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Ioannis Okkas, sometimes Giannakis Okkas , (born February 11, 1977 in Larnaca, Cyprus) is a football striker who currently plays for Cypriot side AC Omonoia. He is also the captain of the Cyprus national football team. Club Renowned as one of the best players to emerge from the island of Cyprus, Okkas started his career at the age of 16 with Nea Salamis FC, one of the smaller Cypriot clubs. Four years later and after 16 goals in 53 matches at Nea Salamis FC, Okkas joined Cypriot giants Anorthosis Famagusta FC at the age of 20. Joining the Cypriot league champions was a step up for Okkas, who helped Anorthosis Famagusta FC make it four titles in a row. 2000: Okkas moved to Greece at the age of 23. He signed for PAOK FC and scored seven times during a first year which brought success in the Greek Cup and the Cypriot Player of the Year award. In the final against Olympiakos, Okkas scored two goals and PAOK won 4-2. He missed just one league game in his final season at PAOK, scoring eleven goals before joining AEK Athens FC. 2003: It was a tough first full season at AEK Athens FC for Okkas, who scored just five goals. In August 2004 and following a FIFA intervention over unpaid wages by AEK Athens FC, 27 year old Okkas made the biggest move of his career, securing a three-year contract with the biggest football club in Greece, Olympiacos CFP, where he had the opportunity to play alongside Brazilian star Rivaldo who was also at the club during that period. 2004/05: In his first season in Piraeus, Okkas played in 25 league matches including 19 substitute appearances and scored five times as the club completed the double. Notably, the first goal he scored was also Olympiacos' in the newly re-built Karaiskákis Stadium. In addition, he featured in all six UEFA Champions League matches. 2005/2006: Joined by the other Cypriot star Michalis Konstantinou, Okkas had a similarly successful season at Olympiacos CFP, celebrating another double. 2006/2007: Was his last year at Olympiacos CFP and during this season, Okkas had a trial at English side Blackburn Rovers but was not offered a contract by manager Mark Hughes. In the summer of 2007, 30 year old Okkas was on trial at two other English sides, namely West Ham United and Derby County but eventually, in August 2007, he signed a one year deal with Spanish side Celta de Vigo. 2007/2008: Okkas had a few good matches with Celta de Vigo. At the end of the season he was offered a new contract by the Spanish side, which he however declined. AC Omonoia 2008/2009: On the 25th July 2008, Okkas signed a 3+1 year contract with AC Omonia. National team At the age of 19, he was called into the Cypriot national team and has been a regular ever since, passing the 50-cap mark in 2003. He scored three goals in his side's failed attempts to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and was also on target in UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying, notably against France, in which Cyprus lost 1-2, but with fine displays from Okkas, including a delicate chip that left French keeper Grégory Coupet completely stranded. Okkas was also responsible for scoring the goal that drawed a Euro 2008 qualifier match with giants Germany. He has captained his national squad since the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Trivia For two consecutive years, Okkas scored the first league goal of the season in Greece, with AEK in 2003-04 and Olympiacos the next season. External links
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