Loukas Vyntra

Loukas Vyntra
Personal information
Full name Loukas Vyntra
Date of birth February 5, 1981 (1981-02-05) (age 29)
Place of birth Město Albrechtice, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft  12 in)
Playing position Full back, Centre Back, Sweeper
Club information
Current club Panathinaikos
Number 24
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Almopos Aridaia
1999–2000 Paniliakos 63 (3)
2000–2001 Pontioi Verias 24 (0)
2001–2004 Paniliakos 63 (3)
2004– Panathinaikos 175 (7)
National team
1997–2005 Greece U-21 20 (3)
2005– Greece 36 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted
for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 July 2009.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2010 (UTC)

Loukas Vyntra (Greek: Λουκάς Βύντρα) (born 5 February 1981 in Město Albrechtice, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech-Greek (Czech father, Greek mother) football player.


Career

The 184 cm tall defender started his career in 1999 in Paniliakos, but moved to Pontioi Verias in 2000. However, in 2001 Paniliakos brought him back again, and he was a regular in their side until his transfer to Panathinaikos FC. In the summer of 2007, Hertha BSC Berlin approached the player but Panathinaikos did not wish to sell him unless they found adequate cover.

Although he is a hard working player good in tackling and marking and he is picked by all his managers for the starting XI, his lack of stability made him the target of complaints and he has received the most critisicm for Panathinaikos' recent inability to win titles. However his new manager, Henk ten Cate, has been using Vyntra mainly as a central defender for the 2008–2009 season and he offered him a lot of support helping him to build his confidence. Although the heart of the defence remained a problem for the team, Vyntra gained more respect and support from the fans. During the 2009–2010 season he was one of the key players, leading the team to win both domestic titles.

Vyntra has been used mainly as a right back for Panathinaikos and more recently he has moved to the centre of the defence. He also played some games as a left back in 2008. Besides his versatility, he is a quite fast defender, good in close marking and tackling.

After Panathinaikos' head coach Henk ten Cate sacked, gave an interview in a Greek sports web site and he asked "If you get hired by a big european club which player from Panathinaikos FC would you recommend to your new club?" and his answer was "Only one! Loukas Vyntra. He can play either as a right or left back, he can also play as a centre back, he is quick, he has good aerial abilities, with a good technique for a defender, he is good in tactics. What else can a manager ask from him? He has a tough mind because he plays many years under continuous, unfair criticism". Described by his critics as error-prone, Vyntra's greatest asset is his natural athleticism: he has consistently led his teammates in all fitness tests, he is indefatigable, and has never suffered a single injury.

He scored two memorable goals during the 2004/2005 Season, one against Arsenal in the UEFA Champion's League and one against FC Sevilla in the UEFA Cup. He scored 2 important goals in the Greek Superleague derby against rivals PAOK Thessaloniki on February 8, 2009. Two seasons later on October 16, 2010 he scored the winning goal against PAOK again, with a fantastic strike.

Honours

Panathinaikos

* Super League Greece: 2003–04
* Super League Greece: 2009–10
* Greek Football Cup: 2004
* Greek Football Cup: 2010


External links

* (Czech) Loukas Vyntra – Čech v řeckém dresu
* (Greek) «Ποταμός» Τεν Κάτε!


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