyevich Savvidi (russian: Иван Игнатьевич Саввиди, , el, Ιβάν Σαββίδης, translit=Ivan Savvidis, , ka, ივან ეგნატეს ძე სავიდი, ''Ivan Egnates dze Savidi'', , also ...
, had publicly promised after victory over AEK at 2017-18 Greek Cup final that the contract of 33-year-old international defender will be extended, something which was officially announced.
Xanthi
On 24 June 2019, Malezas joined
Xanthi
Xanthi ( el, Ξάνθη, ''Xánthi'', ) is a city in the region of Western Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi (regional unit), Xanthi regional unit of the modern regions of Greece, region of East Macedonia and Thrace.
A ...
, after he completed his transfer from
PAOK as a free agent.
International career
On 28 February 2010, he was called up to represent Greece in a friendly against
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
. On 1 June it was announced that he would be in the 23-man squad for the
2010 FIFA World Cup
, image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg
, size = 200px
, caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
. He was also to the 23-man squad for the
UEFA Euro 2012
The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2012 or simply Euro 2012, was the 14th European Championship for men's national football teams organised by UEFA. The final tournament, held between 8 June and 1 ...
.
Club statistics
Stelios Malezas
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Honours
Player
;PAOK
* Superleague: 2018–19
*Greek Cup
The Greek Football Cup ( el, Κύπελλο Ελλάδος Ποδοσφαίρου), commonly known as the Greek Cup or Kypello Elladas is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation.
The Greek Cup is the second most im ...
: 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
Manager
PAOK U19
* Superleague Greece Youth: 2020–21
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malezas, Stelios
1985 births
Living people
Footballers from Katerini
Greek footballers
Greece international footballers
2010 FIFA World Cup players
UEFA Euro 2012 players
Super League Greece players
Bundesliga players
2. Bundesliga players
PAOK FC players
Fortuna Düsseldorf players
Panetolikos F.C. players
Xanthi F.C. players
Greek expatriate footballers
Expatriate footballers in Germany
Association football central defenders