Biography
Who is Kostas Manolas?
Early life and professional beginnings
Kostas Manolas was born on Naxos Island, Greece. He began his youth career in 2008 with the club Thrasyvoulos. His talent quickly attracted attention, leading to a significant opportunity with AEK Athens in 2009. His uncle, Stelios Manolas, who served as the technical director for AEK Athens, played a key role during this period. After scouting him at a youth match alongside manager Dušan Bajević, the club signed him to a three-year contract on June 16, 2009. Manolas expressed great happiness upon joining the team he supported, stating a desire to become a club legend.
Success with AEK Athens
During the 2010–11 season, Kostas became a central figure for AEK Athens. He performed well in both the Super League Greece and the UEFA Europa League. His play caught the eye of several European teams, including Genoa, Udinese, Getafe, and Schalke 04. He secured a vital win for his side by scoring against Hajduk Split. Shortly after, he found the net again in a Greek Cup match against AEL. His consistent performances earned him a permanent spot in the starting lineup under coach Manolo Jiménez.
Contract renewals and transfer interest
In July 2011, Kostas signed a three-year contract extension with AEK Athens. This deal was signed despite significant interest from European clubs such as Werder Bremen, Sevilla, Wolfsburg, and Hamburger SV. The contract included specific buyout clauses for both domestic and foreign clubs. He stated that he felt honored to wear the club jersey and praised the president, Stavros Adamidis, for keeping him at the team despite the club experiencing financial difficulties.
Move to Olympiacos and international career
On July 1, 2012, Kostas joined Olympiacos on a free transfer. He expressed excitement about playing in front of the club's home fans at the Karaiskaki Stadium. His debut for his new team occurred on September 15, 2012, in a win against PAS Giannina. He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 victory against Skoda Xanthi. During that season, he made 24 league appearances and helped the club win the Super League title. He also played in the Greek Cup final, securing a domestic double for the team.
Birthday and age
Kostas Manolas was born on June 14, 1991, which makes Kostas 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Kostas shares the date with 46 other famous people.
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