Kyrgiakos: We have what it takes

• Poolman

  20 Aug 09, 06:33

   

  Speaking to the official website Rafael Benitez said:

  “We have nearly done the deal subject to a medical. He is a player with experience who can hopefully help us in defence.

  “He has experience in British football and Rangers. After that with Frankfurt and the national team. He’s a good player in the air, strong and aggressive. We were looking for a player with experience.

  “He will have the medical this week, it has to be before the weekend

• Poolman

  20 Aug 09, 06:34

  His name is Sotirios Kyrgiakos

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotirios_Kyrgiakos His Portfolio

• Poolman

  20 Aug 09, 06:36

  30 year old .... has to be behind Skrtel , Agger and Carragher .

  A direct replacement for Hyypia !

• Poolman

  20 Aug 09, 06:41

  it's ok with this signing ... we dun need a Cannavaro to replace Hyypia .

• Undertaker.Chris

  20 Aug 09, 09:07

  When Hyypia left I was worried, because he was a really good defender. Hyypia and carragher in their heydays = super tight defence.

   

  Never heard of this guy before. But I hope he's good.

• Franceso Totti

  22 Aug 09, 03:49

  you have to make do with a prawn rather than a groupier since you cant afford it. why didnt cast your net on asia, since there are far cheaper and better defenders than this fellow. how about our very own Daniel Bennet for a start.

• Poolman

  22 Aug 09, 04:04

  Originally posted by Undertaker.Chris:

  When Hyypia left I was worried, because he was a really good defender. Hyypia and carragher in their heydays = super tight defence.

   

  Never heard of this guy before. But I hope he's good.

  
   U looked at his fuck look , u think he's a softie ?

  Many hate this sort of defenders , really fuck face , strikers will not like him . But i like his fuck face !

  This is the sort of defenders , that will earn more red cards than any other player .

   

• Poolman

  22 Aug 09, 04:05

  Well , we need four centre-halves to rotate .... so this fuck face will come in handy .

   

• Undertaker.Chris

  22 Aug 09, 05:08

  LOL fuck face.

• AEW5001

  22 Aug 09, 11:50

  Liverpool have today completed the signing of Greek international defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos from AEK Athens.

  The 30-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the option of a further year after successfully completing a medical.
   
  Trikala-born Kyrgiakos began his career at the Panathinaikos academy in 1996 before being loaned out to Greek second division club Agios Nikolaos.
   
  He was recalled by his parent club in 2001 and the powerful centre-back quickly established himself as a regular member of the Panathinaikos first team, helping them to a Greek league and cup double in 2004.
   
  In January 2005, Kyrgiakos acquired his first taste of British football as he joined Glasgow Rangers on loan.
   
  After clinching the Scottish title and League Cup, the deal was made permanent in the summer of the same year as the 6ft 4ins defender agreed a one-year contract at Ibrox.
   
  The Bundesliga was his next destination with the tough-tackling stopper sealing a transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2006, where he spent two seasons before joining AEK last summer.
   
  A knee injury kept Kyrgiakos out of Greece's historic triumph at Euro 2004, although he started each of his country's three matches in the same tournament four years later.
   
  In total, he has won 50 caps for the Greek national team.

• AEW5001

  22 Aug 09, 11:51

  Rafa Benitez believes Sotirios Kyrgiakos will prove to be a 'very good signing' for Liverpool.

  The Greek centre-back has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the option of a further year to complete his transfer from AEK Athens.
   
  Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv, Benitez revealed the reasoning behind his decision to swoop for Kyrgiakos
   
  "He is a tough defender who is strong and good in the air. He has a strong character and we were looking for these things," said the Reds boss.
   
  "He can score goals and will be a threat from corners and free-kicks. He's very strong in defence but he will need time as always to settle into the Premier League. He will be a very good signing for us.
   
  "We knew the player when he was with Rangers and we've been watching videos of him at Frankfurt and the national team. Our scout department had a lot of information.
   
  "We've talked about the things he's done before and the things he'll have to do for us. It was good. He knows what we want and he's ready to work."
   
  Benitez feels the acquisition of Kyrgiakos will be of benefit to young defenders such as Martin Kelly and Daniel Ayala - with the manager confident his starlets can learn from the experienced 30-year-old.
   
  He said: "It will be positive. I was talking with Ayala about this. When the young players see someone with experience it is positive because they can learn from them.
   
  "It also means they have more time. If they have to play some games they can but they are not under pressure."

• Poolman

  23 Aug 09, 06:35

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtDHHITHpyY Presentation at Liverpool FC

• Poolman

  23 Aug 09, 15:42

  Liverpool defender Kyrgiakos says Rangers problems behind him

  23.08.09 | tribalfootball.com

  New Liverpool signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos says he has calmed down since his time at Rangers.

