Andreas Samaris

Andreas Samaris (; born 13 June 1989) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

After winning the Super League Greece with Olympiakos in 2014, he signed with Benfica in Portugal for €10 million. With them, he won four Primeira Liga, one Taça de Portugal, two Taça da Liga and two Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.

A full international from 2013 to 2019, Samaris represented Greece at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Greece Samaris started his career in Gamma Ethniki side Panachaiki in 2006, making a total of 37 league appearances and scored three goals for the club. On 10 April 2007, he signed his first professional contract with Panachaiki, where he was coached by future Australia national team manager Ange Postecoglou. On 11 January 2010, Samaris moved to Panionios. Samaris ended the league with 38 appearances and scored four goals en route to the Piraeus-based club's 41st title.

Benfica On 22 August 2014, Samaris moved abroad and joined Portuguese champions Benfica on a five-year contract for a transfer fee of €10 million and with a €45 million release clause. He made his debut for Benfica on 12 September against Vitória Sétubal.

At the end of the 2014–15 season, Samaris mentioned that the Portuguese language was a barrier in his first year with the club. The Greek international stressed the importance of learning it by stating, "I liked to learn Portuguese because I became closer to my colleagues. The most important is to understand what my coach says because there was an idea of game and I had to adapt faster than the others."

On 29 August 2015, in the second day of 2015–16 Primeira Liga, Samaris, after an assist from Greek teammate Kostas Mitroglou, scored with a right-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner, the second goal giving the lead to his club in a 3–2 win against Moreirense. It was his first goal in the Primeira Liga. On 1 April 2016, he scored his second goal in the Portuguese league, with a direct free kick, in a 5–1 home game against Braga. On 4 March 2017, in a 1–0 away game against C.D. Feirense, Samaris reached 100 appearances with the jersey of Benfica. In that season, he also played in the Taça de Portugal final, which Benfica won over Vitória de Guimarães (2–1).

On 11 March 2019, Samaris scored a volley in a league match, giving his team a two-goal lead in an eventual 2–2 home draw to Belenenses. It was his first goal in the 2018–19 season in all competitions. On 14 May, he extended his contract with Benfica until 2023.

On 31 August 2021, Samaris agreed with the club for the termination of his contract.

Later career On 19 November 2021, Fortuna Sittard announced the acquisition of Samaris until the end of the season. On 27 November 2021, he made his debut with the club as a late substitute in a 1–4 loss against FC Groningen.

On 29 August 2022, Samaris returned to Portugal and signed a one-season contract with Rio Ave.

On 27 August 2023, Brazilian club Coritiba announced the signing of Samaris on a one-year deal.

International career Samaris is a former Greece under-19 international.

On 24 June 2014, in his first appearance in a final tournament of the World Cup and against the Ivory Coast, Samaris opened the scoring after capitalizing on Cheick Tioté's defensive mistake in the 42nd minute in an eventual 2–1 victory; Samaris came on as an early replacement for the injured Panagiotis Kone.

Career statistics

Club

International

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 24 June 2014 Estádio Castelão‚ Fortaleza, Brazil 1–0 2–1 2014 FIFA World Cup

Honours Olympiacos Super League Greece: 2013–14

Benfica Primeira Liga: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19 Taça de Portugal: 2016–17 Taça da Liga: 2014–15, 2015–16 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2016, 2017