Nicholas Ioannou

Nicholas Ioannou
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Ioannou
Date of birth (1995-11-10) 10 November 1995
Place of birth Limassol, Cyprus
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Left-back / Centre back
Club information
Current team
 APOEL
Number 44
Youth career
2006–2014 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014– APOEL 8 (0)
National team‡
2012 Cyprus U19 1 (0)
2014– Cyprus U21 12 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 May 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 October 2016

Nicholas Ioannou (born 10 September 1995) is a Cypriot professional footballer who plays as a defender for APOEL FC in the Cypriot First Division.

Club career

Youth career

Ioannou joined Manchester United youth academy at the age of 11. He played at the Marveld Tournament with the under-15 team in June 2010 held at Netherlands. This was followed by his participation in Manchester United Premier Cup. His form earned him a two-year scolarship in June 2012. But it is also reported that Manchester United was reluctant to give him a full-time contract.[1] He made his debut in Old Trafford against Charlton Athletic in FA Youth Cup aged 16. While playing in Milk Cup, he was injured which drove him out of action for most of the 2012–2013 season. In his last match for the reserves, he captained his team against Tottenham Hotspur.[2] He also appeared in three 2013–14 UEFA Youth League group stage matches with Manchester United U19 team.[3]

APOEL

After being released by Manchester United, he signed a three-year contract with APOEL on 24 April 2014.[4] On joining the club, Ioannou commented: "My main aim is to win trophies of course, but obviously I need to start playing. APOEL play in big competitions – Champions League and Europa League – so hopefully I can get a few games."[5]

He made his official debut against Finnish club HJK Helsinki on 30 July 2014, in APOEL's 2–2 away draw for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.[6] On 5 November 2014, aged 18, he made his first UEFA Champions League group stage appearance, playing the full 90 minutes in APOEL's 0–1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.[7] In his first season at APOEL, Ioannou appeared only in seven matches in all competitions, but he managed to win the double, as his team won both the Cypriot championship and the cup.[8]

On 3 June 2016, Ioannou signed a three-year contract extension with APOEL, running until 31 May 2019.[9]

International career

Being an English-Cypriot, Ioannou is eligible to represent the national teams of both the countries. In 2012, he had been capped by Cyprus U19.[5] He made his Cyprus U21 debut on 5 September 2014, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute in a UEFA European U-21 Championship qualifying match against Belgium.[10]

He received his first senior Cyprus national team call-up at the age of 18, being an unused substitute for Cyprus in the friendly match against Japan on 27 May 2014.[11]

Club statistics

As of 10 August 2016[12]
Club Season League National Cup Continental[lower-alpha 1] Other[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
APOEL 2014–15 Cypriot First Division 3020200070
2015–16 Cypriot First Division 5010100070
2016–17 Cypriot First Division 0000001010
Total 80303010150
Career total 80303010150
  1. ↑ Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches.
  2. ↑ Includes Cypriot Super Cup matches.

Honours

APOEL

Personal life

Ioannou's father (Demetris Ioannou) is a former Cypriot international captain.[5] His elder brother is Michael Ioannou, who is a Cypriot youth international.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Cypriot teen released by Man United joins APOEL". Cyprus mail. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Ioannou joins Apoel Nicosia". Manchester United. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Nicholas Ioannou". UEFA. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ανακοίνωση εταιρείας ΑΠΟΕΛ". APOEL FC. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Cypriot Teenager Released by Man Utd Joins APOEL". Greekreporter. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "APOEL comeback halts ten-man HJK". UEFA. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Quick-fire Cavani sends Paris through, APOEL out". UEFA. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "APOEL secure league to wrap up Cypriot double". UEFA.com. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Επέκταση συνεργασίας με Νικόλα Ιωάννου". APOEL FC. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  10. ↑ "Cyprus U21 vs. Belgium U21 0-6". Soccerway. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Japan vs Cyprus 1-0". Soccerway. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Nicolas Ioannou". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Rough Diamonds #7-Nick Ioannou (Manchester United)". The False 9. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
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