1. Overview
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Λάζαρος ΧριστοδουλόπουλοςLazaros ChristodoulopoulosGreek, Modern, born 19 December 1986), known mononymously as Lazaros due to his long surname, is a Greek professional footballer who plays primarily as a winger for Super League Greece 2 club Iraklis. Born in Thessaloniki, Christodoulopoulos is renowned for his exceptional ball handling technique, quick pace, and ability to accelerate with the ball, making him a dynamic attacking threat.
Throughout his extensive and impactful career, Christodoulopoulos has achieved several unprecedented milestones in Greek football history. He is distinguished as the first and only player to have represented and scored for all of the traditional "Big-4" Greek clubs: PAOK, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, and Olympiacos. This unique accomplishment later expanded to include the "Big-5" and subsequently the "Big-7" major clubs spanning both Attica and Thessaloniki, for all of which he has also scored. Furthermore, he is only the second player in football history to have scored in the three major UEFA club competitions: the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League. On the international stage, he has been a member of the Greece national football team since his debut in 2008, notably participating in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
2. Early life and youth career
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos's football journey began in his hometown of Thessaloniki at a young age. He first joined Omonoia Sindos, a local youth club, where he started developing his skills. Following his time there, he moved to another youth club, Neapoli. His consistent and impressive performances at the youth level quickly caught the discerning eye of a scout from PAOK FC. This led to his recruitment by PAOK in the summer of 2004, marking his entry into a professional club's youth system at just 17 years old.
3. Club career
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos has embarked on a distinguished professional football journey, moving between prominent clubs in Greece, Italy, and Cyprus. His career has been marked by significant transfers, notable individual performances, and the establishment of several unique records within the sport.
3.1. PAOK
Christodoulopoulos officially joined PAOK FC in the summer of 2004, at the age of 17. He rapidly integrated into the first team, becoming a crucial and consistent player for the club. By 2008, his strong displays on the field attracted considerable interest from several major European clubs. At that time, his contract with PAOK was set to run until 2008, with a specified minimum release clause of 6.00 M EUR.
A significant point in his early career at PAOK occurred in the summer of 2006, when he was offered a trial by the renowned English club Liverpool. However, PAOK was reluctant to sell him, leading to a notable dispute between Christodoulopoulos and the club's management. This disagreement severely impacted his playing time, preventing him from participating in over half of the 2006-07 season. During this period of strained relations with PAOK, local media affectionately bestowed upon him the nickname "The Builder," stemming from his public statement that he would rather work as a construction worker than play for PAOK again.
3.2. Panathinaikos
On 20 June 2008, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos formalized his transfer to Panathinaikos F.C., one of Greece's most prominent clubs, agreeing to a four-year contract valued at 3.80 M EUR.
During his tenure at Panathinaikos, Christodoulopoulos made significant contributions, particularly in European competitions. On 18 February 2010, he scored a crucial goal against Roma after being introduced as a substitute in the UEFA Europa League round of 32. The 2011-12 season commenced with an unfortunate setback for him as he suffered a serious knee injury during the pre-season, necessitating surgery. Medical professionals initially estimated a recovery period of five months. Following an intensive rehabilitation program, he rejoined team training in December. On 29 December 2011, despite his existing contract nearing expiration at the end of the 2011-12 season, the club president announced that Christodoulopoulos had committed to a new three-year contract, extending his stay until 2015. In January 2012, reports surfaced once again indicating interest from Liverpool, who were reportedly prepared to offer 2.00 M GBP for the player.
For the 2012-13 season, Christodoulopoulos began with strong performances, consistently scoring in both European and domestic championship matches. He was assigned the coveted number "10" jersey, signifying his central role, and emerged as one of the team's most vital players alongside Ibrahim Sissoko. However, the club faced severe financial difficulties, leading president Giannis Alafouzos to implement cost-cutting measures by releasing high-earning players. Consequently, in December 2012, Christodoulopoulos was released from his contract, a decision that also affected teammates such as Nikos Spyropoulos, Loukas Vyntra, Antonis Petropoulos, and Sebastian Leto.
