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Georgios "Giourkas" Seitaridis (Greek: Γιούρκας Σεϊταρίδης) (born 4 June 1981) is a Greek footballer who plays as a defender. He is currently playing for Panathinaikos and is a member of the Greek national football team. Giourkas (pronounced "Yurkas") means "George" in the Pontic Greek dialect and is his grandfather's name. Club career Seitaridis started his professional career with northern Greek side PAS Giannina named, Ajax of Epirus in 1997, becaming one of the most important player for the defence. Seitaridis helped the team towards promotion in the Greek Super League in the season 1999/2000. He also played with PAS Giannina, playing more than 40 games and scoring 5 goals. He was soon spotted by Greek Panathinaikos, for whom he signed for in 2001. He quickly established himself as a regular player for the team and at the age of 22 he won his first silverware by helping Panathinaikos to the championship and cup double in the 2003–04 Greek Super League season. He scored his first European goal against Manchester United on March 7, 2001.[1] His impressive performances earned great interest from teams abroad. Seitaridis in 2004 he won the Greek title with Panathinaikos and the Greek Cup against the Olympiakos. Porto Before the 2004 European Championships Seitaridis signed for Portuguese side and at the time Champions League winners FC Porto in June 2004 for €3 million,.[2] Soon after joining the Dragões he won the Intercontinental Cup.[3] There were constant rumours about a possible change of course to Real Madrid, following his success at UEFA Euro 2004, but the deal fell through, and on 23 May 2005, he was sold to Russian side Dynamo Moscow for €10 million.,[4] following the foot step of former team-mate Derlei, Costinha and Maniche. Dynamo Moscow Soon after signing for Dynamo Moscow, Seitaridis began to show his discomfort at the club. He claimed the reasons he wanted to leave was that the weather was different to his native Greece and that he could not cope with the coldness. Seitaridis decided to leave Dynamo after one season, and on 16 June 2006, he was transferred to Atlético Madrid for a transfer fee of €12 million.[5] Atletico Madrid He was advised by fellow ex-Atlético Madrid player Demis Nikolaidis to join Atlético stating that its a big club and the fans are great. He was given his number 2. Seitaridis was sent off on the 44th minute of his debut for the club in the opening game of the season away to Racing Santander on August 27, 2006.[6] Seitaridis scored his first goal for Atletico on 21 July 2007 in a game against Gloria Bistriţa in the Intertoto Cup.[7] In November 2007, Seitaridis damaged his achilles tendon in a match against UD Almería, which meant he needed to undergo surgery and was off the field for six months.[8] He made his return in the 2–1 away win over Sevilla FC, although not playing; he made an appearance on the substitute's bench. Seitaridis started the 2008–09 season, playing in Atlético's first game, in a 4–0 victory over Malaga CF, and making many plays down the wing, being a regular starter for the team. He picked up a few injuries, and after three games out, he returned on Atlético Madrid's Champion's League match against PSV. On 13 May 2009, Seitaridis was released by Atlético a year before his contract expires, a statement on the club's official website read "Seitaridis is therefore free to negotiate with other clubs who may be interested in signing him.".[9] Panathinaikos F.C. On the very last day (10 September 2009) of the Greek transfer period for free agent players,[10] he signed a 4 year deal with Panathinaikos.[11] There he met again with players like Kostas Katsouranis and Giorgos Karagounis which had together won Euro 2004 with the Greek National Team. Seitaridis however has been struggling to re-establish himself due a lot of injuries, missing out most of the 2009–10 season's matches. However, on 21 March 2010, Seitaridis returned to the line-up for the big derby against rivals Olympiacos. Panathinaikos impressed and finished the season positively by winning his second Greek league title and getting more playing time and two weeks after he won his second Greek Cup. International career Seitaridis made his international debut on 13 February 2002 against Sweden, and later that year participated in the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship final round in Switzerland. He was also one of the key players for the Greek national team that won the Euro 2004 championship in Portugal, a win that shocked the footballing world as Greece were considered 100–1 outsiders before the tournament started. Seitaridis had such an impact on the victorious team that he was named as part of the 23-man UEFA All-Star squad, together with four other Greek players.[12] He scored his first international goal on 2 June 2007 against Hungary in a Euro 2008 qualifying match.[13] helping the Greek National Team to be the first country qualified for Euro 2008. Seitaridis impressed by contributing to the qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Together with Angelos Charisteas, Kostas Katsouranis, Georgios Karagounis, Kostas Chalkias who were on the winning Euro 2004 squad, they were part of the Greek National that won its first game in a World Cup, 2–1 win against Nigeria.
Last updated (30 May 2009)
* Greek Young Footballer of the year: 2001 Team * Greece Panathinaikos * Portugal Porto * Greece Greece References 1. ^ Panathinaikos 1–1 ManU
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