The Greek Super League is in the final stages of a thoroughly entertaining season. AEK Athens, PAOK, Panathinaikos and Olympiacos are all in with a shout of winning the title as five points separate the four teams.

The league has also seen a number of talented players make their name in Greek football before moving on to new pastures. For example, Sokratis Papastathopoulos came through the youth system at AEK Athens in 2005 and spent three seasons in the senior team before heading to Serie A and the Premier League.

Perhaps the Greek Super League is an overlooked hotbed of talent as this season has seen some young players break out and become regular starters within their respective teams in addition to some of the younger players who were on the fringes, establishing themselves as important players.

This tactical analysis will take the form of a Super League Greece scout report where we highlight some of the most promising young players in Greek football right now. We will analyse how each player fits within their team’s tactics and why their individual skillset makes them stand out.

With regard to the sample pool, we are looking at players aged 23 and under who have played over 600 minutes of first-team football this season. We will utilise the TFA tier system to ascertain how these players compare with those playing at the same level and one level below and above to better assess their abilities.

Konstantinos Koulierakis, PAOK – Centre back

The first player we are going to look at in this analysis piece is PAOK’s 20-year-old, left-footed central defender, Konstantinos Koulierakis. The Greek defender has stood out this season with his performances as the left-sided centre-back in Răzvan Lucescu’s 4-2-3-1 system.

Firstly, we can see how impressive Koulierakis is in possession. The 20-year-old possesses a wonderful passing range, which he puts to excellent use when PAOK are looking to build an attack. He averages 9.6 progressive passes per 90 and is often the player who looks to transition the team from defence to attack.

Here, we can see Koulierakis play a long, progressive pass into the path of Taison, who is running behind the opposition defensive line. The PAOK defender averages 8.06 long passes per 90 with a 49.6% accuracy rating.

Koulierakis’ expansive passing range proves beneficial for several reasons, including his ability to initiate attacks from deep positions as we can see. This helps PAOK unlock stubborn defences with long-range passes and means the central defender can dictate the tempo of the game from the backline.

Moreover, by distributing accurate passes to midfielders or wingers further up the field, they can effectively transition the team from defence to attack, bypassing opponents’ pressing lines and setting the tone for attacking movements.

Koulierakis is also proactive in terms of his ball-carrying abilities. In this example, we can see him carry the ball into the opposition’s half while using his close control and strength to ensure the opponents cannot dispossess him. Koulierakis serves as an outlet for initiating attacks and progressing play up the field.

Furthermore, his ability to carry the ball out of defence helps PAOK bypass opposition pressing and break lines of pressure effectively. He can dribble past pressing players and open up space for teammates further up the field. This dynamic movement not only stretches the opposition’s defensive shape but also provides additional passing options and angles for his teammates.

Additionally, if we look at the data visual above, we can see that Koulierakis will step into the opposition half to make interceptions and tackles. Averaging 3.74 interceptions per 90, the young defender is not called upon too often in terms of his defensive work as PAOK looks to dominate possession, but he certainly remains alert and aware of his positioning on the pitch.

Here, we can see how high Koulierakis will push up to prevent the opponents from transitioning to attack when they win possession. PAOK looks to pin their opponents back, meaning if they lose possession, there is a higher chance of them recovering in a dangerous area.

His athleticism allows him to cover the ground quickly, and his physical strength means it is challenging for opponents to bypass him. On this occasion, he positions himself well to ensure he gets a foot to the ball and regains possession high up the pitch for PAOK.

Overall, Koulierakis epitomises a modern defender. He is calm and composed in possession and has an expansive passing range. However, he does not shy away from his defensive work and is strong in duels, making good decisions throughout.

Georgios Vagiannidis, Panathinaikos – Right-back

The next player in this scout report is 22-year-old right back Georgios Vagiannidis of Panathinaikos. We can see from the pizza charts that he is a very attack-minded full-back who likes to carry the ball down the right flank.

