Efthymis Koulouris Explained

Efthymis Koulouris
Birth Date:1996 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Skydra, Greece
Height:1.86 m
Currentclub:Pogoń Szczecin
Clubnumber:9
Position:Striker
Youthyears1:2005–2013
Youthclubs1:PAOK
Years1:2013–2019
Clubs1:PAOK
Caps1:55
Goals1:9
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Anorthosis (loan)
Caps2:22
Goals2:6
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Atromitos (loan)
Caps3:28
Goals3:19
Years4:2019–2021
Clubs4:Toulouse
Caps4:32
Goals4:4
Years5:2021–2022
Clubs5:Atromitos
Caps5:32
Goals5:14
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:LASK
Caps6:14
Goals6:1
Years7:2023
Clubs7:Alanyaspor (loan)
Caps7:10
Goals7:3
Years8:2023–
Clubs8:Pogoń Szczecin
Caps8:36
Goals8:15
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalteam1:Greece U17
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:3
Nationalyears2:2012
Nationalteam2:Greece U18
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2013–2015
Nationalteam3:Greece U19
Nationalcaps3:22
Nationalgoals3:4
Nationalyears4:2016–2018
Nationalteam4:Greece U21
Nationalcaps4:18
Nationalgoals4:7
Nationalyears5:2018–2022
Nationalteam5:Greece
Nationalcaps5:18
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:29 July 2024

Efthymis Koulouris (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Ευθύμης Κουλούρης, born 6 March 1996) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ekstraklasa club Pogoń Szczecin.

Koulouris began his career with PAOK, and spent time on loan at Cypriot First Division club Anorthosis and at Atromitos, with whom he was top scorer in the 2018–19 Super League. He joined Ligue 1 club Toulouse in 2019. Koulouris represented his country from under-17 to under-21 levels before making his senior debut in 2018.

Club career

PAOK

Koulouris was born in Skydra.[1] He began his football career in PAOK's youth system as a young boy and came through the ranks, winning titles at under-17 and under-20 levels.[1] He made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old on 13 February 2014 in the Greek Cup quarter-final against Apollon Smyrnis. With his side already 4–0 up on aggregate, Koulouris replaced Stefanos Athanasiadis at half-time in the second leg and scored twice.[1] Three days later, he made his Super League debut as a late substitute against Asteras Tripolis.

Loan to Anorthosis

In the summer of 2015, Koulouris signed for Cypriot First Division club Anorthosis, on loan for the season.[2] On 28 October, he scored six times as Anorthosis beat Second Division opponents Elpida Xylofagou 9–0 in the Cypriot Cup.[3] His first league goal came four days later: having entered the match away to Pafos as an 88th-minute substitute, he scored with a header that secured a 2–1 win.[4] Koulouris finished the season with seven goals in the Cup, which made him the top scorer in that season's competition, and six in the 2015–16 First Division.[5] [6]

Return to PAOK

He returned to PAOK for the 2016–17 season. On 19 September 2016, he scored both goals in a 2–1 away win against Asteras Tripolis and was elected MVP of the game.[7] Koulouris established himself as a regular first-team player with 32 appearances in all competitions, and was voted Players' Young Player of the Year by his teammates.[8]

On 29 September 2017, Koulouris agreed to a contract extension with PAOK until the summer of 2021.[9] On 10 December, he scored in a 4–0 home win against rivals Panathinaikos.[5] On 8 February 2018, he scored his first goal of the 2017–18 Greek Cup to help his club reach the semi-finals with a 5–1 aggregate win against Atromitos.[5] [10]

