Manolis Moniakis

Born in Heraklion, Moniakis began playing football in the Ergotelis Youth Academy. Considered among the greatest Cretan talents in his generation, and having already received call-ups for the Greek national U–19 team, Moniakis sparked controversy in November 2006, when he left the club as soon as he turned 18 to sign his first professional contract with Ergotelis' local arch rival OFI.{{cite web|publisher=tanea.gr|script-title=el:«Βεντέτα» για τον Μονιάκη στο Ηράκλειο|url=https://www.tanea.gr/2006/12/01/sports/benteta-gia-ton-moniaki-sto-irakleio/|language=Greek|date=1 December 2006}} He played for the senior side of OFI from January 2007 until December 2010, featuring in 32 Super League games.{{cite web|publisher=enet.gr|script-title=el:Επιβεβαίωση Μαχλά ότι ο Μονιάκης κλείνει στον Ολυμπιακό|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=237443|language=Greek|date=30 December 2010}} However, he tested positive for cocaine in March 2009,{{cite web|publisher=athleticradio.gr|script-title=el:Θετικός σε κοκαΐνη ο Μονιάκης!|url=https://www.athleticradio.gr/ofi/9151-thetikos-se-kokani-o-moniakis/|language=Greek|date=8 April 2009}} and received a six-month suspension.{{cite web|publisher=contra.gr|script-title=el:Eξι μήνες στον Μονιάκη για την υπόθεση ντόπινγκ|url=https://www.contra.gr/podosfairo/exi-mines-ston-moniaki-gia-tin-ypothesi-ntopingk.6832742.html|language=Greek|date=27 May 2009}} After his return to action, Moniakis capitalized on his performances with OFI, earning a transfer to Olympiacos.[http://www.inews.gr/141/Olybiakos-proti-moniakis-defteri-maniatis.htm OΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ: Πρώτη Μονιάκης, δεύτερη Μανιάτης (First Moniakis, Second Maniatis)] iNews.gr, 30 December 2010 (Greek)[http://www.athleticradio.gr/ofi/31926-kleinei-ston-olumpiako-o-moniakis Yπογράφει στον Ολυμπιακό ο Μονιάκης (Moniakis signs with Olympiacos)] Athletic Radio 104.2 (Greek) He signed a four-year contract with the club in January 2011, and was immediately loaned out to fellow Super League side Kerkyra for six months.{{cite web|publisher=sportaction.gr|script-title=el:Ερυθρόλευκος ....και Κέρκυρα ο Μονιάκης|url=http://www.sportaction.gr/document.php?category_id=144&document_id=182993|language=Greek|date=4 January 2011}} (Greek)

His stay with the Piraeus-club was short-lived however, and at the start of 2011-12 season, Moniakis returned to OFI. He played for the Cretans until March 2015, when OFI announced that they were withdrawing from the Super League as the administration failed to meet the club's pressing financial obligations.{{Cite web |url=http://www.livenewspak.com/football-ofi-drops-out-of-greek-super-league/ |title=Football: OFI drops out of Greek Super League |access-date=2015-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410145320/http://www.livenewspak.com/football-ofi-drops-out-of-greek-super-league/ |archive-date=2015-04-10 |url-status=dead }}

In July 2015, Moniakis signed a contract with Greek Football League side AEL, for an undisclosed fee.[http://www.gentikoule.gr/podosfairo/103375-anakoinothikan-apo-tin-larisa-moniakis-robithis Ανακοινώθηκαν από την Λάρισα Μονιάκης, Ροβίθης] He was one of the key players, helping the club earn promotion to the Super League. He left the club on mutual consent on 5 May 2017.[http://www.athleticradio.gr/superleague/408024-apochorise-apo-tin-larisa-o-moniakis/ Αποχώρησε από την Λάρισα ο Μονιάκης] In July the same year, Moniakis made his second comeback to his former club OFI, at the time playing in the Football League, signing a two-year contract.[http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Ofi/ortegka-kai-moniakhs-ston-ofh.4760174.html Ορτέγκα και Μονιάκης στον ΟΦΗ] After winning the Division title in 2018, Moniakis was waived by the club,{{cite web|publisher=sport-fm.gr|script-title=el:Τέλος από ΟΦΗ ο Μονιάκης|url=http://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/telos-apo-ofi-o-moniakis/3527165|language=Greek|date=6 June 2018}} (Greek) and subsequently signed with recently relegated Rethymno FCA A Division club Mylopotamos.{{cite web|publisher=capitano.gr|script-title=el:«Έκπληξη» με Μονιάκη η ΑΕ Μυλοποτάμου!|url=https://capitano.gr/articles/bomba-me-moniakh-h-ae-mylopotamoy|language=Greek|date=4 August 2018}} (Greek) After helping the club swiftly return to the Gamma Ethniki, Moniakis returned to Heraklion in July 2019 to sign with Heraklion FCA A1 Division club Almyros Gazi.{{cite web|publisher=athleticradio.gr|script-title=el:Έκανε το “μπαμ” με Μονιάκη ο Αλμυρός!|url=https://www.athleticradio.gr/epsi-topiko-heraklion/497375-ekane-to-mpam-me-moniaki-o-almuros/|language=Greek|date=1 July 2019}} (Greek)

Moniakis played for the Greece Under-19 and Greece Under-21 national football teams between 2006 and 2008.{{cite web|publisher=contra.gr|script-title=el:Η Εθνική Νέων στο "μικροσκόπιο"|author=Mihalakakos, Dimitris|url=http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Europe/Euro/Greece/160562.html|language=Greek|date=15 July 2007}}

• Football League: Winner: 2015–16

• Football League: Winner: 2017–18

{{reflist}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120727124107/http://www.epae.org/player.fds?categ=2&team=13&player=12070&pagecode=04.02.02&langid=1 Profile at epae.org]}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121011022321/http://guardian.touch-line.com/StatsCentre.asp?CTID=31&CPID=135&TEID=6390&PLID=201786&pStr=Player Guardian's Stats Centre]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moniakis, Manolis}}

Category:1988 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Heraklion

Category:Greek men's footballers

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Athlitiki Enosi Larissa F.C. players

Category:A.O. Kerkyra players

Category:OFI Crete F.C. players

Category:Olympiacos F.C. players

Category:21st-century Greek sportsmen