Kostas Nikolaidis (; born 10 September 1944) is a former Greek professional footballer who played as a striker. During his presence in Greek championship he scored 100 goals, which ranks him amongst the top scorers in the history of the institution.
Early life Born in Safraboli a district of Nea Ionia in Athens, Nikolaidis had also descent from North Epirus, where his father, Ilias left in 1918 during the World War I. His love for football brought him at the door of the local PAO Safraboli's youth team, in 1958, where at the age of 14 made his first tryout in order to join the club. The tryout was unsuccessful as he was turned down by the team's manager Krassas, but a year later Nikolaidis eventually managed to join PAO Safraboli after a second tryout.
Club career
Early career Nikolaidis made his first steps in youth team of PAO Safraboli in 1959, where at the age of 15 he was established quickly in the youth departments of the club. A year later he made it to the senior team and after a successful 6-year spell, the club managed to win promotion from the local divisions of Athens to the second national division. His performances attracted the interest of AEK Athens.
AEK Athens On 29 July 1965, after a recommendation from the assistant manager and former footballer of AEK Athens, Georgios Magiras, Nikolaidis, alongside his teammate, Platonidis was transferred to the yellow-blacks. He was quickly established as a regular after his performances in the friendlies and formed a prominent offensive duo with Mimis Papaioannou, which contributed the club's later success. In his first derby against Panathinakos, on 19 December 1965, he scored a brace in a 3–2 win at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium. On 15 July 1966, it was decided by the General Sport's Secretary and AEK to support the Greek-based Alexander the Great by providing them with four of their footballers until the end of the season in order for the club to stay in the Victorian State League. Those footballers were Simigdalas, Nikolaidis, Pomonis and Papageorgiou. Nikolaidis played 7 matches and scored twice and alongside his teammates at AEK he helped the club avoid relegation by finishing 10th. After the end of the season in September, they returned to AEK. On 20 December 1967, he scored a hat-trick in the imposing 5–0 at home over Olympiakos Nicosia. His brace against Olympiacos on 31 March 1968, secured the 2–1 home win for AEK and gave them to a high extend the title at the end of the season. He was a member of the team that reached the European Cup quarter-finals in 1969. On 29 September 1972 at Nea Filadelfeia his late goal secured AEK the victory over Internazionale with 3–2 for the European Cup. During his spell at AEK he won two league titles and one Greek Cup in
Later career In the summer of 1973 Nikolaidis was released from AEK and signed for PAS Giannina, where he played for a season, winning the second division championship, helping the club to be promoted to the first division.
On 21 August 1974 he signed for Apollon Athens, where he played for two seasons, winning again the second division championship and playing his final season at the highest tear of Greece. Except his impressive 100 goals in total for the Greek Championship, he managed to score in eight consecutive league games being one of four players that ever achieve that alongside Giorgos Sideris, Demis Nikolaidis and Kostas Mitroglou.
On 10 August 1976, Nikolaidis joined Olympiakos Neon Liosion, where he played for a season before finishing his career as a footballer.
International career Nikolaidis played in 1962 with Greece U19, under Georgios Magiras, making 10 appearances.
Nikolaidis played with Greece four times between 1971 and 1973. He made his debut on 17 November 1971, in a friendly match against Bulgaria which ended in a 2–2 draw.
Club statistics ClubSeasonLeagueGreek CupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAEK Athens1965–66Alpha Ethniki211133002414Alexander the Great (loan)1966Victorian State League72——72AEK Athens1966–67Alpha Ethniki24113410137161967–683018414038191968–692910104034101969–702512100026121970–713415882044231971–723310332138141972–7328734423513PAS Giannina1973–74Beta Ethniki4114————4114Apollon Athens1974–75————————1975–76Alpha Ethniki2360000236 Career total2881142623264340141
a. Does not include 2nd division stats.
Personal life Nikolaidis worked at the PPC, while he was playing for AEK.
Honours
AEK Athens Alpha Ethniki: 1967–68, 1970–71 Greek Cup: 1965–66
PAS Giannina Beta Ethniki: 1973–74
Apollon Athens Beta Ethniki: 1974–75
Individual Greek Cup top scorer: 1966–67
References