Alexandros Kasmeridis
{{short description|Greek footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alexandros Kasmeridis
| fullname = Alexandros Kasmeridis
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1986|04|23}}
| birth_place = Serres, Greece
| height = {{convert|1.92|m|abbr=on}}
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthclubs1 = Anatoli Serres
| youthclubs2 = OFI Crete
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2002
| youthyears2 = 2002–2006
| clubs1 = OFI Crete
| clubs2 = Thrasyvoulos
| years1 = 2006–2011
| years2 = 2011–2012
| caps1 = 6
| caps2 = 26
| goals1 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| nationalteam1 = Greece U19
| nationalyears1 = 2004–2006
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| years3 = 2012–2013
| clubs3 = Levadiakos
| caps3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2013–2014
| clubs4 = Asteras Magoula
| caps4 = 20
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2014–2015
| clubs5 = Olympiacos Volou
| caps5 = 9
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2015–2017
| clubs6 = OFI
| caps6 = 14
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2017–2019
| clubs7 = Irodotos
| caps7 = 13
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2019–2020
| clubs8 = PAO Krousonas
| caps8 =
| goals8 =
| nationalyears3 = 2006–2008
| nationalteam3 = Greece U21
| nationalcaps3 = 9
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| pcupdate = 20:15, 25 June 2019 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 18:41, 23 August 2012 (UTC)
}}
Alexandros Kasmeridis ({{langx|el|Αλέξανδρος Κασμερίδης}}, born 23 April 1986) is a former Greek footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He started his career at OFI Crete in 2002 and stayed there until 2011, followed by three one-year spells at Thrasyvoulos, Levadiakos, Asteras Magoula and Olympiacos Volou, until he returned to OFI in 2015.
Kasmeridis is a former member of all youth national teams of Greece; under-17, under-19 and under-21{{cite news|url=http://www.sentragoal.com.cy/article.asp?catid=18644&subid=2&pubid=129066455 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105133321/http://www.sentragoal.com.cy/article.asp?catid=18644&subid=2&pubid=129066455 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 January 2013 |script-title=el:"Ζεστά" για Κασμερίδη ο Λεβαδειακός |trans-title=Levadiakos "hot" for Kasmeridis |last=Koutsoubas |first=Giorgos |date=12 June 2012 |work=Goal News (Cyprus) |language=Greek |accessdate=24 August 2012 }} – he was also part of Greece's 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship squad.
Club career
=Early career=
Kasmeridis was born in Serres and, during his early teens, he played for local club Anatoli.{{cite news|url=http://www.patris.gr/articles/31699/7189?PHPSESSID=|script-title=el:ΑΛΕΞΗΣ ΚΑΣΜΕΡΙΔΗΣ: "Ενας... ξενιτεμένος ήρωας" |trans-title=ALEXIS KASMERIDIS: An... immigrant hero|date=9 April 2004|work=Patris|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012}} Despite the efforts of Panserraikos to sign him, he decided to join OFI Crete in 2002 at the age of 15.{{cite news|url=http://www.patris.gr/articles/196494?PHPSESSID=h42buq6031nf27aqhmf6alu8b4|script-title=el:ΑΛΕΞΗΣ ΚΑΣΜΕΡΙΔΗΣ: "Δυστυχώς δεν γεννήθηκα Κρητικός..." |trans-title=ALEXIS KASMERIDIS: "Unfortunately I was not born a Cretan..."|date=17 February 2011|work=Patris|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012}} He played for the club's amateur team until 2006, when he signed his first professional contract. With OFI Amateurs, he won the 2004 Heraklion Football Clubs Association Cup against PANOM.
During his whole spell at OFI Crete, Kasmeridis was always a backup goalkeeper behind other goalkeeping talents produced by the club, such as Kostas Chaniotakis, Michalis Sifakis and Sifis Daskalakis. Even during the later years, goalkeepers from Panathinaikos (Arkadiusz Malarz and Alexandros Tzorvas) or abroad (Tristan Peersman) were preferred, so he earned little playing time.
