Michalis Bakakis

Early career

Born on 18 March 1991 in Agrinio, Bakakis began his career with local side Panetolikos. His first professional appearance was a win match against Fokikos on 21 January 2009. In the summer of 2011 he transferred to AO Chania. He returned to Panetolikos on 31 July 2012.^[1]

AEK Athens

On 15 April 2014, AEK Athens announced the agreement with the player for a 4-year contract. In February 2015, shortly before the crucial match against Olympiacos for the Cup, Bakakis stated that "We must be determined, passionate and concentrated. First of all we want to win the Football League title, so that AEK will return where they belong. But we are interested in the Greek Cup as well. It would be a dream come true if we manage to win both."^[2] On 20 May 2015, in a home match against Olympiacos Volos he suffered a cruciate rupture, which left him out of the pitch for 6 months.^[3]

His contract had been due to expire in the summer of 2017, but that was extended to 2019 by his club. Bakakis always had the desire to remain at AEK Athens and he was more than happy to commit his future to the club for the next two years.^[4] On 12 April 2017, Bakakis agreed to a further contract extension until the summer of 2020.^[5]

At the start of the 2017–18 season he switched his number from 27 to 2. On 25 July 2017, he made his debut in the Champions League in a 2–0 home loss against CSKA Moscow for the third qualifying round.^[6] On 23 February 2018, Bakakis was included in Europa League's Team of the Week for his performance in a 0–0 away draw against Dynamo Kyiv. The 27-year-old defender has been in excellent form for experienced Spanish manager Manolo Jimenez's team during 2017–18 season, playing mainly as central or left defender even if his natural position is at the right place of the defensive line.^[7]

On 29 August 2018, Bakakis agreed to a contract extension with AEK, until the summer of 2023.^[8] On 10 November 2019, the 28-year-old Greek international scored only the third goal of his AEK career, and his first strike in four-and-a-half years when he let fly from the edge of the box with a powerful shot which left Sokratis Dioudis no chance, in a devastating 3–2 away loss against Panathinaikos.^[9]

On 31 March 2021, AEK were deprived of the services of Bakakis, as the Greek back was injured in an international match against Georgia, as it was confirmed the assessment that the tendon in his right leg was affected. Eventually, the international back has suffered a partial tendon rupture and was out of action for about two weeks. It was the third injury of Bakakis in 2021.^[10]

On the beginning of November 2021, Bakakis was put at the disposal of the coach of AEK Athens B, Sokratis Ofrydopoulos, in order to find a maintain his form, since we was out of the plans of Vladan Milojević, but also to help the youngsters of the second team.^[11] On 29 July 2021, the match that AEK excluded from the UEFA Conference League, was probably the last appearance until today of Bakakis with the jersey of the club. Since the arrival of new coach Argirios Giannikis, the international defender was informed that he was no longer considered as a member of the club, and that he can look for the next stage of his career.^[12]

Club

As of 20 June 2025

International