Themistoklis Tzimopoulos

Themistoklis Tzimopoulos (Greek: Θεμιστοκλής Τζημόπουλος; born 20 November 1985) is a Greek-born New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Polish club Korona Kielce and the New Zealand national team.

Themistoklis Tzimopoulos
Personal information
Date of birth (1985-11-20) 20 November 1985
Place of birth Kozani, Greece
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre back[1]
Club information
Current team
 Korona Kielce
Number 4
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Akratitos 46 (0)
2006–2009 Veria 34 (1)
2008 → Kerkyra (loan) 8 (0)
2009–2010 Ethnikos Asteras 29 (4)
2010–2019 PAS Giannina 222 (16)
2019– Korona Kielce 16 (1)
National team
2015– New Zealand 14 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 July 2020

Club career

Born in Kozani, Greece, Tzimopoulos began his professional career with Akratitos in December 2003, having previously signed as a trainee. He played for Akratitos in the Greek Super League,[2] before joining Veria, as well as a brief loan spell at Kerkyra in 2008. He joined second division side Ethnikos Asteras for the 2009–10 season.[3]

In September 2010, Tzimopoulos signed a two-year contract with PAS Giannina.[4]

On 6 April 2017, Tzimopoulos had a surgery on the knee to restore meniscal tear suffered, and will naturally lose the remainder of the current season.[5] On 2 May 2018 he extended his contract until the summer of 2020.[6]

On 21 June 2019, Tzimopoulos was released from PAS Giannina.[7]

Three days later, he signed a two-year contract with Korona Kielce on a free transfer.[8]

International career

Tzimopoulos was called into the All Whites squad for a 31 March 2015 friendly in Seoul against South Korea by coach Anthony Hudson. Tzimopoulos is eligible for the All Whites through his mother's birthplace. "Every professional player dreams to play international football so it's an honour for me to play for the All Whites. It will be a great challenge for me to play at a higher level and to meet the requirements of the team.", he said.[9]

On 28 May 2016, with an early goal from Tzimopoulos, the All Whites got off to a winning start at the OFC Nations Cup after a hard-fought and physical 3-1 victory over Fiji.[10] Tzimopoulos exceptional season year with PAS Giannina was his passport to be called by Anthony Hudson to the final 23-man squad for 2017 Confederations Cup.[11]

International goals
Scores and results list New Zealand's goal tally first.[12]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.28 May 2016Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Fiji1–03–12016 OFC Nations Cup

Honours

Country
New Zealand

References
  1. Themistoklis Tzimopoulos at WorldFootball.net
  2. "Stats Centre: Themistoklis Tzimopoulos Facts". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  3. Β Εθνική / ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΑΣΤΗΡ Γ.Α.Ο. Π.Α.Ε. / ΤΖΗΜΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ ΘΕΜΙΣΤΟΚΛΗΣ (in Greek). Hellenic League. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  4. Για δύο χρόνια στον ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα ο Θεμιστοκλής Τζημόπουλος (in Greek). super-fm.gr. 2 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  5. Tέλος η σεζόν για τον Τζημόπουλο (in Greek). sport24.gr. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  6. "Ανανέωσε ο Τζημόπουλος με τον ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα!" (in Greek). Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  7. ""ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΟΥΜΕ ΓΙΑ ΟΛΑ ΘΕΜΗ"". 21 June 2019.
  8. "Θέμης Τζημόπουλος: Ο τρίτος Έλληνας που υπέγραψε στην Πολωνία". sport24.gr. 24 June 2019.
  9. "Tzimopoulos living a dream". 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  10. "All Whites beat Fiji in opener". 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  11. Adele Berti (17 June 2017). "Confederations Cup 2017: All the full squads for this year's tournament in Russia". Mirror. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  12. "T. Tzimopoulos". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
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