3.3. Bologna
On 31 January 2013, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos made a significant move to Italian football, transferring to Bologna on a free transfer. He made his debut on 26 February 2013 against Fiorentina, coming on as a substitute and scoring a goal in a 2-1 victory.
Following the departure of Alessandro Diamanti in January, Christodoulopoulos secured a regular starting position within the team. He proved capable of capitalizing on these opportunities, establishing himself as a key component of the squad under coach Davide Ballardini. In March 2014, he scored a late consolation penalty in a 2-1 away defeat to Livorno, marking his first goal of the season. A week later, he played a pivotal role in boosting Bologna's survival hopes in Serie A by securing a crucial 1-0 home win over Cagliari at the Stadio Dall'Ara. His performance in this match was outstanding, leading the team's attacking efforts and calmly converting a penalty to secure the decisive goal. He was named "Man of the Match" for his display, which included him being at the center of a controversial penalty decision when the referee ruled that Daniele Dessena had pushed him inside the box.
On 16 May 2014, a few days before the final match of a season that culminated in Bologna's relegation to Serie B, tensions flared at the club's training ground. A forceful tackle from teammate Cesare Natali on Christodoulopoulos ignited a heated reaction from the Greek midfielder, who expressed concern that an injury could jeopardize his participation in the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup. Following their relegation, Bologna planned to divest itself of its high-profile players. Christodoulopoulos became a sought-after player in Italy, attracting interest from clubs such as Torino, Palermo, and Fiorentina. He was particularly valued for his demonstrated ability to assume responsibility when the team faced difficulties.
3.4. Hellas Verona
On 30 June 2014, Hellas Verona officially confirmed the outright signing of Lazaros Christodoulopoulos from Bologna. He signed a three-year contract, with the transfer fee reported to be 1.30 M EUR. The deal had initially encountered difficulties due to Verona's player Domenico Maietta refusing a reciprocal move, but it was ultimately completed without the need for an exchange.
In January 2015, reports from Sky Sport Italia suggested that Hellas Verona, keen on signing Argentinian offensive midfielder Juan Sánchez Miño from Torino, had offered Christodoulopoulos to Torino as part of a potential loan exchange.
3.4.1. Loan to Sampdoria
On 31 August 2015, Christodoulopoulos moved to Sampdoria as part of a swap deal with Paweł Wszołek, who was loaned from Sampdoria to Hellas Verona. Christodoulopoulos's move was an initial loan with an option for a permanent transfer.
He scored his first goal for Sampdoria on 5 March 2016, in a 3-0 away victory against his parent club, Hellas Verona. The goal came from a powerful volley following a cross from Lorenzo De Silvestri, a significant moment as it was scored against his former team.
3.5. AEK Athens
On 27 August 2016, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos returned to Greek football, signing a 3-season (2+1) contract with AEK Athens F.C. as a free transfer after spending three and a half years playing in Italy.
3.5.1. 2016-17 season
Christodoulopoulos quickly made an impact at AEK Athens. On 25 October 2016, he scored his first goal for the club in a commanding 4-0 home victory against Kerkyra in the Greek Football Cup. On 5 February 2017, he netted a brace in a dominant 6-0 home Super League win against Veria, earning him the "Man of the Match" award for his performance. On 2 April, he scored in a 2-3 home Super League defeat against his former club, Panathinaikos. Later in the season, on 6 May 2017, in the 2016-17 Greek Cup final against PAOK, Christodoulopoulos scored the equalizer for AEK after Diego Biseswar had given PAOK the lead. However, AEK ultimately lost the final 2-1.
3.5.2. 2017-18 season
The 2017-18 season proved to be the most prolific of Christodoulopoulos's career, as he firmly established himself as the team's primary right winger during the pre-season. On 14 September 2017, he sealed a 2-1 away victory against Rijeka in the 2017-18 UEFA Europa League group stage with a direct free-kick in the second half, marking an impressive start to AEK's European campaign. Four days later, on 18 September, coming off the bench, he scored the decisive 81st-minute goal, securing a 1-0 win against newly promoted Lamia at Peristeri Stadium. This goal, his first Super League goal of the season, propelled Manolo Jimenez's team to the top of the league table.
