A superb man-marker whose determination compensates for an occasional lack
of agility, Traianos Dellas is at his most effective when operating as a
sweeper in a three-man central defence, demonstrated to victorious effect
at UEFA EURO 2004.
National team
Part of the Greece side which lost the UEFA European Under-21 Championship
final to Spain in May 1998, it took Dellas three years to finally make his
full debut in a friendly against Croatia in April 2001, subsequently securing
a place in an increasingly watertight back line. He was involved in five
of the clean sheets in EURO 2004 qualifying, and his performances in
helping Greece to victory in Portugal - including the dramatic semi-final
silver goal against the Czech Republic - earned him a place in the All-Star
Squad to go with his winner's medal.
Club
He started out at FC Aris Thessaloniki in the 1993/94 season but only really
made an impact at the club in 1996/97. Before that he spent time on loan
at Panserraikos FC, where he tasted both relegation from and promotion to
the Greek second division.
1997: In the summer of 1997 he completed a 3m move from Aris to English
first division side Sheffield United FC. Dellas returned to Greece two seasons
and 27 league appearances later to join AEK Athens FC and played 40 games
for the club before being lured by the bright lights of Italy's top flight.
2002: After figuring in just eight Serie A matches for AC Perugia during
the 2001/02 season, Dellas once again became restless and left Umbria under
a dark and acrimonious cloud in July 2002. Juventus FC and Perugia had agreed
a deal for the Thessalonika-born defender, but Dellas had his heart set on
a first-team football at AS Roma.
2003/04: That was not the case, however, as Dellas played just 14 times as
Roma finished runners-up to AC Milan.
Did you know?
His first two dismissals both came in his first season in Rome.
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