Kostas Nikolaidis

Kostas Nikolaidis (; born 10 September 1944) is a former Greek professional footballer who played as a striker. During his presence in Greek championship he scored 100 goals, which ranks him amongst the top scorers in the history of the institution.

Early life Born in Safraboli a district of Nea Ionia in Athens, Nikolaidis had also descent from North Epirus, where his father, Ilias left in 1918 during the World War I. His love for football brought him at the door of the local PAO Safraboli's youth team, in 1958, where at the age of 14 made his first tryout in order to join the club. The tryout was unsuccessful as he has turned down by the team's coach Krassas, but eventually, a year later Nikolaidis managed to join PAO Safraboli after a second tryout. On 15 July 1966 it was decided by the General Sport's Secretary and AEK to support the Greek-based Alexander the Great by providing them with four of their footballers until the end of the season in order for the club to stay in the Victorian State League. Those footballers were Simigdalas, Nikolaidis, Pomonis and Papageorgiou. Nikolaidis played 7 matches and scored twice and alongside his teammates at AEK he helped the club avoid relegation by finishing 10th. After the end of the season in September, they returned to AEK. On 20 December 1967 he scored a hat-trick in the imposing 5–0 at home over Olympiakos Nicosia. His 2 goals against Olympiacos on 31 March 1968, won the derby for the club and gave them to a high extend the title at the end of the season. He was a member of the team that reached the European Cup quarter-finals in 1969. On 29 September 1972 his goal at the 89th minute gave the AEK the victory over Internazionale with 3–2 for the European Cup, in Nea Filadelfeia. During his spell at AEK he won 2 league titles and 1 Greek Cup in

Later career In the summer of 1973 Nikolaidis was released from AEK and signed for PAS Giannina, where he played for a season, winning the second division championship, helping the club to be promoted to the first division.

On 21 August 1974 he signed for Apollon Athens, where he played 2 seasons, winning again the second division championship and playing his final season at the highest tear of Greece. Except his impressive 100 goals in total for the Greek Championship, he managed to score in 8 consecutive league games being one of 4 players that ever achieve that alongside Giorgos Sideris, Demis Nikolaidis and Kostas Mitroglou. where he played for a season before finishing his career as a footballer.

International career Nikolaidis played in 1962 with Greece U19, under Georgios Magiras, making 10 appearances.

Club statistics

a. Does not include 2nd division stats.

Personal life Nikolaidis worked at the PPC, while he was playing for AEK.

Honours

AEK Athens Alpha Ethniki: 1967–68, 1970–71 Greek Cup: 1965–66

PAS Giannina Beta Ethniki: 1973–74

Apollon Athens Beta Ethniki: 1974–75

Individual Greek Cup top scorer: 1966–67