On 24 September 2017, Christodoulopoulos delivered a standout performance against fierce rivals Olympiacos, scoring two goals, including another spectacular free-kick, as AEK mounted a historic comeback to win 3-2. Petros Mantalos's 89th-minute goal completed the turnaround, securing AEK's position at the top of the table, and Christodoulopoulos was recognized as the "MVP of the game." On 23 November 2017, he scored a headed equalizer in a 2-2 home Europa League group stage match against Rijeka, capitalizing on a clearance from Andrej Prskalo.
On 27 January 2018, Christodoulopoulos opened the scoring for AEK in the 40th minute in a 2-0 home victory against Lamia at the Olympic Stadium. On 7 February 2018, he scored the opening goal in a 2-1 home Greek Cup win against rivals Olympiacos, helping AEK advance to the semi-finals. Just four days later, on 11 February 2018, he secured a 1-0 win against Asteras Tripolis at the Olympic Stadium by converting a penalty kick just four minutes after entering the field, moving AEK one point clear of PAOK at the top of the league. On 1 April 2018, in the derby against Panathinaikos, Christodoulopoulos reached a significant milestone of 200 appearances in the Super League across all his clubs.
On 15 April 2018, he scored a crucial goal that sealed a 1-0 away victory against Platanias, bringing AEK closer to their first league title since 1994. Three days later, on 18 April 2018, he scored a breathtaking bicycle kick in the 94th minute of the Greek Cup semi-final against AEL. This winning goal sent AEK to the final against PAOK, with an aggregate score of 2-2. He concluded his best season with an impressive tally of 47 appearances, 16 goals, and 4 assists across all competitions.
Despite his stellar performances, Christodoulopoulos's time at AEK ended in a controversial manner. On 14 May 2018, AEK placed him on their out-of-favour list, asserting that the player had perceived the club's contract renewal discussions as 'threats' and was simultaneously engaged in negotiations with fierce rivals Olympiacos for a potential move. AEK decided to pursue legal action against him, citing a breach of contract. In response, Christodoulopoulos and Olympiacos jointly filed a lawsuit, arguing that the player's contract was set to expire in the summer of 2018, directly contradicting AEK's claim of a mandatory one-year extension clause in his existing agreement.
3.6. Olympiacos
Following a high-profile legal conflict with AEK Athens, Olympiacos officially announced the acquisition of Lazaros Christodoulopoulos on 15 May 2018. He signed a two-year deal, which became effective from the beginning of July. This transfer marked a historic moment in Greek football, as Christodoulopoulos became the first and only player to have worn the jersey of all four of the country's "Big-4" teams: PAOK, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, and Olympiacos.
3.6.1. 2018-19 season
Christodoulopoulos quickly demonstrated his value at Olympiacos, particularly in European competitions. In August 2018, during the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round against FC Luzern, he was the standout performer of the series. He scored a brace in the first leg, capitalizing on successive corners from young full-back Kostas Tsimikas in a decisive 4-0 home victory. He then followed this with another brace in the second leg, a 3-1 away win, contributing significantly to Olympiacos' impressive 7-1 aggregate triumph over the Swiss side. In the second leg, he opened the scoring with a brilliant header from an Omar Elabdellaoui cross and later emphatically scored a rebound after Roderick Miranda's header had struck the crossbar.
On 26 August 2018, Christodoulopoulos scored with a superb free-kick, securing a 1-0 home victory against Levadiakos on the opening matchday of the 2018-19 season. His remarkable free-kick goal, scored for AEK Athens against Olympiacos in the previous season, earned him a nomination for the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award on 3 September 2018, which celebrates the best goal of the year worldwide. On 8 November 2018, he scored with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, following an assist from Kostas Fortounis, in a dominant 5-1 home win against F91 Dudelange during the Europa League group stage.
However, Christodoulopoulos faced another injury setback. On 23 November 2018, he sustained a knock in a training session, which kept him sidelined until the turn of the year. He made his return to the squad on 19 January 2019, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 away victory against PAS Giannina after a remarkable assist from Daniel Podence. On 2 February 2019, he converted a penalty kick in a commanding 4-0 home win against Panionios. Tragically, his season was cut short on 17 February 2019 when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a match against rivals AEK Athens. This severe injury meant he would be out of action for at least six months.
