Dimitris Pelkas
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dimitrios Pelkas | ||
| Date of birth | 26 October 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Giannitsa, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder / Right winger | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | PAOK | ||
| Number | 77 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007–2012 | PAOK | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012– | PAOK | 44 | (4) |
| 2013–2014 | → Apollon Kalamarias (loan) | 17 | (7) |
| 2014–2015 | → Vitória Setúbal (loan) | 24 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2011–2012 | Greece U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012–2015 | Greece U21 | 5 | (0) |
| 2015– | Greece | 3 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 September 2016. | |||
Dimitris Pelkas (Greek: Δημήτρης Πέλκας, born 26 October 1993 in Giannitsa, Pella) is a Greek professional footballer who plays for PAOK FC as an attacking midfielder.
PAOK
Given the famous number 10 previously worn by PAOK FC legend Giorgos Koudas, the talented midfielder made his club debut on the 2 August, against Bnei Yehuda in the Europa League coming on for Apostolos Giannou. He scored his first professional goal in the return leg against Bnei Yehuda in a 4-1 home win. He made his league debut for the club on the 3 September 2012 against Atromitos.
On 22 August 2013, Pelkas signed for a year contract with Apollon 1926 F.C. on loan from PAOK playing in Football League. He has been among the top players of the club scoring 14 goals and making 10 assists.[1][2]
On 7 July 2014, Pelkas signed a new one-year contract with Vitória F.C. on loan from PAOK playing in Portuguese Primeira Liga.[3] Vitória F.C. guaranteed him playing time, and Pelkas in many games made the difference. Playing for Setubal, he heard that the Portuguese club will buy him against €350.000 and then sold him to Sporting for €1 million, but thankfully for PAOK that did not happen.[4] The young midfielder will get his opportunities, as pointed out by Vitória F.C. manager Domingos Paciência at the newspaper «Metrosport». "I spoke with the president of PAOK Zisis Vryzas, and he told me that he (Pelkas) is a quality, talented player who needs time to show his abilities. At Vitória F.C. he will get his chances to show us what he's made of. The Portuguese league, as the Greek one has a lot of power and he must show us that he can handle it." [5]
On 27 July 2015 Dimitris Pelkas has signed a new contract with PAOK, which will keep him in Toumba until 2018.[6]
His indisputable best professional year so far eventually attracted the interest of many clubs among that of Sporting that based on his previous performance with Vitória F.C. is very likely to proceed with the acquisition of the player for an initial amount of €1,5 million, even if his clause reaches the €5 million.[7] On 18 October 2015, Pelkas scored his first Superleague goal with PAOK for the 2015-16 season against Iraklis in a 3-3 away draw.[8] On 21 February 2016, he scored against rivals Panathinaikos helped his team to escape with a 2-2 away draw. [9] On 27 February 2016, he opened the score in a 2-0 home Super League win against Asteras Tripoli. [10]
International career
On 2 October 2015 Interim Greece coach Kostas Tsanas called up midfielder Dimitris Pelkas for the match against North Ireland and Hungary for UEFA Euro 2016. "All players dream of someday representing their country and I am happy for this opportunity. It is an honour for me," said Pelkas.[11] On 7 October 2015, he made his international debut as a substitute in the 3-1 away loss game against North Ireland.
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental[A] | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| PAOK | 2012–13 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| Total | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 1 | |
| Apollon Kalamarias | 2013–14 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 7 |
| Total | 17 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 7 | |
| Vitória Setúbal | 2014–15 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 |
| Total | 24 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | |
| PAOK | 2015–16 | 32 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 49 | 9 |
| 2016–17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 34 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 52 | 9 | |
| Career total | 85 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 115 | 21 | |
References
- ↑ Στην Καλαμαριά ο Πέλκας! (in Greek). skygoal.gr.
- ↑ "Pelkas on loan to Apollon Kalamarias". paokfc.gr.
- ↑ "Στη Σετούμπαλ ο Πέλκας". gazzetta.gr.
- ↑ "Δημήτρης Πέλκας: Ζωή σαν παραμύθι". www.sport24.gr.
- ↑ "Πασιένσια: "Θα παίξει στη Σετούμπαλ ο Πέλκας"". news.yahoo.com. 6 July 2014.
- ↑ "Pelkas signs new contract with PAOK". www.sdna.gr. 27 July 2015.
- ↑ ""Ζεστή" για Πέλκα η Σπόρτινγκ!". www.sdna.gr. 16 October 2015.
- ↑ "Φοβερό ματς στο Καυτανζόγλειο, 3-3 ο Ηρακλής με τον ΠΑΟΚ!". www.sport24.gr. 18 October 2015.
- ↑ "Παναθηναϊκός - ΠΑΟΚ 2-2". www.contra.gr. 21 February 2016.
- ↑ "PAOK return to victories against Asteras Tripolis". www.sdna.gr. 27 February 2016.
- ↑ "Με Πέλκα η Εθνική κόντρα σε Β. Ιρλανδία - Ουγγαρία". www.sport24.gr. 2 October 2015.
External links
- Dimitris Pelkas profile at Soccerway
- PAOK FC official website
- OnSports