Marcos Vellidis

Markos Vellidis

Personal information
Full name	Markos Vellidis
Date of birth	4 April 1987
Place of birth	Kastoria, Greece
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	PAOK
Number	1
Youth career
–2005	Panathinaikos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2008	Panathinaikos	0	(0)
2006–2007	→ Koropi (loan)	17	(0)
2007–2008	→ Diagoras (loan)	36	(0)
2008–2010	Diagoras	62	(0)
2010–2013	Aris	48	(0)
2013–2016	PAS Giannina	82	(0)
2016–	PAOK	11	(0)
National team^‡
2015–	Greece	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 April 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 June 2015

Markos Vellidis (Greek: Μάρκος Βελλίδης, born 4 April 1987) is a Greek footballer. He currently plays as a goalkeeper for PAOK FC in the Greek Superleague.^[1]

Career

Panathinaikos

Vellidis began his career by signing with Panathinaikos F.C. in August 2005. In 2006-07 season, he went on loan to Koropi, with playing in 17 matches. The next season, he went on loan to Diagoras F.C., and played in 36 matches.

Diagoras

In 2008, Diagoras F.C. bought Vellidis from Panathinaikos. He made 62 league appearances for the club. He was a good penalty-stopper and was popular with fans. There was minor interest from some teams, but the biggest was by Aris Thessaloniki F.C.. Diagoras' fans were very proud for their goalkeeper, because they wanted Markos to show his talent and value in a big team. And this team, was Aris. Vellidis made his dream fact, and signed with a team with many success in Greece and Europe.

Aris

His very good appearances for Diagoras were rewarded by a signing with Aris F.C. on 15 June 2010, getting the number 1.

2010-2011

In the 2010-2011 season, Vellidis played 4 matches for Aris F.C., bringing good performances. These performances were the reason for that Vellidis was recommended as a great talent and also was known that behind Sifakis was another very good goalkeeper.

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 season, first choice goalkeeper of Aris, Michalis Sifakis, had medical problems, which sidelined him for 5–8 months. Vellidis played his first of the season on 2 October 2011 against Skoda Xanthi in Kleanthis Vikelidis, giving a fine performance, with having a clean sheet. Since then, Vellidis is the first goalkeeper in the team. This season was the best of Vellidis's career so far.

2012-2013

Aris was in difficult times, but Vellidis was one of those who stayed loyal to Aris. He was the first choice goalkeeper and the fans wanted he to stay for a lot years. He is the young star of Aris, along with Giannis Gianniotas. He had an argue with coach Makis Katsavakis just before the match against Panionios in Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium. However, it was decided that Vellidis will stay in team.

Pas Giannena

Vellidis signed for PAS Giannena on 13 June 2013 on a 2-year contract.^[2] His first appearance with the club was on 18 August 2013 in an away 3-3 draw against Asteras Tripoli. Being active for almost five years in Super League, Vellidis could be a valuable asset for any club, therefore as Balazs Megyeri's contract expires in summer and it probably will not be renewed, Olympiacos are already looking for his replacement and the Greek player is one of the candidates.^[3]

According to various sources Vellidis is in Olympiacos transfer shortlist and the Greek champions are watching him closely. Balazs Megyeri's contract expires in summer and it probably will not be renewed. Therefore, Olympiacos are already looking for his replacement and the Greek player is one of the candidates.^[4] Being one of the most stable and most valuable players of PAS Giannina F.C. during the last seasons, and in any case, the 28-year-old keeper cashed his offer with a new three-year contract for an undisclosed fee which will tie him with the club till 2018.^[5][6]

He started the 2015-16 season being the MVP of the 2nd day of the Super League in a victorious 3-1 home win against PAOK, as the keeper of PAS Giannina kept upright team with fantastic chips after the first half-hour, when his opponent pushed too much and lost significant opportunities for the equalizer. From the 30th minute until the end of the half the Greek international showed superb reactions to shots from Róbert Mak, Erik Sabo and Marin Leovac.^[7]

PAOK

On 19 January 2016, Vellidis signed a half year contract with PAOK with a possible extension for two more years, for an undisclosed fee.^[8][9] On 24 January 2016, he made his debut with the club in a derby match against rivals AEK Athens.^[10]

International career

On 10 August 2012 Greece head coach Fernando Santos announced the first call up of Vellidis for the friendly match against Norway. He made his international debut on 16 June 2015 in a friendly away match against Poland, replacing Stefanos Kapino at the end of the match.

Honours

• Greek Best Goalkeeper: 2014–15

Career statistics

As of 31 May 2016 ^[11]

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Greece			League		Greek Cup		Europe		Total
2005-06	Panathinaikos	Super League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006-07	Koropi	Gamma Ethniki	17	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
2007-08	Diagoras	Gamma Ethniki	36	0	0	0	0	0	36	0
2008-09		Football League	31	0	0	0	0	0	31	0
2009-10			31	0	1	0	0	0	32	0
2010-11	Aris	Super League	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2011-12			26	0	2	0	0	0	28	0
2012-13			18	0	1	0	0	0	19	0
2013-14	PAS Giannina		32	0	0	0	0	0	32	0
2014-15			32	0	1	0	0	0	33	0
2015-16			18	0	3	0	0	0	21	0
2015-16	PAOK		11	0	2	0	0	0	13	0
Career total			256	0	10	0	0	0	266	0

References

1. Vellidis moves to PAOK (in Greek). www.paokfc.gr. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
2. Ο ΜΑΡΚΟΣ ΒΕΛΛΙΔΗΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΑΣ ΓΙΑΝΝΙΝΑ! (in Greek). www.pasgiannina.gr. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
3. "Vellidis on Olympiacos transfer radar". www.sdna.gr. 6 April 2015.
4. "Vellidis on Olympiacos transfer radar". www.sdna.gr. 6 April 2015.
5. Στον ΠΑΣ μέχρι το 2018 ο Βελλίδης (in Greek). www.gazzetta.gr. 15 May 2015.
6. "Ανανέωσε ο Βελλίδης στον ΠΑΣ" (in Greek). www.newsbeast.gr. 15 May 2015.
7. "Ο ΠΑΣ "σκότωσε" (3-1) τον ΠΑΟΚ στα Γιάννενα" (in Greek). www.naftemporiki.gr. 30 August 2015.
8. "Στον ΠΑΟΚ ο Βελλίδης για 2,5 χρόνια" (in Greek). www.sport24.gr. 19 January 2016.
9. "Στον ΠΑΟΚ ο Βελλίδης!" (in Greek). www.contra.gr. 18 January 2016.
10. "AEK win derby against PAOK". www.sdna,gr. 24 January 2016.
11. Markos Vellidis