Difference between revisions of "Nikos Machlas"
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[[Nikos Machlas]] returned to [[Greece]] in [[2003]] to play for [[Iraklis FC|Iraklis Thessaloniki]]. In [[2004]] he returned to his home team [[OFI FC|OFI Heraklion]] and in [[2006]], he signed for [[APOEL FC|APOEL]] [[Nicosia]]. | [[Nikos Machlas]] returned to [[Greece]] in [[2003]] to play for [[Iraklis FC|Iraklis Thessaloniki]]. In [[2004]] he returned to his home team [[OFI FC|OFI Heraklion]] and in [[2006]], he signed for [[APOEL FC|APOEL]] [[Nicosia]]. | ||
| − | He retired after the 2008 Cyprus Cup final ([[May 17]], [[2008]]), APOEL - Anorthosis 2-0. In an interview Machlas said: "This was the last game of my career. It has come to a completion, exactly as I wanted it to be. With a title!" | + | He retired after the [[2008]] [[Cyprus Football Cup|Cyprus Cup]] final ([[May 17]], [[2008]]), APOEL - [[Anorthosis Famagusta FC|Anorthosis]] 2-0. In an interview Machlas said: "This was the last game of my career. It has come to a completion, exactly as I wanted it to be. With a title!" |
[[Nikos Machlas]] was capped 61 for the [[National Football Team|Greek National Team]], scoring 18 goals (placing him on 5th place of [[National Football Team - List of All-Time Scorers|all-time scorers]] for the national team). | [[Nikos Machlas]] was capped 61 for the [[National Football Team|Greek National Team]], scoring 18 goals (placing him on 5th place of [[National Football Team - List of All-Time Scorers|all-time scorers]] for the national team). | ||
Revision as of 08:38, May 19, 2008
Nikos Machlas, son to former player Giorgos Machlas, is a Greek football striker.
Machlas was born June 16, 1973 in Heraklion, Crete. He started his football career with local club OFI FC in 1991. Following the 1996 season, he moved on to Vitesse Arnhem and the Dutch League.
In the 1997-1998 football season he was Europe's top scorer with 34 goals while playing for Vitesse Arnhem. It earned him the European Golden Shoe for 1997–98.
Following the 1998-99 season Vitesse president Karel Aalbers wanted to sell Machlas to a foreign top club but Machlas really wanted to go to Ajax. "Ajax is for me the perfect team", said Machlas in an interview to soccer magazine Sportweek. The European topscorer signed a new contract with Ajax beginning of July 1999. The transfer sum was about US$ 12 million. He was the first Greek to ever play for Ajax. Machlas had chosen Ajax while other top clubs like Fiorentina and Arsenal, expressed interest in signing him.
Nikos Machlas returned to Greece in 2003 to play for Iraklis Thessaloniki. In 2004 he returned to his home team OFI Heraklion and in 2006, he signed for APOEL Nicosia.
He retired after the 2008 Cyprus Cup final (May 17, 2008), APOEL - Anorthosis 2-0. In an interview Machlas said: "This was the last game of my career. It has come to a completion, exactly as I wanted it to be. With a title!"
Nikos Machlas was capped 61 for the Greek National Team, scoring 18 goals (placing him on 5th place of all-time scorers for the national team).
His career ended having played a total of 462 games and 196 goals scored.