Chris Ikonomidis

{{Short description|Australian soccer player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Chris Ikonomidis

| image = Chris Ikonomidis training for Melbourne Victory January 2023 (cropped).jpg

| caption =

| fullname = Christopher James Ikonomidis

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|5|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cronulla, Sydney, Australia

| height = 1.80 m{{cite web|title=Chris Ikonomidis|url=http://www.socceroos.com.au/player/chris-ikonomidis/75b87x4mcqe71vdnqpw6lnoq9|website=socceroos.com.au|publisher=Football Federation Australia|access-date=4 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223172734/http://www.socceroos.com.au/player/chris-ikonomidis/75b87x4mcqe71vdnqpw6lnoq9|archive-date=23 February 2017|url-status=dead}}

| position = Attacking midfielder, Winger{{cite web|title=Lazio's Socceroo loaned out to Serie B club|url=http://www.socceroos.com.au/article/lazios-socceroo-chris-ikonomidis-loaned-out-to-serie-b-club/1i5y7s8wke7s5106fd8t33jh0e|website=socceroos.com.au|date=14 January 2016 |access-date=14 January 2016}}

| currentclub = Macarthur FC

| clubnumber = 9

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Cronulla RSL Stingrays

| youthyears2 = 2005–200

| youthyears3 = 2009–2012

| youthclubs3 = Sutherland Sharks

| youthyears4 = 2012–2013

| youthclubs4 = Atalanta

| youthyears5 = 2013–2015

| youthclubs5 = Lazio

| years1 = 2015–2018

| clubs1 = Lazio

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2016

| clubs2 = → Salernitana (loan)

| caps2 = 14

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2016–2017

| clubs3 = → AGF (loan)

| caps3 = 16

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2017–2018

| clubs4 = → Western Sydney Wanderers (loan)

| caps4 = 10

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2018–2021

| clubs5 = Perth Glory

| caps5 = 41

| goals5 = 16

| years6 = 2021–2024

| clubs6 = Melbourne Victory

| caps6 = 75

| goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2024–

| clubs7 = Macarthur FC

| caps7 = 6

| goals7 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2013–2015

| nationalteam1 = Australia U20

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 4

| nationalyears2 = 2014–2016

| nationalteam2 = Australia U23

| nationalcaps2 = 6

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2015–2021

| nationalteam3 = Australia

| nationalcaps3 = 17

| nationalgoals3 = 2

| club-update = 5 February 2025

| nationalteam-update = 2 February 2022

}}

Christopher James Ikonomidis ({{langx|el|Χριστόφορος Οικονομίδης}}; {{IPAc-en|ɪ|ˌ|k|ɒ|n|ə|ˈ|m|iː|d|ɪ|s}} {{respell|ih|KON|ə|MEED|iss}}; born 4 May 1995) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder or as a winger for Macarthur FC.

He is notable in being capped by his senior national team despite not yet having played a single senior game at club level at the time.[http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/socceroos-squad-face-germany Socceroos squad to face Germany] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822222902/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/socceroos-squad-face-germany |date=22 August 2016 }} FourFourTwo

Club career

=Early career=

Ikonomidis came from a family who had always played football, started playing himself when he was four years old in Sydney at local team Cronulla RSL.[https://youngroos.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/interview-chris-ikonomidis-talks-to-young-roos/ Interview: Chris Ikonomidis Talks to Young Roos] Young Roos He played youth football for NPL NSW side Sutherland Sharks. In 2010, he was part of the team that won the Oceania zone of the Manchester United Premier Cup, qualifying for the finals in England. His performance in England, including four goals in a 7–0 defeat of a Wigan Athletic youth side.[http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=149&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2010&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=08&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=4259&cHash=b1400db137a6a516824c9b2c0b3baae1 Sutherland Sharks ready for Manchester United Premier Cup in England] Football NSW

After scoring several goals on trial with Italian club Atalanta, including one against Chelsea, Ikonomidis was offered a youth contract on his 16th birthday.