He typically lines up as the right-back in a 4-2-3-1 system and is expected to push forward with the ball at his feet, averaging 4.73 dribbles per 90. Vagiannidis likes to carry the ball to the byline; he averages 2.45 crosses per 90, although his crossing does lack in accuracy; he is a key player for Panathinaikos when they look to transition from defence to attack.

The data visual shows us where the 22-year-old’s ball progression occurs on the pitch. He advances high into the opposition half, averaging three progressive runs per 90.

He stretches the opposition’s defensive shape by pushing forward into advanced positions on the right flank, creating space for teammates to exploit in central areas. This width forces the opposition to spread their defensive cover, opening up gaps and opportunities for Panathinaikos’s runners from central areas to get into the box and create scoring chances.

Moreover, the 22-year-old’s ability to beat his opponent 1v1 and deliver crosses into the box creates overloads in wide areas, often overwhelming opposition defenders and creating numerical advantages for the attacking team.

In this instance, he receives the ball, and two opponents are drawn across to try to prevent him from advancing into the penalty area. Vagiannidis is able to bypass them using some close control and agility while ensuring he gets into an optimal crossing position.

By drawing additional defenders towards them with their dribbling and movement, they can create space and opportunities for overlapping runs or underlapping midfielders to exploit, thus increasing the team’s attacking options and unpredictability.

Here, we can see how narrow Vagiannidis will get in the attacking phase. He loves to make these inverted runs from out wide into the penalty area. On this occasion, he plays in a low cross that his teammate turns into the net.

The young full-back gets into all the right positions, so if he can work on his end product, it will be a great asset to his game, especially with his dynamic ball-carrying abilities.

The Panathinaikos full-back is also always on hand to put opponents under pressure as they seek to transition from defence to attack. Here, we can see how he uses his positioning and body orientation to ensure the opposition player has not got access to a viable passing lane.

Additionally, Vagiannidis excels in 1v1 defensive situations, which can significantly disrupt the opponent’s attacking rhythm. He consistently limits their attempts to dribble past or outmanoeuvre him and often forces the opposition to reconsider their tactics and adjust their approach, averaging 4.03 interceptions per 90 and 9.01 recoveries per 90.

This also means he is adept at regaining possession through successful defensive interventions higher up the pitch, allowing Panathinaikos to initiate counterattacks or provide swift transitions to attack, thus catalysing the team’s attacking movements and increasing the chances of scoring goals.

Santiago Hezze, Olympiacos – Defensive midfield

The next player is 22-year-old Argentine defensive midfielder Santiago Hezze, who is currently playing for Olympiacos. He predominantly plays as a defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system.

As we can infer from the pizza chart, Hezze is not one for getting forward into the opposition penalty area. He is a solid defensive midfielder who prioritises his defensive responsibilities and acts as a playmaker for his team.

In build-up play, Hezze will look to utilise his passing abilities to break lines and play in teammates as they make runs in behind the opposition’s defensive line. The Argentine averages 7.78 progressive passes per 90, most occurring from positions such as this.

Olympiacos will look for the wide players to sit narrower and make runs behind the defensive line in the half-spaces. On this occasion, he has an available passing lane to play a through pass into the path of his teammate, who is running into the open space.

By delivering accurate and forward-thinking passes, Hezze can consistently bypass opposition lines and initiate attacks swiftly, creating opportunities for Olympiacos to advance into more threatening positions as a team.

Moreover, his vision and passing range enable him to effectively orchestrate the team’s transitions, seamlessly transitioning from defensive duties to launching incisive attacks. This not only helps maintain possession but also facilitates quick transitions, catching the opposition off guard and exploiting spaces in their defensive setup.

Furthermore, during build-up play, Olympiacos will often look to drag their opponents over to one side of the pitch to create spaces that can be exploited via a quick switch to the opposite flank or, as we can see here, a pass over the top.

Hezze is typically the player they turn to for these passes; so far this season, he averages 4.38 long passes per 90 with an accuracy rating of 60.9%. He acts as the metronome of the team, circulating the ball efficiently and initiating attacks from deep positions, therefore maintaining sustained pressure on the opposition.