Loan to Atromitos

Koulouris joined Atromitos on loan for the 2018–19 season.[11] On 26 July 2018, in his first competitive game, he scored a late goal against Dynamo Brest in the Europa League second qualifying round as Atromitos came back from 4–0 down to lose the first leg 4–3; they conceded a late equaliser in the second leg after Koulours had a goal disallowed and were eliminated.[12] On 25 August, in his first Super League game of the 2018–19 season, he scored a brace sealing a 2–1 away win against rivals Panetolikos.[13] On 7 October, he scored with a header sealing a 1–0 home win game against PAS Giannina.[14] On 22 October, he scored a brace, including a late winner, in a 3–2 home win against Asteras Tripolis.[15] Six days later he scored in a 2–2 away draw against Panionios.[16] On 31 October, he scored in a 6–1 away Greek Cup win against Iraklis.[17] On 25 November, he scored from the rebound after Azer Bušuladžić's shot was parried to give Atromitos the lead at home to Olympiacos, but they went on to lose 2–1. On 9 December, he scored a brace and gave an assist in a 4–2 home win against Aris Thessaloniki.[18] He scored a hat trick against Apollon Smyrnis in the Greek Cup round of 16.[19] On 27 January 2019, he opened the scoring in a 2–1 away loss against Lamia.[20] On 31 January, he opened the score in an away 1–1 draw against OFI.[21] On 31 March, he opened the score in a 2–1 away loss against Olympiacos.[22]

His 18th goal of the season on 14 April in a 2–0 win away to Aris Thessaloniki confirmed that Atromitos would finish in fourth place.[23] His 19th and last goal of the Super League season came the following week in a 2–0 win at home to Panathinaikos,[5] a tally which made him the top scorer for the season. He became the first Atromitos player to finish as leading scorer in the top flight, and the first player to do so while on loan from another Greek club. He was the third player of Greek nationality to achieve the feat in the Super League era and, at 23 years and 60 days, the third-youngest player of all time to do so in the top division.[24]

Toulouse

On 22 June 2019, Koulouris signed a four-year contract with French club Toulouse. L'Équipe reported the fee to be in the region of €3.5 million plus add-ons.[25] In his first Ligue 1 game, away to Brest, he scored a somewhat fortunate 89th-minute equaliser.[26] His third goal of the season was an even later equaliser, after 96 minutes of the match away to Metz on 28 September.[27]

On 22 June 2021, he was released from the club, two years earlier than the contract he had signed, which was until the summer of 2023.[28]

Return to Atromitos

On 22 June 2021, only a few hours after he got released by Toulouse, he return to his previous club Atromitos, having signed a two-year contract.[29] On 21 November 2021, Atromitos prevailed 2-0 rivals PAOK, with Koulouris being the main protagonist, as he opened the score in the 45th minute after an assist from Juan Muñiz, while in the 68th minute he scored with a penalty kick. He was voted man of the match for his performance.[30] On 4 December 2021, he scored a brace in a 4-1 home win game against Apollon Smyrni, sealing a vital win in his club effort to avoid relegation.[31] On 10 February 2021, he scored a brace sealing a vital 3-1 win against Lamia, in his club effort to avoid relegation.[32] On 28 February 2022, he scored a brace sealing a vital 2-0 away win against Apollon Smyrnis in his club effort to avoid relegation.[33] A week later, he scored with a header at the last minute of the game sealing a vital 2-1 home win game against Volos.[34]

LASK

On 5 July 2022, LASK officially announced the signing of Koulouris on a three-year contract, for a fee over €1,000,000 plus bonuses, making him the most profitable sale of Atromitos. [35] He made his competitive debut for the club on the first matchday of the 2022–23 season, coming on as a substitute in the 61st minute for goalscorer Marin Ljubičić in a 3–1 home win against Austria Klagenfurt.[36]

Pogoń Szczecin

After returning from a loan spell at Turkish club Alanyaspor, on 1 July 2023 Koulouris joined Polish Ekstraklasa side Pogoń Szczecin on a three-year contract.[37]

International career

On 16 March 2018, Michael Skibbe called up Koulouris in the Greece national team for the friendly match against Switzerland on 23 March 2018. On 23 March 2018, he made his debut with the Greece national team in a 1–0 home loss against Switzerland as a late substitute.

