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Sotiris Silaidopoulos

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Sotiris Silaidopoulos
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-02-08) 8 February 1979 (age 46)
Place of birth Kos, Greece
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Rio Ave (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1999 Antagoras Kos [el]
1999–2001 Panionios
2004–2006 AE Kos
2006–2007 Doksa Kardamainas
2007–2008 PAOK Kos
2008–2009 Antagoras Kos [el]
Managerial career
2010–2012 Omilos Athlopaidion Kos (youth)
2012–2015 Antagoras Kos [el]
2015–2020 Panathinaikos (youth)
2020 Panathinaikos (caretaker)
2020–2021 Panathinaikos (assistant)
2021 Panathinaikos (caretaker)
2021–2024 Olympiacos (youth)
2023–2025 Olympiacos (assistant)
2024 Olympiacos (caretaker)
2025– Rio Ave
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sotiris Silaidopoulos (Greek: Σωτήρης Συλαϊδόπουλος; born 8 February 1979) is a Greek professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is the current manager of Portuguese club Rio Ave.

Early life and playing career

[edit]

Silaidopoulos was born on the Greek island of Kos and started playing football at local club Antagoras F.C., where he later went on to play for the club's senior team at age 15.

In 1999 he signed for Super League 1 club Panionios F.C., where the 19-year-old initially joined the Under-20 team, while training with the senior side. At the end of 2000, Silaidopoulos suffered a severe knee injury that forced him to undergo multiple surgeries and prevented him to pursue a professional playing career.

After a long injury break, Silaidopoulos returned to the pitch in 2004 and played for lower division clubs, before he retired in 2009 and focused on his coaching career.

Managerial career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Following his retirement, Silaidopoulos started making his first experiences in coaching by taking over the U-15 team of Omilos Athlopaidion Kos at the beginning of the 2010–11 season. In the following season, he led the club's U-17 side to victory in the Dodecanese League.

In 2012, Silaidopoulos was approached by his childhood club PAS Antagoras Kos to take over the senior team after the club had overcome some financial turmoil and was forced to build up a new team in the 4th division. He accepted the offer and gained promotion to Greece's 3rd division in the 2014–15 season.[1]

Panathinaikos

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

On 1 July 2015, Silaidopoulos was hired by Super League Greece club Panathinaikos and appointed as head coach of the club's U-16 team,[2] which he led to win the Attica League in his first season in charge. In the following two seasons, he was coaching the club's U-17s. During this period, the team reached the final of the prestigious 2017 Puskás Cup in Felcsút, Hungary only losing to champion Real Madrid.[3]

His team finished first in the regular season of 2017-18[4] and lost the championship title in a penalty shoot-out against Olympiacos, in which Panathinaikos conceived a late equaliser in extra time.[5]

In the 2018–19 season, Silaidopoulos became the head coach of the Under-19 team of Panathinaikos.[6] With many players being from the 2001 generation, his side was the youngest U-19 team in the Greek league and finished 5th in the championship.[7] On international stage the team won the 2019 Tri-Series Tournament hosted by Aspire Academy in Qatar,[8] and finished as runner-up in the 2019 ICGT Tournament in the Netherlands losing 1–0 to Valencia in the final.[9]

In the 2019–20 season, his team aimed to make the next step in its development.[10] By the time the season was stopped in February 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19,[11] Panathinaikos was ranked 2nd in the Super League K-19 after 24 games with just two matches remaining.[12] Several players of this successful youth team have also been promoted to the club's senior team during the season.[13]

First team

[edit]

On 12 October 2020, Silaidopoulos was appointed as interim head coach after Dani Poyatos was sacked.[14] He drew his only game 2–2 against OFI in the Super League.[15] After László Bölöni was appointed as the new Head Coach of Panathinaikos, Silaidopoulos joined the coaching staff of the club's first team as Assistant Manager on 19 October.[16] After Bölöni was released from his duties in May 2021, Silaidopoulos again took over the club's first team as caretaker, coaching the team in the Super League games against Aris (0-0) and Olympiacos (1–4).

Olympiacos

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

In July 2021, Silaidopoulos accepted the offer to join the Olympiacos FC Youth Academy as Head Coach of the U-19s and as Head of the club's “Tomorrow’s Legends” project that aims to oversee the development of youth players with potential for the first team.[17] Under his leadership, the club's U-19s won the Greek Super League in the 2022–23 season for the first time in six years, with a total of 64 points in 26 games, and the league's best offense (scoring 59 goals) and best defense (only conceding 16 goals).[18][19]

Following the championship title in the Greek U-19 Super League, Silaidopoulos was in charge of Olympiacos U-19 in the 2023-24 UEFA Youth League.[20] By using the path for domestic champions, the Greek side qualified for the play-offs after defeating US Lecce[21] and Gabala[22] in the preliminary rounds. Silaidopoulos’ team continued their successful run in the play-offs by defeating Inter 6–5 in penalties after a 0–0 draw in 90 minutes.[23]