He is a player who can dictate the tempo of the game, controlling possession and manipulating the flow of play according to the Olympiacos team’s needs. Whether it’s slowing down the pace to maintain control or injecting urgency into the attack with quick, incisive passes, Hezze’s decision-making and composure under pressure become invaluable assets in dictating the rhythm of the game.

From the data visual, we can see where Hezze’s defensive actions occur on the pitch. He is a very proactive player defensively, consistently looking to position himself to make interceptions, especially when the opposition are looking to play through the lines.

Hezze averages 5.02 interceptions per 90 and 11.05 recoveries per 90. He shows excellent anticipation and tactical awareness to make these timely interventions and regain control for Olympiacos.

Additionally, Hezze takes responsibility and reads the game well, ensuring he is on hand to track runners in situations such as the one we can see here.

Hezze intelligently reads where his opponent will look to make a run and closely tracks him. The Olympiacos midfielder then positions himself appropriately to close down the angle and successfully cut out the attempted cross.

With some strong defensive skills and excellent playmaking abilities, Santiago Hezze has proven himself to be a superb pivot player for Olympiacos this season.

Giannis Konstantelias, PAOK – Attacking midfielder

For the final player in this analysis, we return to PAOK to analyse 21-year-old Giannis Konstantelias. The young midfielder can play either as a number ten or out wide; he has mostly found himself deployed on the left this season, where he can make inverted runs onto his favoured right foot.

We can see from the heatmap that Konstantelias likes to operate out wide and in the left half space. He has a wonderful ability to drift into pockets of space to receive the ball, making it incredibly difficult for opponents to track his movements. An example of this can be seen below.

Moreover, the 21-year-old has such close control that he is able to bring the ball under control and use his first touch to evade the opposition’s pressure with relative ease.

Konstantelias has been in fine form this season, netting 13 goals so far and chipping in with four assists in all competitions. His goals have come from an xG of 9.03, suggesting that the 21-year-old is capable of scoring the lower percentage opportunities that come his way.

It’s fair to say that Konstantelias loves being in possession; he averages 6.51 dribbles per 90 and 3.0 progressive runs per 90 as often looks to carry the team forward himself. He is also able to carve out goal-scoring opportunities for himself.

Here, he picks up the ball in the opposition half as PAOK are looking to counterattack. The 21-year-old’s first thought is to drive forward into the space to put the back-tracking opposition under pressure.

We can see here that Konstantelias continues to proceed forward at speed, with no one from the opposition getting anywhere near him.

The PAOK man carries the ball all the way to the edge of the penalty area, adjusts his body position and then scores a sweetly hit curling shot into the top corner.

His progressive style of play certainly adds dynamism to PAOK’s front line, especially in counterattacking situations, where his ball-carrying and attacking movements are in a league of their own.

Konstantelias averages 4.64 progressive passes per 90 minutes, and the data visualisation above shows us where these passes originate from on the pitch. He has the vision that we would expect from a classic number ten. He utilises this vision when playing out wide, looking to thread intricate passes into the penalty area.

The PAOK attacker adds a level of unpredictability and dynamism to the team’s attacking play. His ability to deliver penetrating passes can catch opponents off guard and disrupt their defensive shape. This typically forces opposing defenders to adjust quickly and creates gaps in the defence that can be exploited by Konstantelias and his teammates.

Furthermore, as we have established, he can swiftly move the ball forward into advanced areas. This means PAOK can initiate rapid counterattacks and capitalise on moments of transition when the opposition is disorganised defensively.

The 21-year-old has become an intrinsic element of the PAOK attack and is reaping the rewards for his dynamic style of play. He is a very exciting player and will most likely become a big name in Greek football.

Conclusion

This scout report has showcased some of the best talents in the Greek Super League. We have analysed their style of play and demonstrated why we think they are the ones to watch.

If we had to choose, we would say that Konstanelias and Koulierakis of PAOK are the two most exciting young players in Greek football right now. The pair have had their names linked with big clubs such as AC Milan, so Europe’s elite are undoubtedly aware of them. It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the two of them secure moves away from PAOK in the summer.