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
PAOK2013–14Superleague Greece9122113
2014–15Superleague Greece14010150
2015–16Superleague Greece4040
2016–17Superleague Greece1957160326
2017–18Superleague Greece1337240215
Total5591751108314
Anorthosis (loan)2015–16Cypriot First Division216472513
Atromitos (loan)2018–19Superleague Greece281955213525
2019–20Ligue 12441010254
2020–21Ligue 28050130
Total3246010394
Atromitos2021–22Superleague Greece3214103314
LASK2022–23Austrian Bundesliga14120161
Alanyaspor (loan)2022–23Süper Lig103103
Pogoń Szczecin2023–24Ekstraklasa341252444318
2024–2512000012
Career totals227704019101750028594

Honours

PAOK

2016–17, 2017–18

Individual

2018–19

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Efthymis Koulouris . PAOK FC . 29 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180620173935/http://www.paokfc.gr/en/profiles/euthumis-koulouris . 20 June 2018 . live.
  2. Web site: Pereyra, Koulouris and Pougouras leave on loan . PAOK FC . 31 August 2015 . 28 October 2019.
  3. Web site: Koulouris scores 6 in Anorthosis mauling of Elpida Xylofagou . Antonis . Christodoulou . SigmaLive . 28 October 2015 . 28 October 2019.
  4. Web site: Pafos vs. Anorthosis 1–2 . Soccerway . Perform Group . 28 October 2019.
    Web site: http://www.typos.com.cy/cat/3/article/18027 . el:Εκτός έδρας νίκη της Ανόρθωσης επί της Πάφου με 2–1 . Typos.com.cy . 1 November 2015 . 28 October 2019.
  5. Web site: E. Koulouris . Soccerway . Perform Group . 28 October 2019.
  6. Web site: https://cfa.com.cy/Gr/news/26556 . el:Σκόρερ Κυπέλλου Coca-Cola . el . Scorers Coca-Cola Cup . Cyprus Football Association . 19 May 2016 . 28 October 2019.
  7. Web site: http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/paok-me-metallo-2-1-sthn-tripolh-ton-astera.4272219.html . el:ΠΑΟΚ με μέταλλο, 2–1 στην Τρίπολη τον Αστέρα . el . Costas . Petros . Sport24 . 19 September 2016 . 28 October 2019.
  8. Web site: Koulouris lands Players' Young Player of the Year . PAOK FC . 3 June 2017 . 3 June 2017.
  9. Web site: https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Paok/ananewsan-me-ton-paok-oi-pelkas-kai-koylourhs.4869450.html . el:Ανανέωσαν με τον ΠΑΟΚ οι Πέλκας και Κουλούρης . el . Pelkas and Koulouris renew with PAOK . Sport24 . 29 September 2017 . 28 October 2019.
  10. Web site: PAOK cruise into Greek Cup semi finals with a 3–1 win over Atromitos in Athens . en.protothema.gr . 8 February 2018 . 28 October 2019.
  11. Web site: Koulouris at Atromitos . PAOK FC . 4 July 2018 . 28 October 2019.
  12. News: Goals galore has Greek teams hoping in Europa League . George . Georgakopoulos . Kathimerini . 27 July 2018 . 28 October 2019.
    News: Brest late show breaks Atromitos hearts . Graham . Wood . AgonaSport . 2 August 2018 . 28 October 2019.
  13. News: Ο killer του Περιστερίου (Παναιτωλικός-Ατρόμητος 1–2) . sportsroom.gr . 25 August 2018.
  14. News: Ατρόμητος - ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 1–0: Με γκολ του Κουλούρη αήττητος και πρώτος ο Ατρόμητος . www.sport24.gr . 7 October 2018.
  15. Web site: Ατρόμητος - Αστέρας 3–2: Πάλι στην κορυφή οι Περιστεριώτες . www.sport24.gr . 22 October 2018.
