Denis Epstein
{{short description|German footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Denis Epstein
| image = Epstein, Dennis FSV Frankfurt 15-16 WP.jpg
| caption = Epstein with FSV Frankfurt in 2015
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1986|7|2}}
| birth_place = Cologne, West Germany
| height = 1.80 m
| position = Left winger
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Bayer Leverkusen
| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = 1. FC Köln
| years1 = 2005–2007 | clubs1 = 1. FC Köln | caps1 = 23 | goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2007 | clubs2 = → Rot-Weiss Essen (loan) | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2007–2008 | clubs3 = Kickers Offenbach | caps3 = 21 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2008–2010 | clubs4 = Iraklis | caps4 = 50 | goals4 = 8
| years5 = 2010–2011 | clubs5 = Olympiacos | caps5 = 0 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2010–2011 | clubs6 = → Kerkyra (loan) | caps6 = 27 | goals6 = 9
| years7 = 2011–2013 | clubs7 = Atromitos | caps7 = 56 | goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2013–2016 | clubs8 = FSV Frankfurt | caps8 = 63 | goals8 = 6
| years9 = 2016–2018 | clubs9 = Kerkyra | caps9 = 51 | goals9 = 10
| years10 = 2018–2019 | clubs10 = Lamia | caps10 = 24 | goals10 = 2
| years11 = 2019–2020 | clubs11 = TSG Balingen | caps11 = 18 | goals11 = 2
| totalcaps = 338
| totalgoals = 42
| nationalyears1 = 2006
| nationalteam1 = Germany U20
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| manageryears1 = 2020–2024
| managerclubs1 = TSG Balingen II
| manageryears2 = 2023
| managerclubs2 = TSG Balingen (caretaker)
}}
Denis Epstein (born 2 July 1986) is a German former professional footballer who played as a left winger.{{cite news|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2010-11/ao-kerkyra/33627/spieler_denis-epstein.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119063139/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2010-11/ao-kerkyra/33627/spieler_denis-epstein.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 January 2016|title=Epstein, Denis|language=de|magazine=kicker|date=November 2010|accessdate=15 January 2018}}
Career
=Youth clubs=
Epstein played for three youth clubs, ranging from 1995 to 2005, including the youth teams of Bayer Leverkusen, Fortuna Köln, and 1. FC Köln. In the 1998–99 season, he made a rivalry switch from Bayer Leverkusen to 1. FC Köln. He was picked up as a senior team member for 1. FC Köln II in 2005, playing 31 games for the third division reserve team and scoring three goals.
=1. FC Köln=
Epstein made his senior debut for 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga in a 4–1 loss against Hannover 96. He scored his first Bundesliga goal against VfL Wolfsburg after he being substituted on for Dimitrios Grammozis. He ended a seven-game losing streak for the relegation-threatened club. After that, he rarely started a match for Köln, scoring only one goal in the 2006–07 season.
=Rot-Weiss Essen=
Epstein was loaned out to Rot-Weiss Essen on 20 January 2007 until the end of the 2. Bundesliga season by Köln coach Christoph Daum, to gain more match experience.
=Greece=
On 24 June 2008, Epstein signed a contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki. He appeared in 24 matches for Iraklis during the 2008–09 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.ehrensenf.de/shows/ehrensenf/gumball-3000-schwarzgeld-iraklis-saloniki|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522002526/http://www.ehrensenf.de/shows/ehrensenf/gumball-3000-schwarzgeld-iraklis-saloniki|archivedate=22 May 2009|title=Interview|publisher=ehrensenf.de|access-date=19 June 2010|url-status=dead}} After another equally successful season (with four goals in 26 appearances), his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 18 June 2010.
In summer 2011, Epstein became the first of Ernesto Valverde's 'unwanted list' at Olympiacos to leave the club, after a year-long loan to Kerkyra. On 18 July 2011, Epstein signed a three-year contract with Atromitos for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Atromitos/katoikos-peristerioy-o-epstain.1192016.html|script-title=el:Κάτοικος Περιστερίου ο Επστάιν|language=el|date=18 July 2011|accessdate=15 January 2018}} For the Athenian club, he made 64 appearances scoring 4 goals across all competitions.{{cite web|first=Jörg|last=Hanau|url=http://www.fr.de/sport/rhein-main/fsvfrankfurt/fsv-frankfurt-fsv-frankfurt-verpflichtet-denis-epstein-a-706125|title=FSV Frankfurt verpflichtet Denis Epstein|trans-title=FSV Frankfurt signs Denis Epstein|work=Frankfurter Rundschau|language=de|date=22 May 2013|accessdate=15 January 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140426/http://www.fr.de/sport/rhein-main/fsvfrankfurt/fsv-frankfurt-fsv-frankfurt-verpflichtet-denis-epstein-a-706125|url-status=dead}} On 9 April 2013, he terminated his contract with the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Atromitos/telos-epstain-kai-mantzios-apo-ton-atromhto.2202534.html|script-title=el:Τέλος Επστάιν και Μάντζιος από τον Ατρόμητο|language=el|date=9 April 2013|accessdate=15 January 2018}}
=FSV Frankfurt=
In summer 2013, Epstein returned to Germany signing a three-year contract with FSV Frankfurt, returning to the 2. Bundesliga.
