Player in Focus: Sotirios Kyrgiakos

He received his first international cap in 2002 and has been one of the first names on the team sheet for coach Otto Rehhagel since then. Reason being he is solid as a rock at the back for Greece, unafraid to commit himself into a crucial tackle or an aerial challenge. His work rate is phenomenal and he is also a threat from set pieces; which are a Greek specialty. He gives his all for club and country. Sadly he missed out on Greece’s triumphant 2004 European Cup campaign in Portugal after injuring his knee. International success was never realized however at club level Kyrgiakos won the Greek Cup double in 2004 with Panathinaikos. Moving to Glasgow Rangers the following season he won the SPL and League Cup (scoring two goals in the final vs. Motherwell). Germany was his next challenge, signing with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2006. He won the fans over with some crucial performances and was a mainstay in Coach Friedhelm Funkel defensive unit. Euro 2008 ended horribly for the defending champs and after the tournament ended Kyrgiakos moved back home, signing with AEK Athens in August. Though only making 20 league appearances in 2008/09 season, the captain firmly established his place as one of his country’s best defenders. Liverpool came knocking in the summer of 2009 and Kyrgiakos signed a two year deal. The Merseyside giants were in need of a cheap no non-sense defender after early season injuries to Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel. Although only making 14 appearances for the club, he endured himself to the fans at Anfield with a string of solid starts, forming a great partnership with Kop legend Jamie Carragher. In January the fans voted him Liverpool’s Player of the Month, earning the respect of his teammates in the process with his unselfish play and determination for the club. Many will agree that with the departure of Sami Hyypia Liverpool lacked an aerial threat on set pieces in attack and in defense. Kyrgiakos fit in perfectly and actually scored his 1st Premier League goal vs. Stoke City on a set piece. Sure it wasn’t pretty but his power and presence in the 18 yard box can’t be denied. Following a successful first season in the English Premier League, Kyrgiakos will hope to continue his fine form in South Africa. The Greek defense will be put to the test by power house Argentina, the high flying Super Eagles of Nigeria and the unpredictable South Koreans. Lacking any individual star power the Greeks rely on defending and catching their opponents on the counter. Kyrgiakos must control and lead the back line if Greece has any chance of making it out of Group B; he has the ability and strength to win practically every aerial challenge which is a key weapon in the Greek arsenal. Despite being relatively unknown in Europe its hard to deny Kyrgiakos commitment and work rate, a strong effort in South Africa will see his stock rise and only help his chances for a place in Liverpool’s starting XI next season.