Sotirios "Sotiris" Kyrgiakos (Greek: Σωτήρης Κυργιάκος) (born on 23 July 1979 in Trikala, Greece) is a Greek international football player currently playing as a centre back for Liverpool F.C. in the Premier League.[1]

Club career

Panathinaikos
Kyrgiakos made his first football steps with a local team, Thyella Megalochoriou. It did not take long for him to be recognized. At the start of the 1996-97 season he became a member of the Panathinaikos football academy. He lived and played football at the Paiania athletic complex, the club’s training ground.

In the wake of the 1999-2000 season he became a member of Agios Nikolaos, a second division club and won the respect of president Lampros Maris whom Sotirios considers as his second father. He stayed with Agios Nikolaos for two years and in 2001 he took part in the pre-season camp at OFI Crete. The centre-back injuries at his parent club, Panathinaikos, just before the 3rd Qualifying round matches with Slavia Prague for the 2000–01 Champions League meant that he had to return to Paiania and become a regular member of the starting line-up.


Rangers
The following January, he joined Rangers on loan during season 2004-05 with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the season. With his new club he won a second consecutive championship and also the Scottish League Cup scoring two goals in the 5-1 win against Motherwell in the final. He initially failed to agree terms with Rangers and held talks with Everton, Portsmouth and Schalke before finally agreeing a one year deal with Rangers [2], he scored a famous winning goal against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League that year [3]. He was released in May 2006 after the contract ran out [4].


Eintracht Frankfurt
In June 2006 Sotiris signed a 2 year deal with Eintracht Frankfurt[5]. In his first season, he proved to be a fan favourite with some great performances and crucial goals which helped the team avoid relegation. In his second season with the club with more excellent performances he helped the team finish in 9th position. On 1 July 2008, after his 2 year deal expired, Kyrgiakos decided not to renew his contract with the German club, and so was released.


AEK Athens
On 1 August 2008, Sotiris agreed to sign for AEK Athens on a five year deal [6]. Sotiris Kyrgiakos has reportedly been earning 1.6 Million Euros per year.


Liverpool
On 21 August 2009 it was announced that he had signed a two-year deal with the option of a further year for Liverpool F.C., for a reported fee of £2 million. Kyrgiakos will wear the number 16 shirt at Anfield.[1][7]


International career
Kyrgiakos made his senior international debut on 13 February 2002 against Sweden, and scored his first goal against Norway 1 year later on 13 February 2003. He was unlucky to miss their Euro 2004 victory through injury, which ironically was a knee injury sustained against Rangers team-mate Stefan Klos. He scored three goals in their Euro 2008 qualifiers and was selected in the final squad to represent Greece in the final tournament [8].


International goals
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 13 February 2003 Heraklion, Greece Norway 1-0 Win Friendly Match
2. 24 March 2007 Athens, Greece Turkey 1-4 Loss UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier
3. 12 September 2007 Oslo, Norway Norway 2-2 Draw UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier
4. 12 September 2007 Oslo, Norway Norway 2-2 Draw UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier


Honours
Panathinaikos

Greek League: 2004
Greek Cup: 2004
Rangers

Scottish Premier League: 2005
Scottish League Cup: 2005
AEK Athens

Greek Cup: Runners up 2009