Akis Vavalis

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Akis Vavalis

| image =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|9|21|df=y}}

| birth_place = Serres, Greece

| height =

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| years1 = 2003–2009 | clubs1 = Vihren | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = | clubs2 = Visaltiakos

| manageryears1 = 2011–2012

| managerclubs1 = Panserraikos (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2012–2014

| managerclubs2 = Lokomotiv (assistant)

| manageryears3 = 2014–2015

| managerclubs3 = Aris Akropotamos (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2015–2016

| managerclubs4 = Panetolikos (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2016–2017

| managerclubs5 = Iraklis (assistant)

| manageryears6 = 2017–2018

| managerclubs6 = Asteras (assistant)

| manageryears7 = 2018–2019

| managerclubs7 = Aris (assistant)

| manageryears8 = 2019–2020

| managerclubs8 = Atromitos (assistant)

| manageryears9 = 2021

| managerclubs9 = Atromitos (assistant)

| manageryears10= 2022

| managerclubs10= Vasalund

| manageryears11= 2022

| managerclubs11= Krumovgrad

| manageryears12= 2022–2023

| managerclubs12= Lamia (assistant)

| manageryears13= 2023

| managerclubs13= Drita

| manageryears14= 2024–

| managerclubs14= Zhenis

}}

Akis Vavalis ({{Langx|el|Άκης Βάβαλης}}) is a Greek professional football manager and former footballer who manages Zhenis.

Playing career

In 2003, Vavalis signed for Bulgarian side Vihren, helping the club achieve promotion from the second tier to the top flight. Six years later, he signed for Greek side Visaltiakos. However, he retired from playing professional football due to injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.plovdiv24.bg/sport/2312992.html|title=Огромен успех! Бивш треньор в Локо направи почти невъзможното в казахстанския футбол|trans-title=Huge success! A former trainer at Loko did almost the impossible in Kazakhstani football|language=bg|publisher=Plovdiv24.bg|date=26 October 2024|access-date=16 April 2025}} Afterwards, he studied in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bta.bg/bg/news/sport/769044-bivshiyat-trenyor-na-krumovgrad-akis-vavalis-uspya-da-spasi-otbora-si-ot-izpadan|title=Бившият треньор на Крумовград Акис Вавалис успя да спаси отбора си от изпадане в казахстанското първенство четири кръга преди края|trans-title=Former Krumovgrad coach Akis Vavalis managed to save his team from relegation to the Kazakhstan championship four rounds before the end|language=bg|publisher=Bulgarian News Agency|date=26 October 2024|access-date=16 April 2025}}

Managerial career

During January 2022, Vavalis was appointed manager of Swedish side Vasalund. The same year, he was appointed manager of Krumovgrad Bulgarian side Krumovgrad before being appointed as an assistant manager of Greek side Lamia.

Subsequently, he was appointed manager of Kosovan side Drita, helping the club achieve second place in the league. Following his stint there, he was appointed manager of Kazakhstani side Zhenis, helping the club reach the final of the 2024 Kazakhstan League Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sdna.gr/podosfairo/1268907_babalis-sto-sdna-perifanos-gia-osa-kataferno-sto-exoteriko-stohos-moy-i-super|title=Βάβαλης στο SDNA: «Περήφανος για όσα καταφέρνω στο εξωτερικό – Στόχος μου η Super League»|trans-title=Vavalis at SDNA: "Proud of what I achieve abroad – My goal is the Super League"|language=el|publisher=SDNA|date=30 December 2024|access-date=16 April 2025}}