Panagiotis Retsos
Retsos with Bayer Leverkusen in 2018
Personal information
Full name Panagiotis Retsos[1]
Date of birth (1998-08-09) 9 August 1998[2]
Place of birth Johannesburg, South Africa
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Olympiacos
Number 45
Youth career
2008–2016 Olympiacos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Olympiacos 20 (0)
2017–2022 Bayer Leverkusen 31 (1)
2020 → Sheffield United (loan) 0 (0)
2020–2021 → Saint-Étienne (loan) 4 (0)
2022–2023 Hellas Verona 7 (0)
2022–2023 → Olympiacos (loan) 7 (0)
2023– Olympiacos 15 (0)
International career‡
2014–2015 Greece U17 10 (0)
2015 Greece U18 3 (1)
2016–2017 Greece U19 10 (0)
2019–2020 Greece U21 5 (0)
2017– Greece 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2023

Panagiotis Retsos (Greek: Παναγιώτης Ρέτσος, born 9 August 1998) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Super League club Olympiacos and the Greece national team.

Club career

Olympiacos

In the summer of 2016, at age 18, he was promoted from Olympiacos' youth team by first manager Víctor Sánchez, who was impressed by his stamina.[4] On 25 August 2016, he made his debut with the club in a Europa League playoffs home match against Arouca.

On 8 February 2017, Retsos has appointed captain of the club in a Greek Cup goalless home draw against Atromitos.[5] Retsos became the youngest captain of a Greek champion club aged only 18, five months and 30 days.

Bayer Leverkusen

On 30 August 2017, the 19-year-old Retsos was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £15.75 million. The Bundesliga outfit believe they have signed themselves a future star, with the teenager having already broken records in his career. The 19-year-old centre-back has signed a five-year deal with the Bundesliga outfit after Leverkusen beat off competition from Ligue 1 sides Stade Rennes and Lyon for his signature.[6][7] On 17 September 2017, he made his debut in Bundesliga in a 4–0 home win game against SC Freiburg as a starter. On the club's Twitter account, Retsos was voted the Man of the Match.[8]

On 9 April 2018, substitute Retsos scored his first goal in Bundesliga by firing into the far corner after a left-wing free-kick broke to him at the far post, in a 4–1 away win against RB Leipzig. It was his first goal in his professional career. In the Bundesliga this season, Retsos has made a total of 14 starts so far and has also made six substitute appearances. He has impressed during this time, displaying composure at the back for the German outfit.[9][10]

On 2 August 2018, Retsos suffered a heavy blow to the quadriceps during pre-season training with Bayer Leverkusen and according to the initial medical evaluation, he was diagnosed with tendonitis in the right thigh. The injury is expected to sideline the defender for at least six weeks. It is Retsos’ first serious injury with the German club and he will miss the kick-off of the 2018–19 Bundesliga season.[11][12] On 26 October 2018, Retsos is available for selection again and was on the Bayer Leverkusen bench in a UEFA Europa League match against FC Zurich.

On 29 November 2018, after a very difficult period for the defender marred by injury (208 days to be exact), Retsos returned to action in a UEFA Europa League home game against Ludogorets,[13] but was unlucky as in the first half hour left the pitch with a muscular injury on his left thigh and according to the initial reports, Retsos will now spend another 10 to 12 weeks on the sidelines.[14] On 29 October 2019, after a second very difficult period for the defender marred by injury (334 days to be exact), played in a DFB-Pokal game as a substitute in a 1–0 home win against Padeborn SC.[15]

On 19 January 2022, according to various sources, Retsos' transfer to Seria A club Verona was finalized. The 23-year-old international defender arrived on Monday 24 January, in order to undergo a medical examination and then sign his contract, which is lasting 3 and a half years. Leverkusen, under the agreement with Verona, maintain a resale rate of 10%, without any transfer fee as his contract expired in the following summer.[16][17]

Loan to Sheffield United

On 1 February 2020, Retsos signed for Premier League club Sheffield United on loan from Bayer Leverkusen until the end of the 2019–20 season with a buying option. Unfortunately, the significant financial problems caused by the covid-19 resulted in Sheffield announcing that it would not pay the buying clause from Leverkusen. However, the managers of the English club told Retsos that if he wanted to, his loan could be extended until the end of the championship, in mid-July, but the Greek international decided not to continue after June in the club.[18]

Loan to Saint-Étienne

On 4 October 2020, Bayer Leverkusen's agreement with Saint-Étienne for the loan of Panagiotis Retsos to the French club has been completed with a purchase option of €6.5 million for the summer of 2021. The French Ligue 1 side will be obliged to tie Retsos down to a permanent deal if he makes 20 appearances, as per the report. The Germans will keep a 15% resale value and the 22-year-old centre-back is even expected to travel to France in the next few hours to complete his permanent transfer to the French club.[19] On 25 October 2020, the Greek defender in the second game of the basic lineup of Saint-Étienne in an away game against the FC Metz was replaced in the third minute of the second half due to a muscular problem.[20] The 22-year-old stopper, who had been out of action for about 2.5 months, returned on 6 January 2021 to the starting line-up of Saint-Étienne, spending the entire 90 minutes in the match against Paris Saint-Germain F.C., where in fact had a very good performance. However, was unlucky as three days later in the away match against Reims he has been replaced at the end of the first half due to new injury.[21]

