Damian Tsekenis
{{short description|Australian soccer player}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Damian Tsekenis
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|4|16|df=yes}}{{cite web |url=https://au.soccerway.com/players/damian-tsekenis/619949/ |title=D. Tsekenis: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=3 November 2023}}
| birth_place = Fairfield, New South Wales, Australia
| height =
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2014
| youthclubs1 = Bonnyrigg White Eagles
| youthyears2 = 2015–2017
| youthclubs2 = St George FC
| youthyears3 = 2018–2019
| youthclubs3 = Marconi Stallions
| youthyears4 = 2020–2022
| youthclubs4 = Central Coast Mariners
| years1 = 2019
| clubs1 = Marconi Stallions
| caps1 = 6
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2020–2022
| clubs2 = CCM Academy
| caps2 = 20
| goals2 = 16
| years3 = 2021–2022
| clubs3 = Central Coast Mariners
| caps3 = 3
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2025–
| clubs4 = Marconi Stallions
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| club-update = 10 February 2025
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Damian Tsekenis (born 16 April 2001) is an Australian professional footballer who plays for played as a forward for NPL New South Wales club Marconi Stallions.
Early life
Tsekenis was born on 16 April 2001 in Fairfield, New South Wales{{cite web |title=Damian Tsekenis |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/damian-tsekenis/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=7 November 2023 |language=en}} to Peter and Denise Tsekenis.{{cite web |last1=Windon |first1=Jacob |title=The father-son combination bringing glory days back to Marconi |url=https://www.myfootball.com.au/news/father-son-combination-bringing-glory-days-back-marconi |publisher=MyFootball |access-date=7 November 2023 |language=en |date=14 August 2019}} His father is of Greek descent and was a former footballer in the National Soccer League. His mother was also a former footballer who played as a striker for the Australian Schoolgirls' team. Although he took inspiration from his father to become a footballer,{{cite web |last1=Stavroulakis |first1=Mark |title=The sky's the limit for happy Mariner Damian Tsekenis |url=https://footballnsw.com.au/2020/09/07/the-skys-the-limit-for-happy-mariner-damian-tsekenis/ |publisher=Football NSW |access-date=7 November 2023 |language=en-AU |date=7 September 2020}}
Club career
= Marconi Stallions =
Tsekenis began his football career at Marconi Stallions where he initially started in the club's under-18s squad. He scored on his first-team debut on 9 June 2019 in a 5–2 victory over Sydney FC Youth,{{cite web |title=Young Tsekenis earning his stripes at the Stallions |url=https://mens.nplnsw.com.au/2019/07/31/young-tsekenis-earning-his-stripes-at-the-stallions/ |website=NPL NSW Men's |publisher=Football NSW |access-date=7 November 2023 |language=en-AU |date=31 July 2019}} and made a further five league appearances for Marconi.{{cite web |title=Damian Tsekenis – 2019 Player Statistics |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=205928688&client=0-10179-150732-514714-26387509 |website=GameDay |publisher=SportsTG |access-date=7 November 2023 |language=en}} He also scored a goal in a 3–0 away victory in a Round of 32 cup match against South Hobart.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Pete |title=Mariners, Melb City avoid banana skins |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/soccer/mariners-melb-city-avoid-banana-skins-c-376445 |publisher=Seven News |access-date=7 November 2023 |language=en |date=31 July 2019}} Marconi progressed through to the Round of 16 for the first time in the club's competition history.{{cite web |last1=Stogiannou |first1=George |title=Coach Tsekenis to lead Stallions for another three years |url=https://neoskosmos.com/en/2019/08/01/sport/football/coach-tsekenis-to-lead-stallions-for-another-three-years/ |website=NEOS KOSMOS |access-date=7 November 2023 |language=en |date=1 August 2019}}
= Central Coast Mariners =
Tsekenis signed for Central Coast Mariners during the 2018–19 Y-League season.{{cite web |title=Max Balard and Damian Tsekenis promoted |work=Central Coast Mariners |url=https://ccmariners.com.au/news/max-balard-and-damian-tsekenis-promoted |publisher=Central Coast Mariners |access-date=7 November 2023 |date=9 November 2021 |author1=Robbie }} During his time with Central Coast Mariners Academy, he sustained a fractured hand, necessitating a 12-week absence from play. Subsequently, he experienced an infection during his rehabilitation process and later incurred a medial collateral ligament tear, just two days into the pre-season, resulting in an additional 7-week hiatus.{{cite web |last1=Roese |first1=Mitchell |title=New Mariners starlet Tsekenis has a point to prove |url=https://thefootballsack.com.au/2021/11/new-mariners-starlet-tsekenis-has-a-point-to-prove.html |website=The Football Sack |access-date=7 November 2023 |date=22 November 2021}}
Tsekenis signed his first professional contract with the Mariners in November 2021 and was promoted to the first-team squad. He made his A-League debut (and starting debut) for the club at Wollongong Showground on 27 November 2021 in a 2–1 league defeat to Wellington Phoenix.{{cite web |title=Tsekenis debut a positive from loss |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2021/12/tsekenis-debut-a-positive-from-loss/ |website=Central Coast News |access-date=7 November 2023 |date=1 December 2021}} Tsekenis made his last appearance for the Mariners on 5 March 2022 against Brisbane Roar, making a total of three league appearances during the 2021–22 season.{{cite web |last1=May |first1=Katrina |title=Former Central Coast Mariners forward sanctioned for two years over drug use |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/sport/former-central-coast-mariners-forward-sanctioned-for-two-years-over-drug-use/news-story/4d3806ba4869feed27c422d3a74b3f1b?amp&nk=4c988514204dbfb2624f5147b0e95640-1700640687 |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=22 November 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231122081116/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/sport/former-central-coast-mariners-forward-sanctioned-for-two-years-over-drug-use/news-story/4d3806ba4869feed27c422d3a74b3f1b?amp&nk=4c988514204dbfb2624f5147b0e95640-1700640687 |archive-date=22 November 2023 |date=14 November 2023}}
= Doping ban =
On 10 November 2023, it was publicly announced that a Sport Integrity Australia investigation had found that Tsekenis used banned substances, Ibutamoren and Enobosarm, and had also engaged in the use or attempted use of RAD140 and Ligandrol. These four substances are prohibited due to their performance-enhancing nature, with effects similar to anabolic steroids. He received a two-year and nine-month suspension, backdated to expire on 21 December 2024. Tsekenis had been provisionally serving since 21 March 2022, having returned "Adverse Analytical Findings from an out-of-competition doping control test" two days later.{{cite web |title=FOOTBALL PLAYER RECEIVES SANCTION |url=https://www.sportintegrity.gov.au/news/media-statements/doping-violation-updates/2023-11/football-player-receives-sanction |publisher=Sport Integrity Australia |access-date=22 November 2023 |date=10 November 2023}}
= Marconi Stallions =
Following the expiry of his doping ban, on 16 January 2025, it was announced that Tsekenis had signed for his former club, Marconi Stallions, for the 2025 NPL NSW season.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DE4Jc5IqpfB/?hl=en&img_index=1|title=Welcome Damian Tsekenis + 3 Stallions re-sign!|publisher=Marconi Stallions FC|via=Instagram|date=16 January 2025}} Tsekenis' father, Peter, is the head coach of the team.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|damian-tsekenis/619949}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tsekenis, Damian}}
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Marconi Stallions FC players
Category:Central Coast Mariners Academy players
Category:Central Coast Mariners FC players
Category:National Premier Leagues players
Category:Australian sportspeople in doping cases
Category:Australian people of Greek descent
Category:Sportspeople of Greek descent