=OFI Crete=
Kasmeridis made his Superleague debut on 30 November 2008 coming as a substitute during an away game against Panthrakikos, when Malatz was injured in the 26th minute.{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=963089|script-title=el:Όνειρα... Ευρώπης τολμά να κάνει ο Πανθρακικός μετά το 2–0 επί του ΟΦΗ |trans-title=Panserraikos dares dream European qualification after 2–0 against OFI|date=30 November 2008|publisher=In.gr|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012|location=Komotini}} He then went on to make another 3 performances for OFI during the 2008–09 season,{{cite web|url=http://guardian.touch-line.com/?Lang=0&CTID=57&CPID=120&pStr=Match_List&PLID=196032&ListType=8&TEID=1403&Season=2008%20-%202009&mTEID=6390&t=2|title=Alexandros Kasmeridis, 2008–2009 appearances|publisher=Guardian.co.uk|accessdate=23 August 2012}} which saw the club ending in 14th place and being relegated from the first division for the first time since 1976.{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=1005961|script-title=el:Ο "Γολγοθάς" του ΟΦΗ ήταν για πολλούς αναμενόμενος |trans-title=OFI's "Golgotha" was expected by many|date=19 April 2009|publisher=In.gr|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012|location=Athens}}
The 2009–10 season was worse for Kasmeridis, even though OFI was playing in the Beta Ethniki – he was the second goalkeeper behind Polychronis Vezyridis and only played once in the second-last game of the promotion play-offs against Pierikos{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/bethniki/article/?aid=1231047652 |script-title=el:Στο φινάλε η άνοδος για Σέρρες ή ΟΦΗ, "σώθηκε" ο Ιωνικός, αποχαιρέτησε η Ρόδος |trans-title=Promotion of OFI or Serres at final fixture, Ionikos saved, Rodos waived goodbye |date=6 June 2010 |publisher=In.gr |language=Greek |accessdate=23 August 2012 |location=Athens |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609081334/http://sports.in.gr/football/bethniki/article/?aid=1231047652 |archivedate=9 June 2010 }} because Vezyridis was banned from the match.{{cite news|url=http://www.patris.gr/articles/182416/117672?PHPSESSID=|script-title=el:Οι παίκτες του ΟΦΗ στο μικροσκόπιο |trans-title=OFI's players under the microscope|date=1 July 2010|work=Patris|language=Greek|accessdate=24 August 2012}} OFI eventually missed promotion at the final fixture, so they stayed in the second division.{{cite web|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=171216|script-title=el:Επέστρεψε στη Σούπερ Λίγκα ο Πανσερραϊκός |trans-title=Panserraikos returns to Superleague|date=9 June 2010|publisher=enet.gr|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012|location=Serres}}
Kasmeridis was still a backup for OFI in the 2010–11 season, as he made a total of 3 appearances in the now-called Football League. His season debut was on an away game against PAS Giannena, coming as a substitute for Vezyridis, after the latter was hit by a fan of PAS.{{cite web|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=239731|script-title=el:Ο ΠΑΣ νίκησε στο "ντέρμπι της ντροπής" τον ΟΦΗ |trans-title=PAS beats OFI at the "derby of shame"|date=10 January 2011|publisher=enet.gr|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012|location=Ioannina}} He made another appearance in the regular season against Ionikos{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/02/07/greece/football-league/ofi-heraklion-fc/pae-ionikos-nikaias/1033485/|title=Football League, OFI vs. Ionikos 3–1 Ionikos|date=7 February 2011|publisher=Soccerway.com|accessdate=23 August 2012}} and a final appearance in the last game of the promotion play-offs against Diagoras, where OFI won and secured promotion to the Superleague after 2 years.{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/bethniki/article/?aid=1231122497 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217180111/http://sports.in.gr/football/bethniki/article/?aid=1231122497 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2013 |script-title=el:Με 2–1 επί του Διαγόρα γιόρτασε την άνοδο ο ΟΦΗ |trans-title=OFI beat Diagoras 2–1 and celebrated promotion |date=1 August 2011 |publisher=In.gr |language=Greek |accessdate=23 August 2012 }} However, Kasmeridis did not fit the plans of his manager, Nikos Anastopoulos, for the following season and was asked to look for a new club.{{cite news|url=http://www.patris.gr/articles/206214/136731?PHPSESSID=|script-title=el:Εκτός πλάνων Αναστόπουλου οι Κασμερίδης, Ρούσεφ |trans-title=Kasmeridis, Rusev off Anastopoulos' plans|date=6 August 2011|work=Patris|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012}}
=Thrasyvoulos=
