Denis Epstein (born 2 July 1986) is a German former professional footballer who played as a left winger.[1]

Denis Epstein
Epstein with FSV Frankfurt in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-07-02) 2 July 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Cologne, West Germany
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Left winger
Youth career
Bayer Leverkusen
1. FC Köln
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 1. FC Köln 23 (2)
2007Rot-Weiss Essen (loan) 5 (1)
2007–2008 Kickers Offenbach 21 (0)
2008–2010 Iraklis 50 (8)
2010–2011 Olympiacos 0 (0)
2010–2011Kerkyra (loan) 27 (9)
2011–2013 Atromitos 56 (2)
2013–2016 FSV Frankfurt 63 (6)
2016–2018 Kerkyra 51 (10)
2018–2019 Lamia 24 (2)
2019–2020 TSG Balingen 18 (2)
Total 338 (42)
International career
2006 Germany U20 4 (1)
Managerial career
2023 TSG Balingen
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Youth clubs

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Epstein played for three youth clubs, ranging from 1995 to 2005, including the youth teams of Bayer Leverkusen, Fortuna Köln, and 1. FC Köln. In the 1998–99 season, he made a rivalry switch from Bayer Leverkusen to 1. FC Köln. He was picked up as a senior team member for 1. FC Köln II in 2005, playing 31 games for the third division reserve team and scoring three goals.

1. FC Köln

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Epstein made his senior debut for 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga in a 4–1 loss against Hannover 96. He scored his first Bundesliga goal against VfL Wolfsburg after he being substituted on for Dimitrios Grammozis. He ended a seven-game losing streak for the relegation-threatened club. After that, he rarely started a match for Köln, scoring only one goal in the 2006–07 season.

Rot-Weiss Essen

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Epstein was loaned out to Rot-Weiss Essen on 20 January 2007 until the end of the 2. Bundesliga season by Köln coach Christoph Daum, to gain more match experience.

Greece

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On 24 June 2008, Epstein signed a contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki. He appeared in 24 matches for Iraklis during the 2008–09 season.[2] After another equally successful season (with four goals in 26 appearances), his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 18 June 2010.

In summer 2011, Epstein became the first of Ernesto Valverde's 'unwanted list' at Olympiacos to leave the club, after a year-long loan to Kerkyra. On 18 July 2011, Epstein signed a three-year contract with Atromitos for an undisclosed fee.[3] For the Athenian club, he made 64 appearances scoring 4 goals across all competitions.[4] On 9 April 2013, he terminated his contract with the club.[5]

FSV Frankfurt

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In summer 2013, Epstein returned to Germany signing a three-year contract with FSV Frankfurt, returning to the 2. Bundesliga.[4]

Return to Greece

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In June 2016, Epstein returned to former PAE Kerkyra having agreed a two-year contract.[6]

On 6 June 2018, after having been released by Kerkyra, he signed a contract with Lamia until the summer of 2020.[7] On 24 September 2018, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 away draw against Panetolikos.[8] On 12 October 2018, he opened the score in an eventual 2–1 away loss against AEK Athens for the Greek Cup.[9] On 20 October 2018, he scored against AEL, completing his team's comeback and helping to a 2–1 away win.[10]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 6 May 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Others Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1. FC Köln 2005–06 11 2 0 0 11 2
2006–07 12 0 2 0 14 0
Total 23 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 25 2
Rot-Weiss Essen (loan) 2006–07 5 1 0 0 5 1
Kickers Offenbach 2007–08 21 0 2 0 23 0
Iraklis 2008–09 24 5 2 0 26 5
2009–10 26 4 1 0 27 4
Total 50 9 3 0 0 0 0 0 53 9
Kerkyra (loan) 2010–11 27 9 4 0 31 9
Atromitos 2011–12 33 2 4 0 37 2
2012–13 23 0 2 1 2 1 27 2
Total 56 2 6 1 2 1 0 0 64 4
FSV Frankfurt 2013–14 32 6 2 0 34 6
2014–15 9 0 1 0 10 0
2015–16 22 0 1 0 23 0
Total 63 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 67 6
Kerkyra 2016–17 26 4 2 1 28 5
2017–18 25 6 0 0 25 6
Total 51 10 2 1 0 0 0 0 53 11
Lamia 2018–19 24 2 6 1 30 3
Career total 320 41 29 3 2 1 0 0 351 45

References

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  1. ^ "Epstein, Denis". kicker (in German). November 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Interview". ehrensenf.de. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  3. ^ Κάτοικος Περιστερίου ο Επστάιν (in Greek). 18 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b Hanau, Jörg (22 May 2013). "FSV Frankfurt verpflichtet Denis Epstein" [FSV Frankfurt signs Denis Epstein]. Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  5. ^ Τέλος Επστάιν και Μάντζιος από τον Ατρόμητο (in Greek). 9 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  6. ^ Samolis, Dimitris (22 June 2016). Υπέγραψε για 2 χρόνια στην Κέρκυρα ο Επστάιν [Epstein signs 2-year contract with Kerkyra] (in Greek). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  7. ^ Ανακοίνωση για απόκτηση ποδοσφαιριστή (in Greek). Lamia F.C. 6 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Παναιτωλικός - Λαμία 2-2: Πρώτος βαθμός στο 90'+9' για τους Φθιώτες". sport24.gr. 24 September 2018.
  9. ^ "ΑΕΚ - Λαμία 2-1: Έβαλε Μπογέ, έκανε την ανατροπή". sport24.gr. 12 October 2018.
  10. ^ "ΑΕΛ - Λαμία 1-2: Ιστορική ανατροπή για την ομάδα της Φθιώτιδας". sport24.gr. 20 October 2018.
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