3.6.2. 2019-20 season
After a very difficult year marred by injuries, totaling 309 days out of action, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos finally returned to the field on 22 December 2019, in an away game against Volos. On 8 January 2020, he achieved another significant milestone in Greek football history. His goal in the 2-0 Greek Cup win over Kalamata solidified his status as the only footballer to have worn the jersey of the four biggest Greek teams (Olympiacos, AEK Athens, Panathinaikos, and PAOK) and to have scored in all Greek domestic competitions (Super League, Greek Cup) and UEFA competitions (Champions League, Europa League) while playing for each of these four clubs.
However, just two days before the scheduled restart of the Super League playoffs on 5 June 2020, following an 80-day break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Christodoulopoulos suffered yet another injury setback. He ruptured a ligament in his right knee, an injury that was expected to require a six-week recovery period.
3.7. Atromitos
On 28 September 2020, Atromitos completed a significant transfer, announcing the acquisition of the then 33-year-old midfielder on a one-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut for the 2020-21 season on 4 October 2020, coming on as a substitute against his former club AEK Athens in a match on the opening matchday. On 7 November 2020, Christodoulopoulos scored the decisive winning goal, securing a vital 1-0 away victory for Atromitos against Panathinaikos.
3.8. Anorthosis Famagusta
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos ventured into Cypriot football, joining Anorthosis Famagusta from 25 June 2021, on a one-year contract for an undisclosed fee. His time in Cyprus was notably marked by significant contributions in European competitions.
On 26 August 2021, Christodoulopoulos played a pivotal role in securing Anorthosis Famagusta's qualification for the Europa Conference League group stage. He scored two crucial goals within a seven-minute span against Hapoel Beer Sheva, converting a penalty in the 62nd minute and tapping in a goal in the 69th minute from a Hovhannes Hambardzumyan assist. His performance earned him the "Man-of-the-Match" award. With these goals, the 35-year-old winger achieved a remarkable feat, becoming only the second player in history, after Petros Mantalos, to have scored in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League.
His European impact continued. On 25 November 2021, Anorthosis achieved a historic first victory for a Cypriot team in the Conference League group stage, prevailing 1-0 over undefeated Gent thanks to an astonishing goal from Christodoulopoulos in the 27th minute. He further added to his scoring record on 9 December, converting a penalty in a 1-1 away Conference League match against FK Partizan.
3.9. Aris
In February 2023, Christodoulopoulos transferred to Aris, signing a contract until the end of the season. This move marked another unique milestone in his career, as he became the only player in Greek football history to have played for all of the "Big-5" Greek clubs, a group comprising PAOK, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, Olympiacos, and Aris.
3.10. Iraklis
On 18 August 2024, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos agreed to join Iraklis. This transfer further cemented his status as the first and only player in Greek football history to have played for the four biggest clubs in Attica (Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, Olympiacos, and Atromitos) and the three biggest clubs in Thessaloniki (PAOK, Aris, and Iraklis). A truly historic moment for him occurred on 8 September 2024, when he became the first and only player in Greek football history to score for all of these seven major clubs.
4. International career
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos's impressive club performances caught the attention of then-Greece coach Otto Rehhagel, leading to his call-up to the Greece national football team. He made his debut on 1 February 2008, with his official international debut occurring on 5 February 2008 in a victory over the Czech Republic.
His first international goal came on 7 June 2013, during a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lithuania in Vilnius. Under coach Fernando Santos, Christodoulopoulos headed the only goal, securing a well-deserved 1-0 victory for Greece and keeping them in close contention with Group G leaders Bosnia-Herzegovina. He was part of the Greece squad that participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and also played in the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League. For the national team, he also represented the U-19 team from 2005-2006 (7 appearances, 2 goals) and the U-21 team from 2006-2008 (13 appearances, 7 goals). In total, he accumulated 35 appearances and 1 goal for the senior national team between 2008 and 2018.
5. Career statistics
This section provides comprehensive performance data throughout Lazaros Christodoulopoulos's professional career.