In the round of 16, Olympiacos faced RC Lens and was again victorious in a penalty shootout, defeating the French side 4-2 and making the first Greek team in history to reach a quarter-final of the UEFA Youth League.[24] By defeating FC Bayern Munich 3–1, Olympiacos successfully qualified for the semi-final tournament in Nyon for the first time in club history.[25]

In the semifinal, Olympiacis defeated Nantes 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the match ended in a goalless draw (0-0) in regular time. [26][27] In the final against Milan (3-0), three goals in a seven-minute second-half burst gave Olympiacos the title and Greece their first UEFA club trophy. [28]

First team

[edit]

In April 2023, Olympiacos Sporting Director José Anigo took over the role as interim head coach from Míchel and Silaidopoulos joined him as assistant coach until the end of the 2022–23 season.[29]

At the beginning of the 2023–24 season, Carlos Carvalhal took over as head coach of the club's first team. When Carvalhal was sacked in February 2024, UEFA Youth League-head coach Silaidopoulos took over the first team as interim coach.[30] He was in charge at a 4–0 victory against OFI Crete F.C. in the Super League.[31] Thereby, Silaidopoulos became the first Greek manager, who had been in charge of both Greek Super League power-horses Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in the past 50 years.[32]

Silaidopoulos stayed on the first team's staff as an assistant when José Luis Mendilibar joined Olympiacos FC as new Head Coach on 12 February 2024.[33][34] Five weeks after claiming the UEFA Youth League, Silaidopoulos added another major European trophy to his résumé. As the first team assistant coach for Olympiacos, he played a key role in the historic victory that saw Olympiacos become the first Greek team to win a European trophy. The team triumphed over Fiorentina with a 1-0 win in extra time during the UEFA Europa Conference League final, held in Athens on 29 May 2024.[35] The decisive moment came in the 118th minute, when striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored the winning goal in extra time.[36]

Silaidopoulos played an integral role in the coaching staff during a landmark season for Olympiacos, as the club celebrated its 100-year-anniversary.[peacock prose] In a historic achievement, Olympiacos secured the 48th league championship in its illustrious history.[peacock prose] After working four years at Olympiacos, he left the club on 24 June 2025.[37]

Rio Ave

[edit]

On 27 June 2025, Rio Ave officially announced the appointment of Silaidopoulos as their new head coach. The 46-year-old Greek coach signed a two-season contract.[38][39][40]

Personal life

[edit]

