Vasilios Koutsianikoulis (Greek: Βασίλειος Κουτσιανικούλης; born 9 August 1988) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a left winger or an attacking midfielder for Gamma Ethniki club Kavala.^[1]

Club career

Early years

Koutsianikoulis began his football career at his local amateur club Iraklis Chalkis, at the time playing in the Delta Ethniki, the fourth tier of the Greek football league system. His performances drew the attention of Greece U-19 coach Nikos Nioplias, who arranged for his first international call-up as well as sending him on a trial period at his former club OFI in April 2007. Koutsianikoulis played a single pre-season friendly game with OFI against local rival Ergotelis. As OFI coach at the time Reiner Maurer had second thoughts on signing Koutsianikoulis on his outfit, Ergotelis, who were impressed with his performance during that friendly approached the player and signed him instead.

Ergotelis

Koutsianikoulis debuted for Ergotelis during the 2007–08 Superleague season, where he played in a total of 12 matches, 10 of which he came in as a substitute. In total, Koutsianikoulis played 126 minutes, and did not score any goals.

His breakout season came the next year, when he became a regular starter. Due to his short stature and agility, Koutsianikoulis demonstrated an impressive ability to evade opposing tackles and beat the defensive line on attacking runs, while his finishing and precise passing to create scoring opportunities for his teammates led the Greek media to dub him "the Greek Messi" or "Messi for the poor",^[2] often drawing comparisons between his and the Argentinian super-star's playing style, though Koutsianikoulis himself requested these nicknames and comparisons to be dropped.^[3] He impressed with his performance in an uncommon 3−0 club home win against Aris in September 2008, where he assisted his club's second goal and posed a continuous threat to the opposing defense. He followed up this performance with 2 goals and one assist in his club's 2−3 away win vs. Panathinaikos, considered at the time one of the biggest upsets in the "Greens"' history.^[4] After scoring one more goal, and consistently performing well vs. reigning champions Olympiacos, Koutsianikoulis was called-up for the Greece national team by coach Otto Rehhagel, an uncommon call-up for a player not playing in one of the traditional giants of Greek football, and a first for an Ergotelis player.^[2] Despite eventually not making any international caps, Koutsianikoulis' league performances with Ergotelis (he finished the season with 4 goals and 6 assists in 27 games) and rising popularity among Greek fans and press made him a target for all major clubs in Greece.^[5]

PAOK

During the summer transfer window of 2009, Ergotelis reportedly received, and declined transfer offers from Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, eventually reaching an agreement with PAOK on May 22, 2009.^[6] Koutsianikoulis became the most expensive transfer in Ergotelis history, earning his club a transfer fee of a reported €1,2M, as well as a friendly match between the two teams of which all ticket sales' income would be paid to Ergotelis.^[5] He signed a 4-year contract with PAOK on May 25, 2009.^[3]

Despite high hopes placed on Koutsianikoulis' development, and a dream debut in the 2009–10 Superleague opening match vs. Levadiakos, where he scored one goal and delivered two assists in an easy 3−0 home win for his club,^[7] his eventual performances did not manage to impress PAOK coach Fernando Santos, who benched him for the majority of games in the 2009–10 season, while fans were frustrated and left to expect more from the "Greek Messi".^[5] His second year with the club was even more unremarkable, as he played in only 11 matches across all competitions. As PAOK sought to rid themselves of Koutsianikoulis' contract, Ergotelis' officials, who were still owed money from Koutsianikoulis' transfer fee and believed in his talent, reached out to PAOK and arranged for his return to Crete.^[8]

Return to Ergotelis

In July 2007, Ergotelis announced the return of Koutsianikoulis in a transfer deal involving a 50% co-ownership of the player's rights with PAOK for an undisclosed fee clearing PAOK's debts to Ergotelis, while the player's annual contract was estimated at €400K.^[8] Koutsianikoulis signed a 4-year contract with his former club and managed to re-establish himself while in Crete, playing in 27 matches and scoring one goal. Ergotelis failed to avoid relegation At the end of the 2011−12 season however, and as the board of directors decided to release many of the club's players with wealthy contracts, the club pre-maturely terminated Koutsianikoulis' contract on mutual consent, all while the player was rumored to be close to a free transfer move to AEK and continue his career in the Superleague.^[9]