=Lazio=

In 2013, after 18 months at Atalanta, Ikonomidis was offered a three-year youth contract by Lazio.[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/unknown-teenager-chris-ikonomidis-on-verge-of-breakthrough-in-italy/story-fn63e0vj-1226690471019 Unknown teenager Chris Ikonomidis on verge of breakthrough in Italy] The Australian 3 August 2013 After strong performances with Lazio's Primavera squad, Ikonomidis made his senior debut for Lazio on 10 December 2015 starting in the final Group Stage match of the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League against AS Saint-Étienne.[https://twitter.com/OfficialSSLazio/status/675032358085599232 #Starting11 Berisha; Basta, Mauricio, Hoedt, Konko; FAnderson, Cataldi, Parolo, Oikonomidis; Matri, Djordjevic.] S.S. Lazio Official Twitter, 9 December 2015 Ikonomidis signed a new contract on 5 June 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.sslazio.it/it/news/press-release-2/26139-comunicato-ufficiale-s-s-lazio-rinnovo-oikonomidis|title=Rinnovo Oikonomidis|date=5 June 2015|access-date=1 May 2016|publisher=S.S. Lazio|language=it|archive-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613110634/http://www.sslazio.it/it/news/press-release-2/26139-comunicato-ufficiale-s-s-lazio-rinnovo-oikonomidis|url-status=dead}}

==Loan to Salernitana==

For the second half of the 2015–16 season, Lazio loaned Ikonomidis to Salernitana from the Serie B.{{cite web|url=http://www.italianfootballdaily.com/oikonomidis-loaned-salernitana/|title=Oikonomidis Loaned to Salernitana|publisher=Italian Football Daily|first=Roberto|last=Grosso|date=10 January 2016|access-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129184736/http://www.italianfootballdaily.com/oikonomidis-loaned-salernitana/|archive-date=29 January 2016|url-status=dead}} He made his Serie B debut for Salernitana on 22 January 2016, playing the full match at home to Brescia, where his cross led to a Brescia own goal.

==Loan to AGF==

On 31 August 2016, Ikonomidis joined AGF in the Danish Superliga on a season-long loan in a bid for regular game time.{{cite web|url=http://www.sslazio.it/it/news/press-release-2/32855-comunicato-31-08-2016|title=Comunicato 31.08.2016|date=31 August 2016|access-date=27 September 2016|publisher=S.S. Lazio|language=it|archive-date=9 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124212/http://www.sslazio.it/it/news/press-release-2/32855-comunicato-31-08-2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4019/transfer-zone/2016/09/01/27074362/socceroos-winger-ikonomidis-joins-agf-on-loan|title=Socceroos winger Ikonomidis joins AGF on loan|first=Michael|last=Huguenin|publisher=Goal.com|date=1 September 2016}} He made his debut on 12 September 2016, coming on as a 66th minute substitute in a 3–1 victory over Nordsjælland.{{cite web|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/ikonomidis-bullish-on-danish-impact-437360|title=Ikonomidis bullish on Danish impact|first=Ben|last=Somerford|publisher=FourFourTwo|date=15 September 2016|access-date=15 September 2016|archive-date=19 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919162737/http://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/news/ikonomidis-bullish-on-danish-impact-437360|url-status=dead}} He had a good season at AGF, but AGF announced that Ikonomidis was one out of five players that wouldn't continue at the club for the 2017–18 season.[http://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/agf-siger-farvel-til-fem-spillere/ AGF siger farvel til fem spillere]‚ bold.dk,

31 May 2017

==Loan to Western Sydney Wanderers==

On 31 January 2018, Ikonomidis joined A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/a-league/teams/western-sydney/western-sydney-wanderers-sign-fringe-socceroo-chris-ikonomidis-for-rest-of-the-aleague-season/news-story/7f1bb8bee42f2b2f1cc175e3128328e7|title=Western Sydney Wanderers sign Socceroo Chris Ikonomidis for rest of the A-League season|first=Vince|last=Rugari|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=31 January 2018}} At the end of the season he returned to Lazio.{{cite web|url=https://www.wswanderersfc.com.au/news/wanderers-confirm-player-departures|title=Wanderers confirm player departures|publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers|date=30 June 2018}}

=Perth Glory=

On 11 September 2018, Ikonomidis signed a three-year contract with Perth Glory.{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/127825/official-ikonomidis-leaves-lazio|title=Official: Ikonomidis leaves Lazio|publisher=Football Italia|date=11 September 2018}}

=Melbourne Victory=

On 21 July 2021, Ikonmoidis signed a three-year marquee contract with Melbourne Victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournevictory.com.au/news/melbourne-victory-signs-chris-ikonomidis|title=Melbourne Victory signs Chris Ikonomidis|website=Melbourne Victory|date=21 July 2021}}

International career

Ikonomidis is of Greek heritage and was eligible for senior call-ups to both the Australia national team and the Greece national team. He turned down Greece in favour of Australia, being quoted in 2013 saying "I was approached by the Greek federation 12 months ago, but I said no. I am 100 per cent playing for Australia if given the chance".

