Christos Aravidis
Greek footballer (born 1987)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christos Aravidis (Greek: Χρήστος Αραβίδης; born 13 March 1987) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a forward.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christos Aravidis | ||
| Date of birth | 13 March 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Athens, Greece | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kentavros Vrilissia | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2004 | Akratitos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2006 | Akratitos | 23 | (1) |
| 2006–2009 | Panionios | 50 | (4) |
| 2008–2009 | → Ethnikos Asteras (loan) | 23 | (3) |
| 2009–2011 | Aris | 13 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Doxa Dramas | 25 | (1) |
| 2012–2014 | Panionios | 55 | (20) |
| 2014–2017 | AEK Athens | 76 | (29) |
| 2018–2019 | OFI | 9 | (1) |
| 2019 | Asteras Tripolis | 11 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Yverdon | 15 | (6) |
| 2020 | Lamia | 6 | (2) |
| 2020–2021 | Panachaiki | 20 | (6) |
| 2021–2022 | Levadiakos | 2 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Apollon Pontus | 17 | (1) |
| 2024– | Kentavros Vrilissia | 7 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2003–2004 | Greece U17 | 8 | (3) |
| 2005 | Greece U19 | 8 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Greece U21 | 11 | (4) |
| 2015–2016 | Greece | 5 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 June 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:18, 10 June 2016 (UTC) | |||
Early life
It was at the age of 7,5 when Aravidis first visited the academies of AEK Athens. "In the beginning was just fun after a game became a passion," he recalls, when his father and ex-football player unknowingly motivated his son to deal with football. "My father was a footballer and through him I loved football."
Club career
Akratitos
His steps in football seemed always carefully and selectively. After playing in the Football League for Akratitos, he made his debut in the Super League Greece with the club at the age of 18,5 against AEK Athens. He scored his first goal in the major league in a match against OFI and he was constantly selected in the Greece U-21 team.
Panionios
He signed a three-year contract with Panionios. Ewald Lienen, the new coach of Panionios was presented a few days ago, and the 19 years' old had to fight to find time in the first major challenge of his career. He succeeded beyond any expectation. Became a member of the starting XI and had a striking appearance in Thessaloniki against Aris with one goal and assist, and ended his first season in the club having 30 appearances and two goals, but after December he gradually lost his position in the team. The scene was similar the next season besides the 26 appearances and three goals.[1]
Loan to Ethnikos Asteras
Aravidis joined Ethnikos Asteras on loan[2] until the end of the 2008–2009 season on summer of 2008. In April 2009 he filed an appeal against the Ethnikos Asteras, as he played almost entirely unpaid and at the end of the season being released from Panionios, will search the new challenge in his career.
Aris
Aris offered him the opportunity to make a step further, by signing a three-year contract.[3] But in Aris neither Mazinho in the beginning, nor Héctor Cúper trusted him and Aravidis succeeded to make only 13 appearances with the club, in almost two years. "The fact is that I did not get the opportunities I deserve. Prior to Aris I had a good football path, which I will try to keep it. This is football and there is no problem. Not always all come as you want." In August 2012 he filed an appeal against Aris, as he played almost entirely unpaid.[4] asking for the subtraction of two points due to the debt to him.[5]
Doxa Drama
Doxa Drama was the next step in his career. In October 2012 he filed his third appeal (after Ethnikos Asteras and Aris) against the Doxa Drama as there was a private agreement for bonus participations and rentals that never received.[6]
Return to Panionios
In the 2012–13 season became the club's top scorer with 8 goals, contributing in their promotion to Super League. Eventually over the years he made 112 appearances (24 goals, 8 assists) with Panionios.
AEK Athens
On 31 January 2014, besides the rumours for PAOK and Panathinaikos, Aravidis decided to play for AEK Athens in Football League at the end of 2013-14 season by signing a three years' contract, when the team was in Football League and since then is a first team option.[7] Aravidis at the end of 2014-15 season, in the few minutes that he played against Alimos, typically secured the lead in the list of scorers of the Southern Group of the Football League, with 13 goals.[8] On 22 August 2015, in a 3–0 home game against Platanias scored his first goal in Super League Greece with AEK Athens.
