Photostory: PAOK U13s’ winning trip to Sweden
PAOK Academy players have been trained from an early age to participate in international tournaments and take on mighty rivals. Not only are they getting good results, but they are also collecting silverware. Just as the U13 side were able to do in Sweden, prevailing in the renowned Lennart Johansson Academy Trophy.
The youngsters of the “Double-Headed Eagle” were unstoppable in Sweden. After prevailing 3-1 over AIK Fotboll (Koutsias 2 goals, Patiras 1) and 4-1 Stabæk Fotball (all four goals by Koutsias) on Friday, they continued in impressive fashion on Saturday. They handed Skonto FC a 7-0 thrashing, with Koutsias (3), Tsikos, Tziortzis, Symeonidis and Koulouris on target. Then they wrapped up their group stage engagements with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal FC, courtesy of Kedikoglou and Lazariotis goals, securing a place in the trophy match.
PAOK tamed mighty FC Groningen 4-2 in the final with a hat-trick by Koutsias and a goal by Tsikos and returned to the Thessaloniki with the trophy. Giorgos Koutsias also won the top scorer title in the tournament, having netted 12 goals.
The winning squad of PAOK U13 consisted of: Vasilios Zafiriadis, Alexandros Kedikoglou, Georgios Koulouris, Georgios Koutsias, Isidoros Koutsidis, Georgios Lazariotis, Dimitrios Monastirlis, Nikolaos Botis, Michail Panagidis, Michail Patiras, Viktor Rumantsiev, Marios Sinanaj, Lampros Smyrlis, Anastasios Symeonidis, Eleftherios Tasouras, Marios Tziortzis, Zisis Tsikos, Marios Chrysovergis.
The players were escorted by head coach Savvas Konstantinidis, goalkeeping coach Giorgos Skiathitis, U20 coach Αpostolos Papavasiliou and doctor Giorgos Chatziathanasiou.
Browse photography from the second day of the tournament, the final, as well as the award ceremony and the celebration of PAOK youngsters and their coaches.
Photos: Vasilis Damos.