OFI

Reports had linked Koutsianikoulis with both AEK and OFI in the weeks after his release from Ergotelis and it seemed the Athenian club had convinced the Greek youth international to join, despite their well-documented financial troubles. AEK were keen to sign Koutsianikoulis, and confirmed negotiations between club president Thomas Mavros and the player's manager in an attempt to strengthen AEK's squad, which had been decimated by the departure of a raft of key players during the summer. Eventually however, Koutsianikoulis chose to move to his former club's local rival OFI, who had secured the required license from the tax office to partake in the 2012−13 Superelague season.^[10] On August 20, 2012 Koutsianikoulis finally signed a 3-year contract with OFI.^[11]

He made his debut with the club in August 2012, during a 0-0 home draw against Skoda Xanthi, and scored his first goal on 29 October 2012 during a 2-2 home draw against Panetolikos. He spent the next three seasons at OFI, making 89 appearances in both the Greek Superelague and the Greek Cup, scoring 8 goals. In 21 March 2015, OFI withdrew from professional competitions, as the administration failed to meet the club's pressing financial obligations and criticized the top-flight circuit for “unfair and uneven decisions” against the club.^[12] In a symbolic gesture, Koutsianikoulis, along with the other 14 players who still comprised the club's roster at the time walked on the pitch of the Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium on that day (before match-day 29) and waived OFI's fans farewell.^[13] As a result of OFI's departure, Koutsianikoulis was released from his contract with the club.

In June 2015, Koutsianikoulis was reported to join Greek Superelague side Veria,^[14] under the advice of the club's Technical Director Zisis Vryzas, with whom Koutsianikoulis had collaborated during his time at PAOK.^[15] The deal was however never realized.

AEL

After brief flirts with Veria and Trikala, Koutsianikoulis eventually signed a 3-year contract with Football League side AEL on September 3, 2015, marking his return to his hometown Larissa.^[16] He made 23 appearances for AEL and scored one goal during the 2015−16 Football League season, helping his club win the division title and achieve instant promotion to the Superleague.

After returning to the Superleague with AEL, Koutsianikoulis' playing time significantly dropped. He made only 7 league appearances during the 2016−17 season, and just one appearance in next year's edition of the competition. As a result, Koutsianikoulis' contract was terminated by the club on mutual consent in September 2017.^[17]

Return to OFI

On 11 September 2017, Koutsianikoulis returned to OFI, at the time playing in the Football League, signing a one-year contract with the club for an undisclosed fee.^[18] On 30 October 2017 he scored his first goal since his return during a 2−1 away win against Panserraikos.^[19] Again faced with the club's recurring financial troubles, Koutsianikoulis raised his game after the departure of several key players in OFI's attempt to return to the Superleague, scoring crucial goals in a 0−2 away win against Panegialios on 13 January 2018,^[20] and a 3−0 home win against fellow promotion contenders Doxa Drama on 17 January 2018.^[21] On 31 March 2018, he scored with a wonderful strike, curling the ball into the net from distance with the help of a slight deflection, as his club made another huge step towards promotion to the Superleague, defeating 3-0 nearest challengers Panachaiki. ^[22] At the end of the 2017-18 season, he celebrated the promotion to Superleague.

On 28 May 2019, the team announced that his contract would not be renewed. ^[23]

Olympiacos Volos

On 11 September 2019, Koutsianikoulis joined Olympiacos Volos as a free transfer for an undisclosed fee.^[24]

Later years

From the 2020-21 season, he played for Super League Greece 2 clubs Doxa Drama F.C. and Anagennisi Karditsa F.C.

International career

Koutsianikoulis' skills during his time with Iraklis Chalki, drew the attention of Greek U−19 coach Nikos Nioplias, who enlisted him in the squad that featured in the 2007 UEFA European U−19 Championship, in which Greece reached the Final. Koutsianikoulis played for one half against Spain during the competition Group stage, and then again in the competition Final, once more against Spain, where the Greeks narrowly lost the title (1–0).

Aged 20 and already an international with Greece U−21, Koutsianikoulis shot to prominence in 2008, during a string of impressive matches with Ergotelis against Aris, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos. His performances were eventually rewarded by Greece head coach Otto Rehhagel, who named Koutsianikoulis in his 20-man squad for an international friendly against Italy on 19 May 2008 at Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus.^[25] Despite being considered a strong prospect for the national team, Koutsianikoulis was ultimately not fielded during the match, and the eventual decline of his career after his transfer move to PAOK severely hurt his chances for receiving another call-up.

Club statistics

Statistics accurate as of 12 January 2022

Honours

Club

AEL

• Football League: 2015–16

OFI

• Football League: 2017–18

International

Greece U−19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: Runner-up 2007

Individual

• Greek Young Footballer of the year: 2009