"Fans will be satisfied if we win the championship. We want the best possible result. If we continue to work hard we'll manage something. Our targets are the Greek Cup and the championship. AEK Athens are a huge club and we returned where we belong to. The match against PAOK is a big game that all fans should enjoy it. We'll try for the best. It's always nice to play with full stands" Aravidis said.[9] On 23 September 2015, he opened the score in an away derby game against PAOK, but his club still lost. Christos Aravidis is due a new contract as his current one expires at the end of 2017.[10]
On 20 December 2016, in a home match against PAS Giannina he was then sent off in the 10th minute of the game after headbutting Thodoris Berios in the chest. On 12 March 2017 he scored the last goal of AEK in the 3–0 home "double-headed eagle" derby against PAOK.[11] On 6 April 2017 he scored the second goal in his club effort to win a place in season playoffs sealing a 2–0 away win against Platanias F.C.[12]
On 7 June 2017, AEK Athens officially announced that the contract of international striker was solved.[13] Aravidis had 96 appearances (34 goals, 9 assists) in all competitions with the club.
OFI
On 7 August 2018, Aravidis, after a year without a club, completed a free transfer move to Greek Super League side OFI on a year contract for an undisclosed fee.[14] On 30 October 2018, Aravidis scored after a long period (572 days to be exact) a hat-trick against Niki Volos in a 3–0 home Greek Cup game.[15]
Asteras Tripolis
On 4 February 2019, after six months with OFI, Aravidis signed a six months contract with Asteras Tripolis for an undisclosed fee.[16] On 17 February 2019, he scored his first goal with the club in a 4–1 home Greek Cup win against Ergotelis.[17]
Yverdon
On 29 July 2019 he signed a one-year contract with third-tier Swiss club Yverdon.[18] The 32-year-old forward was absolutely crucial for the club, after scoring six goals in 15 games and helping the Swiss team get a great distance in its effort to gain the promotion. For this reason, the management of Yverdon decided to terminate the contract with the experienced striker in order to save the rest of his contract, and the Greek international received a good amount of compensation as he had a contract until the summer of 2021.[19]
Lamia
On 14 February 2020 he signed a contract with Super League 1 club Lamia, until the end of the 2019–20 season.[20] On 22 February 2020, he scored a brace in his debut in a 2–2 home draw game against Aris.[21]
Panachaiki
On 17 August 2020 he signed a contract with Super League 2 club Panachaiki.[22]
International career
Aravidis has a plural international career in youth Greece squads. On 4 September 2015 he made his debut for Greece in a home game for UEFA against Finland in Piraeus. On 8 October 2015 in just his 3rd cap, he scored his first ever goal for Greece by scoring their only goal in a 3–1 away defeat to Northern Ireland in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match in Belfast.
Career statistics
Club
- As of 11 October 2024
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Akratitos | 2004–05 | Beta Ethniki | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | Alpha Ethniki | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 1 | |||
| Total | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 1 | ||||
| Panionios | 2006–07 | Super League Greece | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 26 | 3 | |||
| Total | 50 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 56 | 5 | |||
| Ethnikos Asteras | 2008–09 | Beta Ethniki | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 3 | ||
| Aris | 2009–10 | Super League Greece | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| Doxa Dramas | 2011–12 | Super League Greece | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 1 | ||
| Panionios | 2012–13 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 8 | |||
| 2013–14 | 30 | 12 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 12 | ||||
| Total | 55 | 20 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 60 | 20 | ||||
| AEK Athens | 2014–15 | Football League | 29 | 17 | 9 | 3 | — | — | 38 | 20 | ||
| 2015–16 | Super League Greece | 34 | 9 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 41 | 11 | |||
| 2016–17 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 17 | 3 | |||
| Total | 76 | 29 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 93 | 34 | |||
| OFI | 2018–19 | Super League Greece | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||
| Asteras Tripolis | 2018–19 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| Yverdon | 2019–20 | Swiss Promotion League | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 6 | ||
| Lamia | 2019–20 | Super League Greece | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | |||
| Panachaiki | 2020–21 | Super League Greece 2 | 20 | 6 | — | — | — | 20 | 6 | |||
| Levadiakos | 2021–22 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Apollon Pontus | 2022–23 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 22 | 2 | |||
| Kentavros Vrilissia | 2024–25 | Athens FCA Division 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 351 | 75 | 44 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 396 | 82 | ||
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League qualifiers
International
- As of 7 June 2016
| Greece | ||||
| Year | Apps | Goals | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 5 | 1 | ||
International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 October 2015 | Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland |  Northern Ireland | 3–1 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
Honours
- AEK Athens
- Levadiakos
Individual
- Football League top scorer: 2014–15
