Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Greek: Παναγιώτης Ταχτσίδης; born 15 February 1991) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga I club CFR Cluj.

Panagiotis Tachtsidis
Tachtsidis in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-02-15) 15 February 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Nafplio, Greece
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
CFR Cluj
Number 77
Youth career
2005–2007 AEK Athens
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 AEK Athens 20 (2)
2010–2012 Genoa 0 (0)
2010Cesena (loan) 0 (0)
2011Grosseto (loan) 8 (0)
2011–2012Hellas Verona (loan) 37 (2)
2012–2013 Roma 21 (1)
2013–2014 Catania 12 (0)
2014Torino (loan) 11 (1)
2014–2016 Genoa 24 (2)
2014–2015Hellas Verona (loan) 34 (3)
2016–2017 Torino 0 (0)
2016–2017Cagliari (loan) 26 (0)
2017–2018 Olympiacos 18 (0)
2018–2019 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
2019Lecce (loan) 17 (0)
2019–2021 Lecce 54 (1)
2021–2022 Al-Fayha 29 (1)
2022–2023 Khor Fakkan 9 (0)
2023– CFR Cluj 41 (9)
International career
2007–2008 Greece U17 3 (1)
2008–2009 Greece U19 8 (2)
2009–2012 Greece U21 10 (0)
2012–2018 Greece 25 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 November 2024

Club career

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AEK Athens

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Tachtsidis was scouted by Toni Savevski, the head of AEK Athens's youth academy at the time, and signed his first professional contract with AEK on 1 November 2007.[1] Shortly after signing his first professional contract, Tachtsidis made his debut for AEK in the Greek Cup against Fostiras. On 27 January 2009, he became the youngest player to have ever played for AEK in the Greek League when he played against Thrasyvoulos, being 16 years and 348 days old; that record, however, has since been surpassed by Taxiarchis Fountas, also for AEK. Against Thrasyvoulos, Tachtsidis scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute to give his team the three points.[2]

Genoa

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On 21 April 2010, Tachtsidis completed a move to Italian club Genoa that had already been previously agreed upon in January 2010.[3]

Loans to Cesena, Grosseto and Verona

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In August 2010, he was loaned to Cesena with an option to buy half of his registration rights in co-ownership.[4][5] In February 2011, he was loaned to Grosseto.

In the 2011–12 season, he was loaned to Verona.[6] With Verona, he helped the club reach the play-offs.

Roma

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Tachtsidis playing for Roma in 2012.

On 19 July 2012, Tachtsidis signed a five-year contract with Roma for a fee of €2.5 million in co-ownership deal (€1.5 million plus 50% registration rights of Andrea Bertolacci).[7] He scored one goal in 21 appearances for the club during the 2012–13 season.

On 20 June 2013, Roma signed Mattia Destro outright for a pre-agreed figure of €4.5 million. Giammario Piscitella and Valerio Verre, who were sent to Genoa as part of the Destro loan deal, returned to Roma for €4 million in total (having cost Genoa €3 million in 2012). As part of this complex deal, Tachtsidis returned to Genoa for €3 million.[8]

Catania

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On 20 June 2013, it was announced that Tachtsidis had returned to Genoa,[9] however, less than a month later he was sold in a co-ownership deal to Catania in exchange for the co-ownership of Francesco Lodi.[10][11] However, he left the club temporarily after 6 months and definitively in June 2014.

Loan to Torino

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On 9 January 2014, he was loaned to Torino on loan for the rest of the season.[12][13][14][15] He made his first appearance on 19 January, in a 2–0 away win against Sassuolo. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 away draw against Lazio. On 13 June 2014, Tachtsidis and Lodi returned to Genoa and Catania respectively.[16][17][18]

Genoa and loan to Verona

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Genoa bought back Tachtsidis on 13 June 2014. On 18 July 2014, he returned to Verona on loan with a buyout option at the end of the season.[19][20][21] However, Verona did not buy Tachtsidis; Tachtsidis returned to Genoa at the end of season, making his debut 2 months later.

