Season Review: On loan players
Now more than ever, a loan has all the attributes of a regular transfer and is part of the game. During the season that just came to an end, PAOK had more than 11 of their players featuring away from Toumba Stadium and paokfc.gr records their trajectory.
Some travelled abroad in search of a new career challenge. Other s opted for Super League or Football League clubs in order to acquire playing opportunities and get experience. Here is paokfc.gr’s season review regarding the “Double-Headed Eagle” players shipped out on loan.
PAOK sent 12 players on loan to 9 different destinations. For some it was a positive experience. Other managed to improve their status, while others had a tough time.
Those who got to smile
Lucas Pérez and Dimitris Pelkas has stated from the beginning of the season that they wanted to spend the season away from Toumba for personal and professional reasons respectively. The Spaniard returned to Galicia to play for Club Deportivo La Coruña and boost them in their struggle to remain in the Primera División. The young Greek attacking midfielder packed his bags for Portugal and the challenge of Vitória de Setúbal.
In the beginning of the season, Lucas had recurring injuries, but once he recovered he was able to show his worth in one of Europe’s best leagues. In 21 appearances, he scored 6 goals and served 3 assists. His season highlight was the goal scored against FC Barcelona in Camp Nou, in the 2-2 draw that secured Depor’s permanence in the top-flight league. Lucas’ performances secured him the interest of various clubs.
A Stellar year for Lucas who starred for Club Deportivo La CoruñaPelkas had spent the previous season in Football League, featuring for Apollon Kalamaria. This season, instead of waiting for Angelos Anastasiadis to give him an opportunity, he opted for the challenge of playing for Vitória de Setúbal. He was vindicated by how the season unfolded. At first he faced some –perfectly normal- adjustment problems in an advanced league, but he soon found his footing and proved his pedigree. He lined up some excellent performances in a playmaking role. He completed the season with 24 games (8 starts) and scored twice. He returns to PAOK more experienced and ready to stay.
Dimitris Pelkas collected valuable experience during his loan spell at Vitória de SetúbalUnsuccessful loans
Despite the technical staff’s efforts to keep him on the team last summer, Jacobo Sanz “demanded” his departure in his own way. The Spanish goalkeeper travelled home and agreed terms for a loan spell at CD Tenerife featuring in the Segunda División. He kicked off strongly in the preseason and the first matches of the league. Afterwards however things went south. An altercation with a teammate, followed by a dispute with his coach, led the club administration to keep him in the margin for the rest of the season.
His temperamental character didn’t allow him to establish himself at CD Tenerife
Maarten Martens is yet another singular case. The Belgian midfielder had an ideal start to his season with PAOK and scored an astonishing goal against FC Zimbru Chișinău at Toumba Stadium in August. Things didn’t go as expected however. In January, it was decided that he should be given on loan to Cercle Brugge KSV in his home country and boost them in their struggle to avoid relegation. They didn’t achieve their goal and were relegated following their failed play-outs against Lierse SK. He played in 11 encounters (10 starts) and scored once. The Belgian midfielder returns to Thessaloniki, as his buy-out clause didn’t get activated due to relegation.
The Belgian couldn’t help Cercle Brugge KSV avoid relegationLots of experience in relegation
Our last category of on loan players consists of 8 PAOK youngsters who featured in teams of the Football league. Their common fate? Their teams got relegated.
Nikos Melissas played for Iraklis Psachna, lining-up 22 appearances and keeping 7 clean sheets. His performances in the second round of the league were deemed successful, although his team couldn’t avoid relegation.
Konstantinos Panagiotoudis was shipped on loan to Veria FC in the summer, but didn’t get playing opportunities because the team’s coach hadn’t agreed to the deal. The player returned to Thessaloniki in January and put on the shirt of Apollon Kalamaria, featuring in 10 encounters and providing one assist.
He didn’t get any playing time at Veria, but was a starter for Apollon Kalamaria
At the Kalamaria outfit, Panagiotoudis found Kristi Qose and Vasilis Papadopoulos. The Albanian central defender faced a string of injuries and didn’t get any playing time with the Pontians. The Greek forward on the other hand played in 17 encounters, most of them as sub, and scored twice.
Another unlucky season for Dimitris Popovic
Dimitris Popovic and Stefanos Polyzos were sent on loan to Eginiakos. The former faced many injury problems and didn’t get many opportunities to play. He featured in 14 encounters and left the club before the play-outs, as he wasn’t in his coach’s plans. Polyzos, on the other hand, scored once in 24 encounters and was a starter in the team, earning considerable experience.
Kristi Qose didn’t get any playing time with Apollon Kalamaria and returned to PAOK trainings
Dimitris Giannoulis and Giannis Mystakidis played for Pierikos. They both had a full season of 28 and 27 matches respectively. The former served four assists and the latter scored four goals. Pierikos’ financial woes prevented the club from taking part in the play-outs.