  He said: "I am very happy to have this chance even though I had just signed a new contract with AEK. But although it was a good contract, you never stop having ambitions in life, and that is why I am here.

  "When you are approached by a club like Liverpool, it is an offer you just cannot refuse.

  "I hope that I can bring my strength to this squad, I am good in the air and I have a lot of experience now, so I hope I can be of benefit to Liverpool. I have played for Rangers in Scotland and Frankfurt in Germany, that has given me a lot of experience of competitive leagues so I believe I will adapt quickly."

  He added: "I know that there have not been many Greek players who have been successful in the English game, so I feel that I have something to prove for my country, that we can play at this level.

  "For me it is a chance to have success at the very top. I was injured when Greece were European champions in 2004, these things happen in football. So I have plenty of motivation to do well in the Premier League and help Liverpool to be successful.

  "I had a few disciplinary problems in Scotland, but not too much. I feel I have learned now how to be physical in this style of football."

• Poolman

  23 Aug 09, 15:42

  Liverpool defender Kyrgiakos says Rangers problems behind him

  23.08.09 | tribalfootball.com

  New Liverpool signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos says he has calmed down since his time at Rangers.

  He said: "I am very happy to have this chance even though I had just signed a new contract with AEK. But although it was a good contract, you never stop having ambitions in life, and that is why I am here.

  "When you are approached by a club like Liverpool, it is an offer you just cannot refuse.

  "I hope that I can bring my strength to this squad, I am good in the air and I have a lot of experience now, so I hope I can be of benefit to Liverpool. I have played for Rangers in Scotland and Frankfurt in Germany, that has given me a lot of experience of competitive leagues so I believe I will adapt quickly."

  He added: "I know that there have not been many Greek players who have been successful in the English game, so I feel that I have something to prove for my country, that we can play at this level.

  "For me it is a chance to have success at the very top. I was injured when Greece were European champions in 2004, these things happen in football. So I have plenty of motivation to do well in the Premier League and help Liverpool to be successful.

  "I had a few disciplinary problems in Scotland, but not too much. I feel I have learned now how to be physical in this style of football."

• Poolman

  23 Aug 09, 15:45

  hey guys i like what i saw from this Kyrgiakos guy ....

  he will be an asshole for opposition strikers .....

  no opposition centre forward will like him ....

  they will get whack upside down by this asshole centrehalf , maybe a few bruises here and there , even broken legs .

   

• AEW5001

  28 Aug 09, 18:11

  Sotirios Kyrgiakos believes he can draw on his previous title-winning experience and help Liverpool in their quest for Barclays Premier League glory.

  The powerful centre-back, who made his Reds debut in the reserve clash with Blackburn Rovers on Thursday, has lifted championships in both his native Greece and in Scotland with Glasgow Rangers.
   
  Our new No.16 feels the two seasons he spent north of the border will stand him in good stead for the challenges that lie ahead in England.
   
  "I have a little experience of winning titles from my previous career in Greece and in Scotland," Kyrgiakos told the LFC Weekly Magazine.
   
  "I won one title with Panathinaikos and two in Scotland when I played with Rangers. I hope that the experiences I had in Scotland will help me begin well at Liverpool.
   
  "I believe that I have the qualities needed to play in the Premier League.
   
  "My time in Scotland will help because it is a similar style of football to here. It is true that the Premier League will be more difficult than the SPL because the game is faster here and there are more quality players.
   
  "In Scotland you had Rangers, Celtic and Hearts and it was very rare for us to lose to anyone - and if we did it was normally to one of those two teams.
   
  "In England, everyone is capable of beating everyone else."
   
  Kyrgiakos was a keen watcher of the Premier League last season and admits he was impressed with Liverpool's second place finish.
   
  Despite arriving at Anfield only just over a week ago, the Greek international believes he has seen enough to suggest the Reds have the required team spirit to go one better this time around.
   
  "I watched a lot of last season's Premier League and I believe we were very close to the title," said the 30-year-old.
   
  "From what I have seen this season we are equipped to go even better. In my experience of winning titles, you need a great team spirit in the dressing room and I have seen this already among my new teammates.
   
  "Everyone works hard and gives everything. That is the most important thing you need for such a long battle as the title race. After that, you need to be brave and have a little bit of luck along the way.
   
  "I enjoy a challenge, and this is the toughest challenge I have taken in my career so far. I am looking forward to playing in this league, but first I must prove myself to the manager in training. I know there are a lot of good players at this club so I cannot take anything for granted."