A total of 25 players who belong to PAOK moved on loan to other clubs either from the start of the season or in January. Some left Thessaloniki to find themselves, some needed more playing time and others searched for experience and their maiden professional appearances. The official website of PAOK brings you their detailed 2016-17 report:

Dimitris Konstantinidis

After his serious injury last season, the young right-back needed time on the pitch. On the advice of PAOK’s technical staff, he decided that Cypriot outfit Omonia presented the best option. He featured in 18 encounters, collected 1.596 minutes and provided one assist. It would have been a great season, were it not for some injury problems in the final stretch. He is now back in Thessaloniki and declares himself ready for a place in the roster of the “Double-Headed Eagle”.

Erik Sabo

Last summer, he didn’t convince Vladan Ivić to give him a spot in the roster. He searched for a club that would provide him with playing minutes and a chance to rediscover himself. After a mini transfer saga, he ended up in Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem FC. He assumed a leading role right from the start and recorded a full season with 35 appearances, 2.264 minutes, 4 goals and 3 assists. Beitar ended up 3rd in the league and reached the Israeli Cup semi-finals, where they got eliminated by Maccabi Tel Aviv FC.

Jairo

In his first season in Greece, he found it difficult to adjust to his new surroundings and, on top, he suffered injury problems. He snatched the opportunity presented to him by PAS Giannina. Jairo played 29 games (a total of 2.168 minutes), scored four goals and served as many, being a constant threat for rival defenders.

Nikos Melissas

Igor Tudor entrusted him with the goalkeeping position in some encounters, but the arrival of Željko Brkić didn’t leave him any room for progress. In their first season in the Football League, Sparti turned to Melissas and he proved them right. He featured in 26 matches, keeping a clean sheet in 11 of them.

Lazaros Lamprou

PAOK signed him from AEP Iraklis in January and shipped him to Panionios GSS right away, so that he would get more playing time. He made 14 Super League appearances, four of them (360 minutes) in the play-offs. He didn’t score, but the fans got glimpses of his talent. He is working hard in order to make another step forward next season.

Dimitris Giannoulis

Yet another “Double-Headed Eagle” player who was given on loan in January. After spending last season in Veria, he travelled to Cyprus in the winter transfer window and joined Anorthosis. He featured in 8 matches, providing one assist. The young left full-back returns to Thessaloniki to fight for a place in PAOK’s roster.

Tasos Dimitriadis

He spent the first half of the season in Thessaloniki, waiting for an opportunity to prove himself. He participated in some training sessions of the senior team and played for the U20s. In January, it was deemed preferable to ship him on loan to MFK Zemplín Michalovce. He played 1.012 minutes in 14 encounters, scored two goals and served one assist.

Facundo Pereyra

The arrival of Aleksandar Prijović led to Facundo Pereyra’s exit. Colón de Santa Fe persuaded him to return to his native Argentina in order to get more playing time. So far he has played in 13 matches and scored two goals, having become a vital cog in his team.

Terry Antonis

He was at Veria in the first half of the season, but played just two minutes in the Super League. In January, he decided to return to Australia and join Western Sydney. Judging from his performances, it was the best possible decision. The 23-year old midfielder scored three goals and provided as many assists in 14 games and was among his side’s best players, as they cruised to the Australian League quarter-finals.

Nikos Korovesis

He remained in PAOK’s roster after the completion of last summer’s preseason training. During the season however he didn’t get the opportunities he was craving for, featuring as substitute in two Greek Cup matches. In January he left Thessaloniki on loan to the club that raised him, PAS Giannina. Coach Petrakis kept him mostly on the bench and he ended up playing in 7 encouters (236 minutes).

Kristi Qose

At the age of 22, he completed his first full season at professional level. Thankfully, he didn’t face the injury problems that had prevented his progress in previous years. In Slovakia, he got the opportunity to display his potential. At the ranks of MFK Zemplín Michalovce, he featured as centre back or holding midfielder in 28 games, recording a total of 2.337 minutes in the league and the domestic cup and being among his side’s best.

Kristian Kushta

Together with Qose, he travelled to Slovakia last summer in order to join MFK Zemplín Michalovce. And he did great. He featured in 28 encounters, played a total of 1.497 minutes and scored six goals (three in the league and three in the cup competition). His finest performance came in the Slovakian Cup round of 16, against FC Nitra. Zemplín won 3-2, with a brace by Kushta.

Giorgos Kakko

Last season, he was a leading figure of PAOK U20s, trained with the seniors and made his debut with the first team. In the summer, he moved to Serres for a taste of professional football. His response was impeccable and was among Panserraikos’s top players of the season. He featured in 29 encounters, scored six goals, served five assists and helped his team remain in the Football League.

Manolis Patralis

Yet another PAOK Academy graduate who completed his maiden season in professional football. The young midfielder was thrown in at the deep end and assumed the role of Eginiakos’s starting holding midfielder. In the exceptionally tough Football League, Patralis recorded a season of 32 games, 2.870 minutes, scored twice and provided three assists. He contributed immensely in Eginiakos’s permanence in Greek football’s second tier.

Bogdan Rangelov

The young Serbian moved to Eginiakos last summer. At first he didn’t get much playing time, but as the season unfolded he found his footing and ended the season in emphatic style, contributing to their permanence in the league. He scored in four of their last five encounters, netted a total of six goals and provided one assist in 20 encounters (886 minutes played).

Stelios Pozoglou

He has been very unlucky in recent years, suffering many serious injuries. He started the season at Karmiotissa in Cyprus, didn’t get any opportunities and moved to Panserraikos in January. After a long time in the sidelines, he featured in nine encounters but didn’t score.

Timos Tselepidis

The captain of PAOK U20s in 2015-16 completed his first senior season, featuring for Panserraikos. He played in 11 matches, either as centre back or right full-back, and netted once.

Aristotelis Panagiotidis

The youngster moved to Serres to get maiden experience at professional level. He didn’t make a place for himself in Panagiotis Dilberis’s rotation schemes and played just four times. In the last match of Panserraikos, he set up Kakko for the goal against Kissamikos (1-1).

Giannis Tsolakidis

He spent the first six months of the season in Cyprus, at the ranks of Karmiotissa. He barely got any playing time though, so he opted to return to Greece and join Eginiakos. There he played in 15 matches and scored three goals.

Giorgos Ktistopoulos

The fourth member of PAOK players in Serres. He didn’t play much, just 6 league matches coming off the bench. In the Greek Cup tie against Panionios he completed his only 90-minute encounter.

Savvas Topalidis

Yet another PAOK Academy graduate hosted by Eginiakos last summer. The right full-back got a taste of senior football, playing in 14 encounters (899 minutes) and providing an assist.

Fotis Pantekidis

The young left-full back moved to Eginio last summer to collect more experience. He featured in 6 matches, his first at senior level.

Vasilis Papadopoulos

He tried his luck in two different sides. He spent the first six months of the season at Karmiotissa, in Cyprus, and in January he moved back to Greece and joined AO Trikala. He failed to find consistency and just featured as sub in four games.

Sokratis Kyrillidis

He spent the first half of the season at PAOK U20s and in January he was shipped on loan to get his first professional experience. He joined Eginiakos and ended up featuring in four encounters (coming off the bench in three of them).

Aleksandr Bataev

A series of injuries prevented him of regular football last season and that was the case in 2015-16 as well. The young forward wasn’t able to play at all during the season. He moved to Eginiakos in June 2016, but now he is in Thessaloniki, working hard to improve his physical condition.