Georgios Katidis

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Georgios Katidis

| fullname = Georgios Katidis

| image = Giorgios Katidis.jpg

| caption = Katidis with Greece in 2012 UEFA Euro U19

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1993|02|12}}

| birth_place = Thessaloniki, Greece

| height = {{height|m=1.75}}

| position = Attacking midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2008–2010

| youthclubs1 = Aris

| years1 = 2010–2012

| clubs1 = Aris

| caps1 = 15

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2012–2013

| clubs2 = AEK Athens

| caps2 = 20

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2013–2014

| clubs3 = Novara

| caps3 = 10

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2014–2015

| clubs4 = Veria

| caps4 = 4

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2015

| clubs5 = Levadiakos

| caps5 = 9

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2016–2017

| clubs6 = Panegialios

| caps6 = 12

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2017

| clubs7 = FF Jaro

| caps7 = 10

| goals7 = 3

| years8 = 2017–2018

| clubs8 = FK Olympia Prague

| caps8 = 22

| goals8 = 8

| years9 = 2018

| clubs9 = FK Příbram

| caps9 = 7

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2021–2022

| clubs10 = Irodotos

| caps10 = 11

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2022

| clubs11 = Proodeftiki

| caps11 = 1

| goals11 = 2

| years12 = 2022

| clubs12 = Panelefsiniakos

| caps12 = 0

| goals12 = 0

| years13 = 2022–2023

| clubs13 = Atromitos Piraeus

| caps13 = 0

| goals13 = 0

| years14 = 2023

| clubs14 = AE Moschatou

| caps14 = 0

| goals14 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2009–2011

| nationalteam1 = Greece U17

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 2011–2012

| nationalteam2 = Greece U19

| nationalcaps2 = 30

| nationalgoals2 = 9

| nationalyears3 = 2012–2013

| nationalteam3 = Greece U21

| nationalcaps3 = 6

| nationalgoals3 = 2

| club-update = 27 September 2022

| nationalteam-update = 6 February 2013

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{fb| GRE}}}}

}}

Georgios Katidis ({{langx|el|Γεώργιος Κατίδης}}; born 12 February 1993) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. He is best known for performing a Nazi salute after scoring a game-winning goal in 2013, which led to his permanent suspension from every level of the Greece national team and his suspension from AEK Athens for the remainder of the 2013 season.

Club career

=Aris=

Katidis rose through the youth ranks at Aris and managed to make his debut for the team at 16 years old.

=AEK Athens=

On 27 August 2012, Katidis signed a four-year contract with AEK Athens which would keep him at the club until 2016. AEK Athens and his former club Aris agreed on a €100,000 transfer fee.{{cite web | url = http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=1355&n_id=7720 | title = Katidis signs with AEK | publisher = aekfc.gr | access-date = 27 August 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121101152952/http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=1355&n_id=7720 | archive-date = 1 November 2012 | url-status = dead }}

Katidis created an international controversy on 16 March 2013, when he gave a Nazi salute after scoring the winning goal against Veria. His action drew condemnation from politicians, fans and the media. He later told the public he was unaware of the gesture's connotations, stating that he just wanted to dedicate the goal to a colleague in the stands.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21822165|title=Greek footballer Giorgos Katidis banned for Nazi salute|work=BBC News online|date=17 March 2013}} AEK coach Ewald Lienen remarked that Katidis "doesn't have an idea about politics".{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/17/giorgos-katidis-nazi-salute-ban_n_2897092.html|title=Giorgos Katidis 'Nazi Salute' Earns Greek Footballer Lifetime National Ban|work=The Huffington Post|date=17 March 2013}} As a result of the salute, the Hellenic Football Federation voted unanimously to give Katidis a lifetime ban from all Greece national teams and he was fined €50,000.{{cite web|title=Greek soccer player gets life ban for Nazi salute. Rumors tell that Katidis is thinking about studying at UCN.|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57574753/greek-soccer-player-gets-life-ban-for-nazi-salute/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317193646/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57574753/greek-soccer-player-gets-life-ban-for-nazi-salute/|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 March 2013|work=CBS News|access-date=17 March 2013}} He was furthermore suspended by AEK for the rest of the season.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-19 |title=Εκτός ομάδας ο Κατίδης μέχρι το καλοκαίρι |url=https://www.contra.gr/podosfairo/ektos-omadas-o-katidis-mechri-to-kalokairi.7058416.html |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=www.contra.gr |language=el}}

=Novara Calcio=

On 29 June 2013, Italian Serie B side Novara signed Katidis. Novara's owner Massimo de Salvo said that they would not be 'playing down' the incident. "We don't have the intention to play down his gesture," he said. "It was disrespectful to the millions of people that suffered and paid with their lives for those who believed in false ideals and myths." De Salvo also said Katidis' remorse was a key factor in beginning negotiations with the 20-year-old. "We want to give him another chance, because we believe that making such a mistake is serious, but acknowledging it is worthy." The Italian media have dubbed Katidis the 'Greek Di Canio', referring to the former Lazio striker Paolo di Canio, who caused controversy by giving a Nazi salute whilst celebrating a goal. Eventually Katidis signed a 1+1 year contract with the club.{{cite news|url=http://neoskosmos.com/news/el/node/32748|title=Katidis in talks with Italian side Novara|publisher=neoskosmos.com|date=12 July 2013|access-date=31 July 2014|archive-date=19 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219230534/http://neoskosmos.com/news/el/node/32748|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/serie-a/news/detail/item990948/ |title=Relegated Novara sign controversial Katidis |publisher=foxsportsasia.com |date=12 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210548/http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/serie-a/news/detail/item990948/ |archive-date=12 August 2014}}