=Return to Greece=
In June 2016, Epstein returned to former PAE Kerkyra having agreed a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Kerkyra/ypegrapse-gia-2-xronia-sthn-kerkyra-o-epstain.4132375.html|language=el|date=22 June 2016|first=Dimitris|last=Samolis|script-title=el:Υπέγραψε για 2 χρόνια στην Κέρκυρα ο Επστάιν|trans-title=Epstein signs 2-year contract with Kerkyra|accessdate=15 January 2018}}
On 6 June 2018, after having been released by Kerkyra, he signed a contract with Lamia until the summer of 2020.{{cite web|script-title=el:Ανακοίνωση για απόκτηση ποδοσφαιριστή|language=Greek|date=6 June 2018|publisher=Lamia F.C.|url=http://www.lamia1964.gr/%ce%b1%ce%bd%ce%b1%ce%ba%ce%bf%ce%af%ce%bd%cf%89%cf%83%ce%b7-%ce%b3%ce%b9%ce%b1-%ce%b1%cf%80%cf%8c%ce%ba%cf%84%ce%b7%cf%83%ce%b7-%cf%80%ce%bf%ce%b4%ce%bf%cf%83%cf%86%ce%b1%ce%b9%cf%81%ce%b9%cf%83-3/}} On 24 September 2018, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 away draw against Panetolikos.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/panaitwlikos-lamia-2-2-prwtos-vathmos-sto-99-gia-toys-fthiwtes.5318040.html |title=Παναιτωλικός - Λαμία 2-2: Πρώτος βαθμός στο 90'+9' για τους Φθιώτες |publisher=sport24.gr |date=24 September 2018}} On 12 October 2018, he opened the score in an eventual 2–1 away loss against AEK Athens for the Greek Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/GreekCup/aek-lamia-2-1-evale-mpoge-ekane-thn-anatroph.5335510.html |title=ΑΕΚ - Λαμία 2-1: Έβαλε Μπογέ, έκανε την ανατροπή |publisher=sport24.gr |date=12 October 2018}} On 20 October 2018, he scored against AEL, completing his team's comeback and helping to a 2–1 away win.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/ael-lamia-1-2-istorikh-anatroph-gia-thn-omada-ths-fthiwtidas.5341988.html |title=ΑΕΛ - Λαμία 1-2: Ιστορική ανατροπή για την ομάδα της Φθιώτιδας |publisher=sport24.gr |date=20 October 2018}}
Coaching career
In the summer of 2020, after hanging up his boots, it was confirmed that Epstein would continue at TSG Balingen, albeit in a different role; he would be the player-coach of the club's U23/reserve team.[https://www.reviersport.de/fussball/allgemein/a480950---.html Denis Epstein wird U23-Trainer eines Regionalligisten], reviersport.de, 20 March 2020 During his time at the club as a coach, Epstein also served as responsible for parts of the club's youth sector.[https://gvs-gruppe.de/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TSG-Balingen-Artikel-Jugend-Akademie2.pdf Fußball in Balingen: Jugend-Akademie soll den Erfolg ...], gvs-gruppe.de
On November 20, 2023, it was confirmed that Epstein had been appointed interim head coach of the club's first team until the end of the year.[https://www.tsg-fussball.de/2023/11/20/regionalliga-denis-epstein-uebernimmt-als-interimscoach/ Regionalliga: Denis Epstein übernimmt als Interimscoach], tsg-fussball.de, 20 November 2023 In April 2024 it was confirmed that Epstein would leave the club after the season.[https://www.fupa.net/news/erfolgstrainer-verlaesst-landesliga-spitzenreiter-3012554 Erfolgstrainer verlässt Landesliga-Spitzenreiter], fupa.net, 2 April 2024
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|6 May 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Others !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|1. FC Köln
|11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07
|12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 14 | 0 | ||
| Total
!23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| Rot-Weiss Essen (loan)
|5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 1 | ||
| Kickers Offenbach
|21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 23 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Iraklis
|24 | 5 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 26 | 5 | ||
| 2009–10
|26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 27 | 4 | ||
| Total
!50 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 9 |
| Kerkyra (loan)
|27 | 9 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 31 | 9 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Atromitos
|33 | 2 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 37 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13
|23 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 27 | 2 | |
| Total
!56 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 4 |
| rowspan="4"|FSV Frankfurt
|32 | 6 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 34 | 6 | ||
| 2014–15
|9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16
|22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 23 | 0 | ||
| Total
!63 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 6 |
| rowspan="3"|Kerkyra
|26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 28 | 5 | ||
| 2017–18
|25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 25 | 6 | ||
| Total
!51 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 11 |
| Lamia
|24 | 2 | 6 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 30 | 3 | ||
| colspan="2"|Career total
!320 | 41 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 351 | 45 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Fussballdaten|epsteindenis|Denis Epstein}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Epstein, Denis}}
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Cologne
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Germany men's youth international footballers
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen players
Category:1. FC Köln II players
Category:Rot-Weiss Essen players
Category:Kickers Offenbach players
Category:Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki) players
Category:Atromitos F.C. players
Category:FSV Frankfurt players
Category:PAS Lamia 1964 players
Category:Olympiacos F.C. players
Category:German football managers
Category:German expatriate men's footballers
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Greece