Sotiris Ninis: Greece’s Great White Hope

During the European Championships hosted by Portugal in the summer of 2004 the Greek national team exceeded all expectations in snatching the tournament from the clutches of the hosts. The whole of Greece seemed to descend into madness, celebrating what seemed to be the biggest turning point in their footballing history.

Three years later Greek football has stood still and Greeks lament that their nation has not built on the success that their European triumph suggested was in the offing.

However, that same night in 2004, amidst the suffocating Athenian summer heat, a 13-year-old boy dreamed about emulating Charisteas, Zagorakis, Basinas and Tsarstas.

Sotiris Ninis was born in the Albanian town of Himara (a region that belonged to Greece until 1944). After the fall of communism in 1991, his parents, along with thousands of others were able to return to their homeland in Greece. Sotiris and his family first moved to Zakynthos but after a few years they finally settled in the capital, amidst the restless and cosmopolitan life of Athens. There, Sotiris grew up happily and without any worries, concerned only with football. In the Apollon Smyrnis academy (a humble team from the suburbs), he was the star attraction of every practice because of his phenomenal talents from the very beginning; he soon attracted the attention of Panathinaikos scouts, who snapped him up after watching him for several months. In 2003 he was accepted into the younger categories of PAO (an abbreviation for Panathinaikos) and from that moment on his talent progressed at lightning speed with each passing season. His big opportunity was only a matter of time.

The 7th of January 2007 represents an historic day in the life of this young man as well as in Greek football. Spaniard Victor Munoz, the coach of PAO, decided to include him in the team for a match against Aigaleo. Even more surprising was when Ninis was informed that he would be making an appearance in the first eleven. Aged just 16 years and 309 days he was the second youngest player to ever play in the Greek Superliga – the youngest was another PAO player, Kostas Antoniou, who debuted in 1978 at only 15 years of age.

After an inspired performance Sotiris was chosen as the best player of that round. On the 27th of January, during a home match against Panionios he again etched his name into the history of Greek football when he scored an exceptional goal. Making a quick start from the right side, Ninis dribbled Messi style before finishing with his left leg – his weakest.

This made him the youngest player to score in the Greek championship. Another record that he added to his collection occurred on his debut in the UEFA Cup against French club Lens. Still aged only 16, Ninis bettered all of his compatriots, none of whom have managed to make an appearance at this age in an international club competition. On the 27th of March in Denmark he played for the Greek U-21 national team for the first time, putting to a stop all of the rumours that had been spreading about his possible appearance in the Albanian national team. On this occasion, it seemed as if his Greek roots were more important in the moment of his decision.

And what kind of player is Ninis on the pitch? In football like that which is played in Greece, it is often hard to see a young talent grow. That's why his style surprises even more – it doesn't have anything to do with the principles that rule there. He is a right forward who likes to move to the centre, although he also stands out when playing the role of assistant from the right side, contributing with speed and style. His 1.73 cm frame makes him hard to notice; he is always in motion and is a fantastic dribbler. In Greece he is already being compared to Messi, although it's true that he has a long way to go.

That summer night his idols were Tsartas, Charisteas and Zagorakis. If things continue as they have, tomorrow he could be the leading player of a new Greek generation represented by Iliadis, Balafas, Samaras, Gekas, Salpigidis and Lagos. Let's hope the gods of Mount Olympus will be on their side.