He made his debut for Genoa on 23 August 2015, away to Palermo, as a 68th minute replacement for Diego Capel. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 win against Chievo Verona.[22][23]

Return to Torino and loan to Cagliari

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On 5 August 2016, he signed a contract with Torino for a fee of reported €1.3 million.[24][25] However, contradicted to the press release,[26] Torino stated in the 2016 filing that the deal initially a loan.[27][28]

Less than a month after the signing of his contract with Torino, Cagliari signed Tachtsidis in a temporary deal.[29][30] On 15 November 2016, Tachtsidis was injured for at least two weeks after an injury on international duty.[31]

Olympiacos

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On 30 June 2017, he was signed by Olympiacos.[32][33] On 19 September 2017, he made his debut with the club in a Greek Cup 2–1 home win game against Asteras Tripolis. On 7 February 2018, Tachtsidis grabbed a goal back from a set-piece for Oscar Garcia's Olympiacos, but the reds could not find a way back and waved goodbye to a chance of silverware with AEK progressing to the Greek Cup semifinals 2–1 on aggregate after the first leg ended 0–0. It was his first goal with the club.[34]

Nottingham Forest

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On 5 September 2018, Tachtsidis signed for EFL Championship side Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal.[35] In December 2018, Tachtsidis completed a loan move to Italian club Lecce. The deal included a clause to make the move permanent the following summer. The Greek midfielder had found his opportunities hugely limited at the City Ground, following his arrival from Olympiacos. The 27-year-old has featured on the bench – but has not had any minutes on the pitch, amid fierce competition for places in Aitor Karanka's squad.[36]

Following his loan spell at Lecce, Tachtsidis was released by Forest.[37]

Lecce

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On 3 January 2019, he moved to Serie B side Lecce on loan, with a clause included to make the move permanent in the summer.[38] On 19 January he made his debut with the giallorossi side in a home draw against Benevento in the Serie B.[39] On 11 May 2019, he helped his club in a 2–1 home win against Spezia Calcio and Lecce secured automatic promotion to Serie A. Lecce triggered the buying option at the end of the season.[40]

Al-Fayha

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On 16 July 2021, he moved to Saudi Professional League side Al-Fayha.[41] On 11 August 2021, he was the only scorer, in his first appearance with the club in a home 1–0 win game against Al-Ittihad.[42] On 19 May 2022, he scored the winning penalty (3–1) for Al-Fayha against Al Hilal in the 2022 King Cup Final.[43]

Khor Fakkan

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On 30 September 2022, Tachtsidis joined UAE Pro League side Khor Fakkan.[44]

CFR Cluj

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On 21 July 2023, Tachtsidis joined Liga I side CFR Cluj.[45]

International career

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Tachtsidis' exceptional season with both Catania and Torino was his passport not only to be called from Greek national manager Fernando Santos to the 30-man provisional World Cup squad, but also to the final 23-man squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup.[46]

On 30 March 2015, Tachtsidis and Vangelis Moras as well Giannis Fetfatzidis were in a car crash. The three Greek internationals were travelling by taxi to Budapest Airport in Hungary, following a Euro 2016 qualifier. One person was killed in the collision, but the Greek Federation released a statement confirming that the three players were not seriously injured. Three other people were seriously injured in the crash.[47] On 11 October 2015, he scored his first goal with Greece in a 4–3 home win against Hungary when he lashed in a powerful shot.[48]

Style of play

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Tachtsidis is a particular type of player that needs to be accommodated into a specific system. Without being particularly athletic, the Greek international more than makes up for this with an exceptional range of passing.[49]