On 10 September 2011, a day after his OFI contract was terminated, Kasmeridis signed a one-year contract with Thrasyvoulos in the second division.{{cite news|url=http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=10486&subid=2&pubid=128775809|script-title=el:Θρασύβουλος: "Εκλεισε" Κασμερίδη|trans-title=Thrasyvoulos: "Captured" Kasmeridis|date=10 September 2011|work=Goal News|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was a regular for the club in the 2011–12 season, making 26 appearances and earning one red card in the final game against Anagennisi Epanomi.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2012/05/23/greece/football-league/anagennisi-epanomis/thrasivoulos-fylis/1225034/|title=Football League, Anagennisi Epanomis vs. Thrasyvoulos 3–1|date=23 May 2012|publisher=Soccerway.com|accessdate=23 August 2012}}
Kasmeridis blocked two penalties in the 4–2 penalty shoot-out win in his team's Round of 16 match against Superleague side Levadiakos during the 2011–12 Greek Cup campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.novasports.gr/news.aspx?a_id=216944&Sport=1&Competition=2689&Season=103281&Country=82&Team=17185,16993|script-title=el:Κασμερίδης και Θρασύβουλος για... φίλημα |trans-title=Kasmeridis and Thrasyvoulos for... kisses|date=20 December 2011|publisher=Nova Sports|language=Greek|accessdate=23 August 2012}}
=Levadiakos=
On 12 June 2012, Kasmeridis signed a two-year contract for Levadiakos.{{cite web|url=http://www.levadiakosfc.gr/?p=8234|script-title=el:Στον ΛΕΒΑΔΕΙΑΚΟ ο Αλέξανδρος Κασμερίδης |trans-title=Alexandros Kasmeridis at LEVADIAKOS|date=12 June 2012|publisher=levadiakosfc.gr|language=Greek|accessdate=24 August 2012}} In a later interview, he justified his decision to join Levadiakos by saying that his goal was to establish himself in the Superleague.{{cite news|url=http://www.sday.gr/Football/Super-League/Levadeiakos/TO-VIMA.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217163839/http://www.sday.gr/Football/Super-League/Levadeiakos/TO-VIMA.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2013 |script-title=el:Το βήμα παραπάνω... |trans-title=The step forward... |date=13 June 2012 |work=SportDay |language=Greek |accessdate=24 August 2012 }} He made his league debut on 8 October 2012 during a home match against Panthrakikos – there, first-choice keeper Dimitris Kyriakidis received a red card on the 37th minute and Kasmeridis entered as a substitute for Stefano Napoleoni; he conceded an additional 2 goals for a final result of 0–3 for the visitors.{{cite web|url=http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=10485&subid=2&pubid=129174164|script-title=el:Αλωσε τη Λιβαδειά ο Πανθρακικός!|trans-title=Panthrakikos conquered Levadia!|last=Papadakos|first=Michalis|date=8 October 2012|publisher=SentraGoal|language=Greek|accessdate=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009221308/http://www.sentragoal.gr/article.asp?catid=10485&subid=2&pubid=129174164|archive-date=9 October 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} However, Kasmeridis never managed to establish himself as the first-choice goalkeeper at Levadiakos instead of Kyriakidis, as he only managed to make 3 ninety-minute appearances at the 2012–13 Superleague – as a result, he terminated his contract one year early in May 2013 and were released from the club.{{Cite web|url=http://www.onsports.gr/Podosfairo/Super-League/item/315417-Lebadeiakos-Parelthon-o-Kasmeridhs|title=Λεβαδειακός: Παρελθόν ο Κασμερίδης|last=|first=|date=10 May 2013|website=OnSports.gr|publisher=|language=Greek|trans-title=Levadiakos: Kasmeridis departs|access-date=20 September 2016}}
International career
=Greece under-17=
Kasmeridis was called up to the Greek national under-17 football team on 6 March 2003 for a friendly game against Yugoslavia on 8 March.{{cite news|url=http://www.patris.gr/articles/3339?PHPSESSID=2tvr280qin0s4olhf5p0m10q50|script-title=el:ΕΡ. ΟΦΗ: Τέσσερις στην Εθνική Παίδων |trans-title=OFI Amat.: Four at Greece U17|date=6 March 2003|work=Patris|language=Greek|accessdate=24 August 2012}}
=Greece under-19=
On 28 August 2004, Kasmeridis, still a player of OFI Amateurs at the time, was called for the first time to the Greek national under-19 football team to play in a friendly match against Netherlands under-19 on 4 September.{{cite news|url=http://www.patris.gr/articles/41423?PHPSESSID=|script-title=el:Κασμερίδης- Κοιλιάρας στη Νέων |trans-title="The step forward..."Kasmeridis, Koiliaras at U19|date=28 August 2004|work=Patris|language=Greek|accessdate=24 August 2012}} He did not get any playing time, but made his debut a month later, on 8 October, in a 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualification match against Faroe Islands.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=97656/profile/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204205427/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=97656/profile/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 4, 2012|title=Alexandros Kasmeridis profile|publisher=uefa.com|accessdate=24 August 2012}} He made good appearances in the rest of the qualifiers and Greece qualified to the final stage of the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.{{cite web|url=http://193.92.37.2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8371&catid=76:2010-02-22-21-09-54&Itemid=292 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415005458/http://193.92.37.2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8371&catid=76:2010-02-22-21-09-54&Itemid=292 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 April 2013 |script-title=el:Η Εθνική Νέων στα τελικά του Ευρωπαϊκού Πρωταθλήματος! |trans-title=Greece U19 in the UEFA U19 championship finals! |date=31 May 2005 |publisher=Hellenic Football Federation |language=Greek |accessdate=24 August 2012 }}