In 2013, he was called up by Paul Okon to the Australian U20s for the COTIF Tournament in Valencia, and again in the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship, where he played one game against the UAE.[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8341&stageid=332&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Australia v UAE] AFC Match Report He was also called up to the Olyroos for the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship in Oman (which was actually held in 2014), where he played against Kuwait[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=7773&stageid=312&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Australia v Kuwait] AFC Match Report and Japan.[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=7777&stageid=312&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Australia v Japan] AFC Match Report

On 11 March 2015, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou named Ikonomidis in the senior squad for friendlies against reigning World Champion Germany and Macedonia to be held that month. He was substituted on replacing Nathan Burns in the game against Macedonia in Skopje on 30 March to earn his first senior Socceroos cap.[https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sport/football/article/2015/03/31/socceroos-stalemate-skopje-fyr-macedonia Socceroos Stalemate in Skopje] SBS, 31 March 2015 His competitive debut for the Socceroos came on 3 September 2015 during 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, when he was substituted on in the 61st minute during Australia's 5–0 win over Bangladesh at Perth Oval.[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=9308&stageid=365&tMode=H&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Australia v Bangladesh] AFC Match Report

Ikonomidis was named in the Olyroos squad for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship,[http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/olyroos-squad-aurelio-vidmar-confirms-squad-for-afc-under-23s-championship/story-e6frf4l3-1227687022607 Olyroos squad: Aurelio Vidmar confirms squad for AFC Under 23s Championship] Tom Smithies, Fox Sports, 23 December 2015 although he was recalled later from the camp by Lazio for his loan to Salernitana.

On 30 December 2018, Ikonomidis scored his first international goal for Australia against Oman in an international friendly in the UAE. Ikonomidis scored off a cross by Awer Mabil from within the box.{{cite web | url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-31/socceroos-beat-oman-5-0-in-asian-cup-warm-up/10674684 | title = Socceroos thrash Oman 5–0 in Asian Cup warm-up in Dubai | work= ABC News | date=31 December 2018 | access-date = 31 December 2018 }}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|01/03/2025}}{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/christopher-james--ikonomidis/383173/|title=C. Ikonomidis|work=Soccerway|access-date=1 September 2016}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup

!colspan="2"|Continental

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lazio

|2015–16

|Serie A

|0

0001010
Salernitana (loan)

|2015–16

|Serie B

|14

10000141
AGF (loan)

|2016–17

|Danish Superliga

|16

12100182
Western Sydney Wanderers (loan)

|2017–18

|A-League

|10

30000103
rowspan="4"|Perth Glory

|2018–19

|rowspan="3"|A-League

|20

90000209
2019–20

|12

30000123
2020–21

|9

4000094
colspan="2"|Total

!41

1600004116
rowspan=4|Melbourne Victory

|2021–22

|rowspan=3|A-League Men

|23

02110261
2022–23

|23

21000242
2023–24

|29

20000292
colspan=2|Total7543110795
Macarthur FC

|2024–25

|A-League Men

|6

0000000
colspan="3"|Career total

!156

25522016327

=International=

{{Updated|match played 7 June 2021}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

National teamYearAppsGoals
rowspan="7"|Australia

|2014

20
201540
201600
201700
201811
201951
202120
colspan="2"|Total142

{{updated|match played 15 January 2019}}

:Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ikonomidis goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Chris Ikonomidis

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col" data-sort-type="date"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Cap

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

| 30 December 2018

Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emiratesalign="center"|7{{fb|OMA}}align="center"|2–0align="center"|5–0Friendly
align="center"|2

| 15 January 2019

Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emiratesalign="center"|10{{fb|SYR|1980}}align="center"|2–1align="center"|3–22019 AFC Asian Cup

Honours

References

{{Reflist}}