Panagiotis Retsos

Panagiotis Retsos

Personal information
Full name	Panagiotis Retsos
Date of birth	(1998-08-09) 9 August 1998
Place of birth	Johannesburg, South Africa[1]
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	Bayer Leverkusen
Number	3
Youth career
2008–2016	Olympiacos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	Olympiacos	20	(0)
2017–	Bayer Leverkusen	24	(1)
National team‡
2014–2015	Greece U17	10	(0)
2015	Greece U18	3	(1)
2016–2017	Greece U19	10	(0)
2017–	Greece	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:33, 28 April 2018 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2018

Panagiotis Retsos (Greek: Παναγιώτης Ρέτσος, born 9 August 1998) is a Greek footballer who plays as a defender for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.^[2]

Career

He was born in Johannesburg to Greek parents. In the summer of 2016, at age 18, he was promoted from Olympiakos' youth team by first manager Víctor Sánchez, who was impressed by his stamina.^[3] On 25 August 2016 he made his debut with the club in a Europa League play offs home match against Arouca. On 8 February 2017, Retsos has appointed captain of the club in a Greek Cup goalless home draw against Atromitos.^[4] Retsos became the youngest captain of a Greek champion club aged only 18, five months and 30 days.

Retsos' first exceptional professional year has attracted the interest of many European clubs.

On 30 August 2017, the 19-year-old Retsos was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £15.75 million. The Bundesliga outfit believe they have signed themselves a future star, with the teenager having already broken records in his career. The 19-year-old centre-back has signed a five-year deal with the Bundesliga outfit after Leverkusen beat off competition from Ligue 1 sides Stade Rennes and Lyon for his signature.^[5][6] On 17 September 2017, he made his debut in Bundesliga in a 4–0 home win game against SC Freiburg as a starter. On the club’s Twitter account, Retsos was voted the Man of the Match.^[7]

On 9 April 2018, substitute Retsos scored his first goal in Bundesliga by firing into the far corner after a left-wing free-kick broke to him at the far post, in a 4–1 away win against RB Leipzig. It was his first goal in his professional carrer. In the Bundesliga this season, Retsos has made a total of 14 starts so far and has also made six substitute appearances. He has impressed during this time, displaying composure at the back for the German outfit. ^{[8] [9]}

On 2 August 2018, Retsos suffered a heavy blow to the quadriceps during pre-season training with Bayer Leverkusen and according to the initial medical evaluation, he was diagnosed with tendonitis in the right thigh. The injury is expected to sideline the defender for at least six weeks. It is Retsos’ first serious injury with the German club and he will miss the kick-off of the 2018–19 Bundesliga season.^{[10] [11]}

International Career

Retsos, being born in South Africa, was eligible to represent South Africa, and through his Greek heritage was also eligible to represent Greece. He eventually made his international debut for his country of ethnic origin on 31 August 2017, in Greece's 0–0 home draw against Estonia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Style of Play

Retsos is collectively sound and specialises in many attacking departments. He is effective in the air and would cause many teams problems aerially. At Olympiacos, the set-piece deliverer would often try to find him as they knew he would be a danger. Despite his young age, Retsos possesses a great deal of composure and calmness on the ball, whilst relying on his natural game-reading intelligence to get him through the match. Retsos is a level-headed player and does not show any aggression that could cause a major hindrance for his overall development in the game.

Career statistics

Honours

References