Koulouris lands Players’ Young Player of the Year
Efthymis Koulouris earned the Players’ Young Player of the Year distinction by his teammates, in the poll held for a second consecutive season.
Last season he failed to convince Igor Tudor to keep him in his roster and was shipped on loan to Anorthosis. In Cyprus, he earned minutes on the pitch and valuable experience, before returning to Thessaloniki for the next step in his career.
In Toumba Stadium, he found Vladan Ivić at the helm of PAOK. He was the man who had overseen his breakthrough in the U20s. The Serbian coach trusted him, kept him in the roster and was vindicated by the youngster’s performances.
Koulouris played for 1.714 minutes in 32 appearances, scored 6 goals and served 3 assists. He featured as lone striker or as part of an attacking duo and responded to anything asked of him, sometimes undertaking special missions. Lively, courageous and always in the heat of the action he contributed to the “Double-Headed Eagle’s” performances. Had luck been on his side, he would have scored more goals, as he was twice denied by woodwork.
In the vote held by PAOK players to determine the best youngster, Koulouris got 15 points, leaving Achilleas Pouggouras in second place.
The young centre-back has similar background to Koulouris. After a season spent on loan at Veria, he returned to Toumba, determined to make a spot for himself in the roster. When given the opportunity, he excelled and proved that PAOK have a central defender to depend on in the future. Very mature for his age, he is working and improving constantly.
Panagiotis Deligiannidis, also a… protégé of Vladan Ivić from his U20 training days, completed the podium. In the second round of last season, the young full-back tried his luck in Slovakia, playing on loan for MFK Zemplín Michalovce. In the summer, the coaching staff decided to keep Deligiannidis in the roster, while also changing his position and using him as left full-back. He got playing time mainly in Greek Cup encounters and managed to score a beautiful goal and create two more.
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