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup (Greek, Italian, Cypriot) | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| PAOK | 2004-05 | Super League Greece | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2005-06 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 (UEFA Cup) | 1 | - | 29 | 4 | |||
| 2006-07 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 2 | ||||
| 2007-08 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 26 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 57 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | 64 | 10 | |||
| Panathinaikos | 2008-09 | Super League Greece | 19 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 (UEFA Champions League) | 0 | - | 28 | 7 | |
| 2009-10 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 9 (UEFA Europa League) | 1 | - | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2010-11 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 (UEFA Champions League) | 0 | - | 34 | 7 | |||
| 2011-12 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 3 | ||||
| 2012-13 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 (4 UCL, 5 UEL) | 2 | - | 21 | 6 | |||
| Total | 89 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 27 | 3 | - | 130 | 25 | |||
| Bologna | 2012-13 | Serie A | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 1 | ||
| 2013-14 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 39 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 41 | 3 | ||||
| Verona | 2014-15 | Serie A | 22 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 24 | 2 | ||
| Sampdoria | 2015-16 | Serie A | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 1 | ||
| AEK | 2016-17 | Super League Greece | 30 | 5 | 6 | 3 | - | 6 | 1 | 42 | 9 | |
| 2017-18 | 27 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 16 | ||
| Total | 57 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 89 | 25 | ||
| Olympiacos | 2018-19 | Super League Greece | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 (UEFA Europa League) | 5 | - | 26 | 9 | |
| 2019-20 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | |||
| Total | 23 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | - | 34 | 10 | |||
| Atromitos | 2020-21 | Super League Greece | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 4 | ||
| Anorthosis | 2021-22 | Cypriot First Division | 30 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 4 | - | 44 | 15 | |
| 2022-23 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 38 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 4 | - | 53 | 15 | |||
| Aris | 2022-23 | Super League Greece | 13 | 0 | - | - | - | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2023-24 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 (UEFA Europa Conference League) | 0 | - | 9 | 1 | |||
| Total | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 22 | 1 | |||
| Iraklis | 2024-25 | Super League Greece 2 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 13 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 391 | 60 | 48 | 21 | 63 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 548 | 98 | ||
5.2. International
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos's international goal for the Greece national team.
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7 June 2013 | LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania | Lithuania | 0-1 | 0-1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. Honours
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos has earned several team trophies and individual accolades throughout his professional football career.
6.1. Club honours
- Panathinaikos
- Super League Greece: 2009-10
- Greek Football Cup: 2009-10
- AEK Athens
- Super League Greece: 2017-18
- Greek Cup runner-up: 2016-17, 2017-18
- Olympiacos
- Super League Greece: 2019-20
- Greek Football Cup: 2019-20
6.2. Individual honours
- Greek Cup Top Scorer: 2017-18 (shared with Aleksandar Prijović and Pedro Conde)
- Super League Greece Greek Footballer of the Season: 2017-18
- Super League Greece Team of the Season: 2017-18
7. Records and unique achievements
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos holds several distinctive and unprecedented records in Greek football history, showcasing his longevity and impact across multiple top-tier clubs:
- He is the first and only player in Greek football history to wear the jersey of all four of the traditional "Big-4" teams: PAOK, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, and Olympiacos.
- He is also the only footballer to have worn the jersey of these four biggest Greek teams and to have scored in all major Greek domestic competitions (Super League Greece, Greek Cup) and UEFA club competitions (Champions League, Europa League) while playing for each of them.
- Following his transfer to Aris, he further extended his unique record, becoming the only player to have played for all of the "Big-5" Greek clubs, which include PAOK, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, Olympiacos, and Aris.
- With his subsequent move to Iraklis, he solidified his status as the first and only player in Greek football history to have played for the four biggest clubs in Attica (Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, Olympiacos, and Atromitos) and the three biggest clubs in Thessaloniki (PAOK, Aris, and Iraklis). A testament to his consistent attacking prowess, he also became the first and only player to score for all of these seven major clubs.
- He is only the second player in history, after Petros Mantalos, to have scored in the three major UEFA club competitions: the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League.