Giannis Konstantelias is the BOX MVP of the 2022-23 season
He’s a player who has had people talking about him from a very young age. Everyone was waiting to see him come to the fore. Razvan Lucescu worked with him behind the scenes, and when he was ready he threw him into the “battle”. And the youngster vidicated his coach’s trust in the ideal way. Giannis Konstantelias is the new holder of the “Platon Foropoulos” award, after he won the vote via paokfc.gr and the PAOK FC Official App as the BOX MVP of the 2022-23 season.
People involved in youth football who had seen him on the pitch had nothing but good things to say about his unparalleled technique. However, technique is not enough in modern football. It takes a lot more substance to star at the top level.
Giannis Konstantelias was fully aware of this and worked hard, always being focused on his goals. In the pre-season training period of the 2022-23 season, he produced the first evidence of that work. But he needed to wait a little longer. However, when the opportunity came, he never looked back.
The finale of the season found him counting 37 appearances in a black and white shirt, a total of 2,686 minutes, three goals, six assists and now a full international with Greece. The easy-going and unpretentious Giannis Konstantelias became the Double-headed Eagle’s Mr.Breeze and managed to win the plaudits of those not only involved with Greek football, but also across Europe, developing into one of the key cogs of Lucescu’s team.
In the BOX MVP vote, Konstantelias had to see off tough competition from Dominik Kotarski for the top spot. In the end, however, the Greek international winger won the top spot with a percentage of 31.47%, with the Croatian goalkeeper in second place.
Mr.Fantastic was exactly that in his first season at PAOK. He made great saves, kept his team in games on numerous occasions, and showed that the future belongs to him.
The podium was completed by Ingi Ingason. The Iceman took on the role of mentor for the young Double-headed Eagle defence, and was always there when the team needed him, showing as always his characteristic composure combined with unbridled passion.
