Dean Pelekanos
{{Short description|Australian football player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|embed =
|name = Dean Pelekanos
|image = Dean Pelekanos 2020.png
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption = Pelekanos with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2020.
|full_name = Dean Pelekanos
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|1|5|df=yes}}{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/dean-pelekanos/644793/ |title=D. Pelekanos: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=3 November 2023}}
|birth_place = Sydney, Australia
|height =
|position = Midfielder
|currentclub = Sabah
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = 2012–2018
|youthclubs1 = Blacktown City
|youthyears2 = 2019–2020
|youthclubs2 = Western Sydney Wanderers
|years1 = 2019–2022
|clubs1 = Western Sydney Wanderers NPL
|caps1 = 21
|goals1 = 2
|years2 = 2023
|clubs2 = St George City
|caps2 = 28
|goals2 = 2
|years3 = 2024
|clubs3 = Rockdale Ilinden
|caps3 = 31
|goals3 = 3
|years4 = 2024–2025
|clubs4 = Western Sydney Wanderers
|caps4 = 14
|goals4 = 0
|years5 = 2025–
|clubs5 = Sabah
|caps5 = 0
|goals5 = 0
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 =
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|medaltemplates =
|club-update = 23 June 2025
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Dean Pelekanos (born 5 January 2001) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Malaysia Super League club Sabah.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DLPUWeJPRVY/?igsh=OThndjN1dG5lZGps|title=Sabah squad list season 25/26|website=officialsabahfc|date=23 June 2025}}
Early life
Pelekanos was born in Sydney{{cite web |title=Pelekanos embracing NPL 1 |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/pelekanos-embracing-lessons-npl-1 |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=18 November 2023 |date=22 September 2020 |quote="I’ve been living in Western Sydney my whole life..."}} and raised in Glenwood, New South Wales.{{cite web |last1=Lulham |first1=Amanda |title=Wanderers teen Dean Pelekanos on mission to make A-League debut |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/blacktown-advocate/sport/wanderers-teen-dean-pelekanos-on-mission-to-make-aleague-debut/news-story/7acf5edde1dca5e3c7b2e1073399cdde?amp&nk=c2d1b2b034c269e631aa56d20c02125c-1700292670 |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=18 November 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231118073055/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/blacktown-advocate/sport/wanderers-teen-dean-pelekanos-on-mission-to-make-aleague-debut/news-story/7acf5edde1dca5e3c7b2e1073399cdde?amp&nk=c2d1b2b034c269e631aa56d20c02125c-1700292670 |archive-date=18 November 2023 |date=11 November 2020}} He piqued interest in football at the age of three and became a foundation member of Western Sydney Wanderers when he was eleven.{{cite web |title=Pelekanos embracing NPL 1 |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/pelekanos-embracing-lessons-npl-1 |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=18 November 2023 |date=22 September 2020}} Pelekanos attended Parklea Public School before being enrolled at Hills Sports High School, where he also played rugby league. Outside of football, Pelekanos is a music enthusiasts and raps in his free time.
Career
Pelekanos began his football career, initially as a centre back, with Blacktown City in their under-12s and progressed through their youth ranks until his departure from the under-17s.{{cite web |title=Wanderers youth player Dean Pelekanos determined to move up the ranks |url=https://greekherald.com.au/sports/wanderers-youth-player-dean-pelekanos-determined-to-move-up-the-ranks/ |website=The Greek Herald |access-date=18 November 2023 |language=en-AU |date=16 December 2019}} He joined Western Sydney Wanderers Youth in 2019, where he was named captain in their National Premier Leagues squad.{{cite web |title=All eyes on Pelekanos |url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/all-eyes-pelekanos |publisher=Western Sydney Wanderers |access-date=18 November 2023 |date=16 December 2019}}
After helping the Wanderers to promotion from NSW League Two, Pelekanos signed for newly-promoted St George City prior to the 2023 season.{{cite web |title=Pelekanos' chance to shine with St George City |url=https://mens.nplnsw.com.au/2023/01/24/pelekanos-chance-to-shine-with-st-george-city/ |website=NPL NSW Men's |publisher=Football NSW |access-date=18 November 2023 |language=en-AU |date=24 January 2023}}