  16. Web site: Πανιώνιος - Ατρόμητος 2–2: Έμειναν όρθιοι στις καθυστερήσεις οι φιλοξενούμενοι . www.sport24.gr . 28 October 2018.
  17. Web site: Ηρακλής - Ατρόμητος 1–6: Χατ τρικ ο Κωτσόπουλος, "σίφουνας" οι Περιστεριώτες . www.sport24.gr . 31 October 2018.
  18. Web site: Ατρόμητος - Άρης 4–2: Ματσάρα στο Περιστέρι, ξανά δεύτερη η αρμάδα του Κάναντι . www.sport24.gr . 9 December 2018.
  19. Web site: Απόλλων Σμύρνης - Ατρόμητος 0–3 . www.gazzetta.gr . 9 January 2019.
  20. Web site: Λαμία - Ατρόμητος 2–1 . www.gazzetta.gr . 27 January 2019.
  21. Web site: ΟΦΗ - Ατρόμητος 1–1 . www.gazzetta.gr . 31 January 2019.
  22. Web site: Ολυμπιακός - Ατρόμητος 2–1 . www.gazzetta.gr . 31 March 2019.
  23. Web site: Atromitos beat Aris to clinch fourth. Graham . Wood . AgonaSport . 14 April 2019 . 28 October 2019.
  24. Web site: Koulouris earns Super League top scorer honor . Sarantos . Kaperonis . AgonaSport . 8 May 2019 . 28 October 2019.
  25. Web site: Transferts: Efthymios Koulouris (PAOK Salonique) signe à Toulouse . fr . Transfers: Efthymios Koulouris (PAOK Salonica) signs for Toulouse . L'Équipe . 22 June 2019 . 28 October 2019 . 2 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190702080718/https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transferts-efthymios-koulouris-paok-salonique-signe-a-toulouse/1032688 . dead .
  26. Web site: TFC rescue a point in Brest . Ligue 1 . 10 August 2019 . 28 October 2019.
  27. Web site: Metz 2–2 Toulouse Live commentary . Sky Sports . 28 September 2019 . 28 October 2019.
  28. Web site: Έμεινε ελεύθερος από την Τουλούζ ο Κουλούρης. Toulouse released Koulouris. www.sport-fm.gr. el. 23 June 2021. 22 June 2021.
  29. Web site: Έσκασε η "βόμβα": Ανακοίνωσε Κουλούρη ο Ατρόμητος!. The "bomb" has blown: Atromitos announced Koulouris!. www.sport-fm.gr. el. 23 June 2021. 22 June 2021.
  30. Web site: Ατρόμητος - ΠΑΟΚ 2-0: Μπλόκο Κουλούρη στο Περιστέρι. www.sport24.gr. el. 21 November 2021. 21 November 2021.
  31. Web site: Ατρόμητος - Απόλλων Σμύρνης 4-1: Συνήλθε από την εξάρα και ξεκόλλησε από την τελευταία θέση. www.sport24.gr. el. 4 December 2021. 4 December 2021.
  32. Web site: SUPER LEAGUE INTERWETTEN Ατρόμητος - Λαμία 3-1: Ο Κουλούρης το γύρισε μόνος του και έδωσε νίκη-ανάσα. www.sport24.gr. el. 10 February 2022. 10 February 2022.
  33. Web site: Απόλλων - Ατρόμητος 0-2: Ο Κουλούρης χάρισε μεγάλο διπλό στη μάχη για τη σωτηρία. Apollon - Atromitos 0-2: Koulouris gave a big double in the battle for salvation. www.sport24.gr. el. 28 February 2022. 28 February 2022.
  34. Web site: Super League 1, Ατρόμητος - Βόλος 2-1: Τρίποντο με "λυτρωτή" τον Κουλούρη. www.protothema.gr. el. 4 March 2022. 4 March 2022.
  35. Web site: Ατρόμητος: Πούλησε τον Κουλούρη στην αυστριακή ΛΑΣΚ με ποσό ρεκόρ για τον σύλλογο . www.sport24.gr . 5 July 2022.
  36. News: LASK feiert souveränen Auftaktsieg . 8 August 2022 . LAOLA1 . 23 July 2022 . de.
  37. Web site: Efthymios Koulouris nowym zawodnikiem Pogoni Szczecin! . . pl . 1 July 2023.
  38. Web site: 2022-06-01 . Interwetten Player of the Club του Ατρομήτου o Ευθύμης Κουλούρης . 2022-12-07 . Super League . el.