Peter Philipakos

Peter Philipakos (; born 21 January 1983) is an American retired soccer player who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Amateur Philipakos was born in the United States and played youth club soccer for nationally ranked Hewlett NOGA / Hewlett Blue Streak of Hewlett-Lawrence Soccer Club in Five Towns, New York. Philipakos was a U.S. Youth Soccer Region I and Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) Olympic Development Program (ODP) player.

After graduating from Glen Cove High School in Glen Cove, New York, Peter matriculated to St. John's University in 2001. They reached the 2001 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship College Cup (Semifinals). After the 2001 season, Philipakos transferred from St. John's to American University.

Professional

AEK Athens In late December 2003, after completing his junior year, Philipakos tried out with the Greek side AEK Athens. On 9 January 2004 Philipakos then signed a 3.5-year professional contract with the club. He was ineligible to appear in competitive matches in the season, since AEK already had the maximum-allowed number of non-European Union players on their roster. The Greek citizenship papers of Philipakos could not be processed in time for the club to register him as a Greek player. Nevertheless the player could train with the team until the start of the following season. Philipakos eventually never played for AEK, who by the end of the season they approached bankruptcy. Philipakos was among a host of players who left the club as a result.

Olympiacos In July 2004 the manager of AEK Dušan Bajević controversially signed with their rivals, Olympiacos. He recruited Philipakos to sign a one-year contract with Olympiacos, Greece's most successful club, on 31 July 2004. but just before the 2004–05 season he suffered an inguinal hernia on his left side that required surgery and forced him to miss season's first half. Philipakos debuted for Olympiacos on January 19, 2005, in the Greek Cup against Iraklis at Kaftanzoglio Stadium. Philipakos made his league debutand first starton February 27, 2005, against Chalkidona (now called Atromitos) at Olympiacos’ Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium and he made his European debut on March 16, 2005, in the UEFA Cup Round of 16 against Newcastle United at St James' Park. During the season the Greek media continually compared Philipakos to former Olympiacos star winger Stelios Giannakopoulos. Olympiacos became A' Ethniki champions and Greek Cup winners in the 2004–05 season, At the end of the season, Olympiacos renewed Philipakos’ contract for 2 years. In July, Olympiacos hired Norwegian manager Trond Sollied. Sollied and Philipakos experienced a tumultuous relationship. Sollied brought in Nigerian Haruna Babangida to play Philipakos’ position, making Philipakos of little use. In early September 2005, Peter requested to leave the club, and was made to train on the side at Olympiacos’ Renti training complex until a resolution could be found.

Philipakos is the only Greek-American to have ever played in a league match for Olympiacos.

Aris On January 25, 2006, Philipakos signed a 6-month contract with Aris to finish the 2005–06 season. That season Aris was playing in B' Ethniki for the just the second time in the club's long history, and during the winter transfer period manager Nikos Anastopoulos hired Philipakos and defender Efthimios Kouloucheriswho had also been recently released by Olympiacos. Philipakos made a total of 6 appearances for Arisall as a substitute, in between injuries.

On April 16, 2006, Aris took on Ethnikos Asteras at Aris’ Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium Aris dominated the match but could not convert any of their chances to score, and the match ended 0-0. After the match, Philipakos grabbed his shirt and ripped it from the neck down as he left the field. Aris fans became outraged that he would do such a thing to the club symbol. Philipakos apologized, but was not forgiven. Ethnikos had had one of the stronger teams in Greek football for decades, but after being relegated for the first time in 1990, the club bounced between A' and B' Ethniki for a few seasons and then stalled in B' Ethniki after 1999. Ahead of the 2006–07 season, ambitious Ethnikos signed up former Olympiacos and FC Barcelona star Giovanni and former AEK and Sevilla FC star Vasilios Tsiartas to lead the team and Philipakos joined as well. Philipakos’ experience with the club was a fiasco. Shortly after Philipakos signed, President Nikos Pirounias agreed to sell controlling interest to a group of investors fronted by Cypriot businessman Fivos Moridis. From the time of Moridis’ arrival, Philipakos was unpaid and sat on the bench. Giovanni and Tsiartas as well as several other summer signings all left the club in the middle of the season. In January 2007 Philipakos initially took legal action to receive his unpaid wages, but he dropped the case so that he could sign elsewhere. Philipakos officially cut ties with Ethnikos in February 2007,

FK SIAD Most In April 2007, he went on trial with FK SIAD Most of the Czech first division, the Gambrinus Liga. signed a 1-year contract (with a 1-year option) with the club on May 9, 2007, under manager Zdeněk Ščasný.

In a friendly match against SK Slovan Varnsdorf just prior to the start of the 2007–08 season Philipakos suffered an athletic pubalgia (more commonly referred to as a "sports hernia") on his right side and tore his adductor longus muscle on the same side. His doctors did not detect the sports hernia. Philipakos struggled with pain and could not continue to play after his debut. In anticipation of the drop, Most cut layers, top scorer Goce Toleski was sold to Slavia Prague, Andrew Hainault was loaned to Sparta Prague,

Ethnikos Piraeus (second stint) While Philipakos was in the Czech Republic, Nikos Pirounias retook control of Ethnikos. In February 2008, Pirounias called on the American to return to Ethnikos. Though unable to play league matches, since the transfer period had already closed, he rejoined the team in training and signed a 1-year contract with the club to play the 2008–09 season. Philipakos remained healthy throughout the 2008–09 season and appeared 12 in all matches, a career-high. Philipakos chose not to re-sign with Ethnikos.

Chersonissos In August 2009, Philipakos accepted a trial invitation from Danish club Vejle, but he returned to Greece after only a few days, suffering from an ankle injury. In the next transfer window, in January 2010, Philipakos signed a 6-month contract with Greek Football League 2 club Chersonissos. Philipakos re-signed with Chersonissos for the 2010–11 season, returning as team captain.

Iraklis Psachna On September 9, 2011, Philipakos signed a 1-year contract with Greek club Ionikos. In late September, Ionikos was found guilty of committing contract forgery during the 2010–11 season and was relegated to Football League 2. Soon after the club voluntarily switched to Delta Ethniki. As a result, Ionikos' players were free to sign with another club.

On October 14, 2011, Philipakos signed a 1-year contract with Football League club Iraklis Psachna.

On November 27, 2011, in the fourth week of the 2011-12 Football League season, Philipakos played in Iraklis Psaxna's first win in the Greek second tier in club history—a 2–0 defeat of Diagoras.

Vyzas Megara On January 23, 2012, Philipakos completed a mid-season transfer to Greek Football League club Vyzas Megara. However, the club was unable to pay its players and Philipakos was one of several players to sue for unpaid wages.

International career On March 18, 2005, Philipakos was called by the Greek Under-21 National Team for UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Georgia and Albania. Philipakos declined the invitation, citing a desire to focus on Olympiacos duties, while also adding he was not ready to close the door on the prospect of one day representing the United States.

Honors

Olympiacos Alpha Ethniki: 2004–05 Greek Cup: 2004–05