On 31 July 2014, Novara announced the end of cooperation with the player.{{cite news|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/779004|title=Τέλος από Νοβάρα ο Κατίδης|publisher=sport-fm.gr|date=31 July 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.newsit.gr/default.php?pname=Article&art_id=318708&catid=1|title=Παρελθόν ο Κατιδης από τη Νοβάρα!|publisher=newsit.gr|date=31 July 2014|access-date=31 July 2014|archive-date=19 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219230828/http://www.newsit.gr/default.php?pname=Article&art_id=318708&catid=1|url-status=dead}}

=Veria=

After being away from Greece for a year, Katidis returned to his home country by signing a two-year contract with Veria.{{cite web|url=http://veriafc.gr/index.php/2012-10-10-16-37-41/609-paiktis-tis-verias-o-giorgos-katidis/|title=Παίκτης της Βέροιας ο Γιώργος Κατίδης|last=Antonis|access-date=21 August 2014|archive-date=22 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722001842/http://veriafc.gr/index.php/2012-10-10-16-37-41/609-paiktis-tis-verias-o-giorgos-katidis/|url-status=dead}} Giorgos made his official debut on 20 September 2014 in an away loss against Olympiacos in Pireaus. He made his second appearance against Ermionida in the Greek Cup. He made his third appearance as a substitute as he replaced Sotiris Balafas against PAS Giannina. On 26 January 2015, Katidis was released by the club as he didn't impress with his performances. {{citation needed |date=July 2019}}

=Levadiakos=

On 29 January 2015, Katidis penned a {{frac|2|1|2}}-year deal with fellow Superleague Greece side Levadiakos.{{cite news|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Levadiakos/sto-levadeiako-o-katidhs.3274490.html|script-title=el:Στον Λεβαδειακό ο Κατίδης|publisher=sport24.gr|language=el|date=29 January 2015}} He made his last appearance with the club in a 1–0 away loss against PAOK.

=Panegialios=

On 10 January 2016 Katidis signed a year contract with Football League club Panegialios.{{cite news|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/BEth/o-katidhs-ston-panaigialeio.4241334.html |script-title=el:Ο Κατίδης στον Παναιγιάλειο |publisher=sport24.gr|language=el|date=1 September 2016}}

=FF Jaro=

On 30 January 2017, Katidis signed a season contract with the Finnish club FF Jaro.{{cite news|url=http://online.vasabladet.fi/Artikel/Visa/130965 |title=Katidis klar för Jaro |publisher=online.vasabladet.fi |date=30 January 2017}}

On 4 February 2017, in his first match with the club, Katidis was involved in FF Jaro goals by giving the two assists in a 2–1 Suomen Cup win against SJK. Two weeks later, he scored a brace in an 8–1 away win against SJK Akatemia for the Suomen Cup. On 4 March 2017, he scored a brace in a 6–1 home win against FC Jazz for the Suomen Cup. On 6 May 2017, he made his debut in the League with the club scoring in a 2–0 away win against EIF.

=FK Olympia Prague=

On 7 August 2017, Katidis left FF Jaro, signing a two-year contract with FK Olympia Prague of the Czech National Football League.{{cite news|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/EllinesExoterikou/sthn-olimpia-pragas-gia-2-xronia-o-katidhs.4796089.html |script-title= el:Στην Ολίμπια Πράγας για 2 χρόνια ο Κατίδης |publisher=www.sport24.gr |date=7 August 2017}} On 12 August 2017, he made his debut with the club in a FNL 2–2 home draw against FK Viktoria Žižkov. On 27 August he netted the only goal in a 1–0 away win against Vlašim.

=FK Příbram=

On 11 July 2018, Katidis signed a two-year contract with 1. FK Příbram of the Czech First League .{{cite news |url=https://www.worldinmotion.com/deal-done-giorgios-katidis-signs-deal-with-1-fk-pribram/ |title=Deal Done: Giorgios Katidis signs deal with 1. FK Pribram! |publisher=www.worldinmotion.com |date=11 July 2018 |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224041230/https://www.worldinmotion.com/deal-done-giorgios-katidis-signs-deal-with-1-fk-pribram/ |url-status=dead }}

=Irodotos=

On 18 September 2021, George Katidis returned to professional football after almost three years, signing for Super League 2 club Irodotos.{{cite news|url=https://www.protothema.gr/sports/article/1162472/ston-irodoto-o-katidis-epistrefei-sto-epaggelmatiko-podosfairo-meta-apo-tria-hronia/ |title= Στον Ηρόδοτο ο Κατίδης: Επιστρέφει στο επαγγελματικό ποδόσφαιρο μετά από τρία χρόνια|publisher=www.protothema.gr |date=18 September 2021}}

International career

Katidis quickly became under 17, under 19 and then under 21 captain of Greece due to excellent performances while he was still playing for Aris FC. He was the captain of the under-19 team that lost in the final to Spain in the 2012 European Championship in Estonia.{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1124883/spain-beat-greece-to-claim-european-under-19-championship?cc=5739|title=Spain Under-19 win again|publisher=espnfc.com}} Scoring in a game on 16 March 2013, Katidis controversially celebrated the goal by giving the crowd a Nazi salute. Katidis later apologized. The Hellenic Football Federation imposed a lifetime ban on Katidis, banning him from participating in all Greek national teams.Robert Mackey, [http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/18/greek-soccer-player-banned-for-nazi-salute/ Greek Soccer Player Banned for Nazi Salute], New York Times (18 March 2013).