Personal life

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He was married to Zeta Theodoropoulou, with whom he has three children.[50] They recently had a divorce.[51]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 8 November 2024[52][53]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AEK Athens 2007–08 Super League Greece 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
2008–09 9 1 4 0 0 0 13 1
2009–10 9 1 1 0 2 0 12 1
Total 20 2 6 0 2 0 28 2
Cesena (loan) 2010–11 Serie A 0 0 0 0 0 0
Grosseto (loan) 2010–11 Serie B 8 0 8 0
Hellas Verona (loan) 2011–12 Serie B 37 2 0 0 2[a] 1 39 3
Roma 2012–13 Serie A 21 1 2 0 23 1
Catania 2013–14 Serie A 12 0 0 0 12 0
Torino (loan) 2013–14 Serie A 11 1 0 0 11 1
Hellas Verona (loan) 2014–15 Serie A 34 3 1 0 35 3
Genoa 2015–16 Serie A 24 2 1 0 25 2
Cagliari (loan) 2016–17 Serie A 26 0 0 0 26 0
Olympiacos 2017–18 Superleague Greece 17 0 5 1 3 0 25 1
Nottingham Forest 2018–19 EFL Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0
Lecce (loan) 2018–19 Serie B 17 0 17 0
Lecce 2019–20 Serie A 28 0 1 0 29 0
2020–21 Serie B 26 1 1 0 1[a] 0 28 1
Total 71 1 2 0 1 0 74 1
Al-Fayha 2021–22 Saudi Professional League 28 1 4 2 32 3
2022–23 Saudi Professional League 1 0 1 0
Total 29 1 4 2 33 3
Khor Fakkan 2022–23 UAE Pro League 9 0 1 1 4[b] 0 14 1
CFR Cluj 2023–24 Liga I 32 7 3 0 2 0 37 7
2024–25 Liga I 9 2 1 0 6 0 16 2
Total 41 9 4 0 8 0 53 9
Career total 360 22 26 4 13 0 7 1 406 27
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Serie B – Promotion play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in UAE League Cup

International

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As of match played 15 May 2018[54]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Greece
2012 1 0
2013 3 0
2014 5 0
2015 5 1
2016 5 0
2017 4 0
2018 2 0
Total 25 1
Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Tachtsidis goal.
List of international goals scored by Panagiotis Tachtsidis
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 October 2015 Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece   Hungary 2–2 4–3 UEFA Euro 2016 qualification

