A tall striker who uses his considerable stride to outpace defenders, Angelos
Charisteas wrote his name in football history with the winning goal in the
2004 UEFA European Championship final for Greece.
National team
Charisteas played in the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship having
already turned out for Greece's senior team. Indeed, the Serres-born forward
had made a memorable start to international football, scoring twice in a
3-3 draw against Russia and once in his second outing against Germany, adding
to the tally against England at Old Trafford in 2001. Charisteas continued
his scoring exploits as Greece quaified for UEFA EURO 2004™, and then
in Portugal scored the vital equaliser against Spain, the winner in the
quarter-final against France - and the only goal in the final versus the
hosts as his nation were crowned champions.
Club
It was during his first stint at FC Aris Thessaloniki following a move from
non-league Strimonikos Serron that Charisteas proved he was one for the future,
scoring twice in nine matches as the northern club won the Greek second division
in May 1998. The striker subsequently made 12 appearances in the Alpha Ethniki
- six as a substitute - before spending time on loan at Athinaikos FC in
the 1998/99 season.
1999: Returned to Aris and made his European debut in a UEFA Cup defeat by
RC Celta de Vigo at the age of 19. Charisteas was continually developing
and in 2000/01 scored seven goals, his best return in Aris colours.
2002: Having been watched by scouts from a number of Europe's leading sides,
Charisteas opted join his national coach Otto Rehhagel's former club SV Werder
Bremen on a four-year contract in June 2002. The €3m fee also made the
Greek the most expensive signing in Bremen history and he scored nine goals
as the Weserstadion side finished sixth.
2003/04: Bremen enjoyed a dream of a campaign, winning the Bundesliga -
Charisteas scoring four goals in 24 games - and the German Cup.
Did you know?
Charisteas had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he scored on his
Greece debut. |
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