Silaidopoulos is married with one child. He speaks fluent Greek and English and also has basic knowledge of Italian and German. He is holder of the UEFA Pro,[41][42] UEFA A, UEFA B and UEFA Youth Elite licenses and also received a diploma in Art History from the Ippokrateio-Lyceum of Kos.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Πίτσης, Γιώργος. "Ανταγόρας… Πρωταθλητής 2014-2015 (pics)". Giafkasports. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  2. ^ πρώτοι, Σχολιάστε. "Σωτήρης Συλαϊδόπουλος: Από τον Ανταγόρα ... στον Παναθηναϊκό!". kostoday.com. KOS TODAY. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  3. ^ Παπαμακάριος, Πέτρος. "Κ17: "Πάτησε" τη Μπάγερν, 3-0 ο Παναθηναϊκός". www.sport24.gr. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Super League K17 2017-18". Super League. 23 May 2019.
  5. ^ Παπαμακάριος, Πέτρος. "Κ17: Πρωταθλητής στην ρουλέτα των πέναλτι ο Ολυμπιακός, 5-4 τον Παναθηναϊκό". www.sport24.gr. SPORT 24. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  6. ^ Media Department, Panathinaikos FC. "Το πράσινο μέλλον είναι εδώ!". www.pao.gr. Panathinaikos FC. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. ^ Παπαμακάριος, Πέτρος. "Συλαϊδόπουλος: "Ασύγκριτη η περηφάνεια να δεις ένα παιδί στην πρώτη ομάδα"". www.sport24.gr. SPORT 24. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. ^ Media Department, Aspire Academy. "TRI-SERIES TOURNAMENT FEATURING MALAYSIA AND POAK CONCLUDES FOOTBALL SEASON". www.aspire.qa. Aspire Academy. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  9. ^ ICGT. "Former Winners". icgt.nl. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  10. ^ Ντεμος, Αργυρης (12 September 2019). "Ο Σωτηρης Συλαϊδοπουλος στο Trifilara.gr: "Προνομιουχοι που εχουμε την Παιανια"". www.trifilara.gr. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  11. ^ Διονυσης, Δεσυλλας (27 March 2020). ""Έχει ανέβει ο πήχης στην ακαδημία – Να διατηρήσουμε την ανθρωπιά και τον συνάνθρωπό μας ζωντανό"". panathinaikos24.gr. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Super League K19 2019-20". www.slgr.gr. SUPER LEAGUE. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  13. ^ Πέτρος, Παπαμακάριος. "Συλαϊδόπουλος: "Ασύγκριτη η περηφάνεια να δεις ένα παιδί στην πρώτη ομάδα"". www.sport24.gr. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Τέλος ο Πογιάτος!". ProtoThema (in Greek). 12 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  15. ^ "ΟΦΗ - ΠΑΝΑΘΗΝΑΪΚΟΣ 2-2". pao.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Τεχνικο Επιτελειο".
  17. ^ "ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ Κ19: Επιβεβαίωση για Συλαϊδόπουλο". Sportday.gr (in Greek). 17 October 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  18. ^ Κώτσος, Σταύρος (2018). Οι νεολιθικές εγκαταστάσεις από την 7η ως την 5η π.Χ. χιλιετία στις λεκάνες του Αξιού και του Μοράβα (Thesis). National Documentation Centre (EKT). doi:10.12681/eadd/42959.
  19. ^ "SL K19: Πρωταθλητής ο Ολυμπιακός | Gazzetta". www.gazzetta.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  20. ^ UEFA.com. "Olympiacos | Matches | UEFA Youth League". UEFA. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  21. ^ Ολυμπιακός - Λέτσε 3 - 1 | Highlights - UEFA Youth League 2023/24 - 04/10/2023 | COSMOTE SPORT HD, 5 October 2023, retrieved 22 March 2024
  22. ^ "Κ19 Γκαμπάλα - Ολυμπιακός 0-3: Με τριάρα έκανε άλμα πρόκρισης στον επόμενο γύρο του Youth League". www.sport24.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Θρυλική πρόκριση των Νέων του Ολυμπιακού επί της Ίντερ". ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ - Olympiacos.org (in Greek). 7 February 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  24. ^ "U19 Ολυμπιακός - Λανς 2-2 (4-2 πεν.): Με επική ανατροπάρα στους "8", ο... μάστορας των πέναλτι Ολυμπιακός! | Gazzetta". www.gazzetta.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Σωτήρης Συλαϊδόπουλος στη SportDay: "Το… μυστικό μας είναι τρεις λέξεις"". Sportday.gr (in Greek). 14 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Stunning Olympiacos U19 team makes it to the Youth League final". ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ - Olympiacos.org (in Greek). 19 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  27. ^ UEFA.com (19 April 2024). "UEFA Youth League semi-finals: Milan and Olympiacos set up decider | UEFA Youth League". UEFA. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  28. ^ UEFA.com (22 April 2024). "UEFA Youth League final report: Olympiacos 3-0 Milan | UEFA Youth League". UEFA. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Ολυμπιακός: Στο πλευρό του Ανιγκό ως βοηθοί οι Συλαϊδόπουλος και Μπενεντέτ | Gazzetta". www.gazzetta.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Silaidopoulos: "We will claim what we deserve until the end"". ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ - Olympiacos.org (in Greek). 12 February 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Ολυμπιακός - ΟΦΗ 4-0: Επιστροφή στις "εργοστασιακές ρυθμίσεις" | Novasports". www.novasports.gr/ (in Greek). 10 February 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Σωτήρης Συλαϊδόπουλος, ο πρώτος υπηρεσιακός σε Παναθηναϊκό και Ολυμπιακό". www.sport24.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Γίνεται βοηθός του Μεντιλίμπαρ ο Συλαϊδόπουλος!". Thrylos24.gr (in Greek). 12 February 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Sotiris Silaidopoulos: The Greek Coach Making History in European Football". Yahoo Sports. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  35. ^ "Olympiacos win 2023-24 UEFA Conference League final in dramatic extra time against Fiorentina". CBSSports.com. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  36. ^ UEFA.com (29 May 2024). "Olympiacos win the 2023/24 UEFA Europa Conference League: Meet the champions | UEFA Europa Conference League". UEFA. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  37. ^ "Olympiacos Crowned Champions of the Stoiximan Super League". ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ - Olympiacos.org (in Greek). 5 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  38. ^ Costa, Tiago (27 June 2025). "Sotiris Silaidopoulos é o novo treinador do Rio Ave FC!". Rio Ave Futebol Clube (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  39. ^ "Oficial: Sotiris Silaidopoulos é o novo treinador do Rio Ave". www.record.pt (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  40. ^ Abola.pt (27 June 2025). "Mercado oficial: Sotiris Silaidopoulos é o treinador do Rio Ave até 2027 | Abola.pt". Abola.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  41. ^ "EPO - Hellenic Football Federation". www.epo.gr. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  42. ^ "Ολυμπιακός Παρασκήνιο: Ο νέος κομβικός ρόλος του Συλαϊδόπουλου". Sportday.gr (in Greek). 21 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
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