Honours

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AEK Athens

Roma

Al-Fayha

References

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  1. ^ sportdog-Super League[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Tachtsidis scores winner Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Tachtsidis signs contract with Genoa". Sport in Greece. 21 April 2010. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  4. ^ "Gazzetta.gr". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Arriva anche Tachtsidis" (in Italian). A.C. Cesena. 8 August 2010. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  6. ^ "La scheda di Tachtsidis, nuovo centrocampista gialloblù". Hellas Verona FC (in Italian). 18 July 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  7. ^ "ANAGIOTIS TACHTSIDIS Acquisizione a titolo definitivo, con accordo di partecipazione" (PDF) (in Italian). AS Roma official website. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Esercizio dei diritti di opzione e controopzione e Rapporti di Partecipazione ex art. 102 bis NOIF" (PDF) (in Italian). AS Roma. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Roma sell Tachtsidis to Genoa". Football Italia. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Catania, scambio Lodi-Tachtsidis" (in Italian). Calcio Catania. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  11. ^ "LODI UFFICIALMENTE ROSSOBLU'" (in Italian). Genoa CFC. 19 July 2013. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Torino take on Tachtsidis". football-italia.net. 9 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Tachtsidis al Toro" (in Italian). Torino FC. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Torino take on Tachtsidis". Football Italia. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Panagiotis Tachtsidis al Torino FC: cessione a titolo temporaneo" (in Italian). Calcio Cataina. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  16. ^ "RISOLTE DUE COMPARTECIPAZIONI" (in Italian). Genoa CFC. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Genoa snap up Tachtsidid". football365.com. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015.
  18. ^ "RISOLTE DUE COMPARTECIPAZIONI" (in Italian). Genoa C.F.C. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Tachtsidis joins Verona". football-italia.net. 18 July 2014.
  20. ^ "Επιστρέφει στη Βερόνα ο Ταχτσίδης". gazzetta.gr. 16 July 2014.
  21. ^ "Ufficiale: Panagiotis Tachtsidis in gialloblù" (in Italian). Hellas Verona FC. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  22. ^ "Serie A, Genoa-Chievo 3-2 decide Tachtsidis". gazzetta.it. 18 October 2015.
  23. ^ "Serie A, Genoa-Chievo 3-2". football-italia.net. 18 October 2015.
  24. ^ "Στην Τορίνο ο Ταχτσίδης". sport24.gr. 5 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Panagiotis Tachtsidis officially returns to Torino". sdna.gr. 5 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Tachtsidis al Toro" (Press release) (in Italian). Torino F.C. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  27. ^ Torino F.C. S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2016, PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A. (in Italian)
  28. ^ "Calcio Mercato: Ultimi trasferimenti estate". Lega Serie A. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  29. ^ "Tachtsidis passa al Cagliari". toronews.net. 31 August 2016.
  30. ^ "Cagliari, Tachtsidis: "Rastelli mi ha chiesto calma. Non ci manca nulla"". calciomercato.it. 9 September 2016.
  31. ^ "Δύο βδομάδες εκτός ο Ταχτσίδης". multi-news.gr. 15 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016.
  32. ^ "Ανακοίνωσε τον Ταχτσίδη ο Ολυμπιακός". sport24.gr. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  33. ^ "Tachtsidis all'Olympiacos" (Press release) (in Italian). Torino F.C. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  34. ^ "Πρόκριση με γκολάρες: Η ΑΕΚ στον ημιτελικό, 2-1 τον Ολυμπιακό". sport24.gr. 7 February 2018.
  35. ^ "Reds sign Tachtsidis". Nottingham Forest Football Club. 5 September 2018.
  36. ^ "Κλείνει στη Λέτσε ο Ταχτσίδης". fosonline.gr. 28 December 2018.
  37. ^ "Ben Osborn linked with 'surprise' transfer to Premier League side". 8 July 2019.
  38. ^ "'It would be good for him to get a fresh start somewhere else'". 3 January 2019.
  39. ^ Al Lecce non basta Mancosu: col Benevento finisce 1-1
  40. ^ Panagiotis Tachtsidis at Soccerway
  41. ^ "Sarà Panos d'Arabia: Tachtsidis firma con l'Al-Fayha". calciolecce. 17 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Al- Fayha vs Al-Ittihad 1-0". www.goal.com. 11 August 2021.
  43. ^ "Al-Fayha shock Al-Hilal in King's Cup final to claim first-ever major trophy". Arab News. 20 May 2022.
  44. ^ "خورفكان يتعاقد مع لاعب روما السابق". 30 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Ανακοινώθηκε από την Κλουζ ο Ταχτσίδης". 21 July 2023.
  46. ^ "Greece World Cup 2014 squad". telegraph. 19 May 2014.
  47. ^ "Chievo, Verona players in car crash". football-italia.net. 30 March 2015.
  48. ^ "Greece - Hungary 4-3". sportinglife.com. 11 October 2015.
  49. ^ "10 Most Exciting Young Midfielders in Serie A". bleacherreport.com. 18 February 2013.
  50. ^ "Βaby boom! Η Ζέτα Θεοδωροπούλου έγινε μαμά για τρίτη φορά" [Baby boom! Zeta Theodoropoulou became a mom for the third time]. star.gr (in Greek). 31 July 2019.
  51. ^ "Ζέτα Θεοδωροπούλου - Παναγιώτης Ταχτσίδης: Είναι σε διάσταση - "Δεν έχω να πω τίποτα κακό για τον πατέρα των παιδιών μου", λέει η influencer" [Zeta Theodoropoulou - Panagiotis Tachtsidis: They are in a relationship - "I have nothing bad to say about the father of my children", says the influencer]. enikos.gr (in Greek). 3 April 2024.
  52. ^ "Panagiotis Tachtsidis". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  53. ^ "Panagiotis Tachtsidis". superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  54. ^ "Panagiotis Tachtsidis". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
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