==2005 UEFA European U19 Championship finals==
Kasmeridis was a member of Greece's squad in the finals.{{cite web|url=http://193.92.37.2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8079&catid=76:2010-02-22-21-09-54&Itemid=292 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121128213241/http://193.92.37.2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8079&catid=76:2010-02-22-21-09-54&Itemid=292 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 November 2012 |title=Η αποστολή της Εθνικής Νέων για τα τελικά του EURO 2005 |trans-title=Greece U19's squad for EURO 2005 finals |date=7 July 2005 |publisher=Hellenic Football Federation |language=Greek |accessdate=24 August 2012 }} He played in the victorious first game of the group stage against the hosts, Northern Ireland,{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/history/season=2005/round=1926/match=81121/index.html |title=Petropoulos gets Greece going |last=Haslam |first=Andrew |date=18 July 2005 |publisher=uefa.com |accessdate=24 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006040730/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/history/season%3D2005/round%3D1926/match%3D81121/index.html |archivedate=6 October 2007 |url-status=dead }} and in the second game against Germany, where Greece lost 3–0.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/history/season=2005/round=1926/match=81123/index.html |title=Germany find their feet |last=Haslam |first=Andrew |date=20 July 2005 |publisher=uefa.com |accessdate=24 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701175941/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/history/season%3D2005/round%3D1926/match%3D81123/index.html |archivedate=1 July 2007 |url-status=dead }} Greece was eventually eliminated after another 3–0 defeat against Serbia and Montenegro, a game which Kasmeridis watched from the bench as Dimitrios Sotiriou took his place in the starting lineup.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/history/season=2005/round=1926/match=81126/index.html |title=Veselinovic inspires decisive victory |last=Haslam |first=Andrew |date=23 July 2005 |publisher=uefa.com |accessdate=24 August 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006034811/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under19/history/season%3D2005/round%3D1926/match%3D81126/index.html |archivedate=6 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}
=Greece under-21=
On 16 October 2006, Kasmeridis made his debut for the Greece under-21 in a friendly match against Ethnikos Asteras as a second-half substitute for Leonidas Panagopoulos.{{cite web|url=http://www.epo.gr/Default.aspx?a_id=42337|title=Greece under-21 matches in 2006|publisher=Hellenic Football Federation|language=Greek|accessdate=24 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626204436/http://www.epo.gr/Default.aspx?a_id=42337|archive-date=26 June 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} He went on to make 6 appearances in 2007, with Panagopoulos and Kasmeridis swapping places in the starting lineup,{{cite web|url=http://www.epo.gr/Default.aspx?a_id=42336|title=Greece under-21 matches in 2007|publisher=Hellenic Football Federation|language=Greek|accessdate=24 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626161927/http://www.epo.gr/Default.aspx?a_id=42336|archive-date=26 June 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} and 2 appearances in 2008, all of which as a starter.{{cite web|url=http://www.epo.gr/Default.aspx?a_id=42335|title=Greece under-21 matches in 2008|publisher=Hellenic Football Federation|language=Greek|accessdate=24 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828050617/http://www.epo.gr/Default.aspx?a_id=42335|archive-date=2013-08-28|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|alexandros-kasmeridis/18987}}
- [http://guardian.touch-line.com/?CTID=57&CPID=120&TEID=1403&PLID=196032&pStr=Player Profile] at Guardian.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kasmeridis, Alexandros}}
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Greek men's footballers
Category:Greece men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Greece men's youth international footballers
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:OFI Crete F.C. players
Category:Thrasyvoulos F.C. players
Category:Levadiakos F.C. players
Category:Olympiacos Volos F.C. players