Despite the hardships, Saint-Étienne tried during the winter transfer window to drop the purchase clause in the agreement with Leverkusen and acquire him with a regular transfer, but the German club appeared unwavering. In fact, that was the reason that Saint-Étienne acquired Pape Abou Cissé on loan with a purchase option from Olympiacos and consequently Retsos did not play until the end of the season, although he was ready from the beginning of March.[22]

Hellas Verona

On 25 January 2022, the 24-year-old Retsos was signed to Hellas Verona on a free transfer. His previous club, maintains a resale rate of 10% and the Greek defender signed a contract initially of one and a half years, according to club's announcement. In the contract of both parties there is an automatic renewal option for three more years, which means that he will be a resident of Verona until 2026.[23]

Loan to Olympiacos

On 31 August 2022, Retsos returned to Olympiacos.[24]

International career

Retsos made his debut for Greece on 31 August 2017, in a 0–0 home draw against Estonia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Personal life

Retsos was born in Johannesburg, South Africa[25] to Greek parents Christos and Eleni. He and his family returned to their native Greece a year after his birth.[26] He has a younger cousin, Christos, who is also a footballer.

Career statistics

As of 2 April 2023[27][28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Olympiacos 2016–17 Super League Greece 1808080340
2017–18 Super League Greece 20004060
Total 20 0 8 0 12 0 40 0
Bayer Leverkusen 2017–18 Bundesliga 2414000281
2018–19 Bundesliga 00001010
2019–20 Bundesliga 30102060
2021–22 Bundesliga 40203090
Total 3117060441
Sheffield United (loan) 2019–20 Premier League 0010–10
Saint-Étienne (loan) 2020–21 Ligue 1 4000–40
Hellas Verona 2021–22 Serie A 5000–50
2022–23 Serie A 2000–20
Total 7000–70
Olympiacos 2022–23 (loan) Super League Greece 703040140
2023–24 Super League Greece 15 0 1 0 10 1 26 1
Career total 8412003211372

Honours

Olympiacos

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Updated squad lists for 2019/20 Premier League". Premier League. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  2. ↑ "Panagiotis Retsos". ESPN. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Panagiotis Retsos: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Ορισμός του value for money ο πιτσιρικάς Ρέτσος!;Retrieved 14 July 2016
  5. ↑ Τι έζησε αυτό το παιδί!;Retrieved 8 February 2017
  6. ↑ Bayer Leverkusen sign Panagiotis Retsos from Olympiacos;Retrieved 31 August 2017
  7. ↑ Η πρώτη φωτογραφία του Ρέτσου με τη φανέλα της Λεβερκούζεν;Retrieved 31 August 2017
  8. ↑ Bayern Leverkusen vs SC Freiburg 4-0;Retrieved 17 September 2017
  9. ↑ RB Leipzig - Bayer Leverkusen 1:4 Leverkusen feiert furiosen Sieg in Leipzig;Retrieved 9 April 2018
  10. ↑ RB Leipzig - Bayer Leverkusen 1:4: Werkself siegt deutlich und klettert auf Rang vier;Retrieved 9 April 2018
  11. ↑ - Ατυχος ο Ρέτσος, έξι εβδομάδες εκτός;Retrieved 2August 2018
  12. ↑ - Die nächste Verletzung Bayer-Pechvogel Panagiotis Retsos fällt wieder aus;Retrieved 2August 2018
  13. ↑ Παναγιώτης Ρέτσος: Παίζει σε επίσημο ματς μετά από 208 μέρες!;Retrieved 29 November 2018
  14. ↑ Ο Ρέτσος αποχώρησε τραυματίας στην πρώτη συμμετοχή του μετά από επτά μήνες!;Retrieved 29 November 2018
  15. ↑ Επέστρεψε ύστερα από 334 μέρες για την Λεβερκούζεν ο Ρέτσος!;Retrieved 29 October 2019
  16. ↑ Ρέτσος: Περνάει ιατρικά τη Δευτέρα (24/01) στη Βερόνα;Retrieved 22 January 2022
  17. ↑ Hellas Verona in talks to sign Panagiotis Retsos;Retrieved 19 January 2022
  18. ↑ Sheffield United: Richairo Zivkovic and Panagiotis Retsos join on loan;Retrieved 1 February 2020
  19. ↑ Ρέτσος: Δανεικός στη Σεντ Ετιέν με οψιόν αγοράς 6,5 εκατ. ευρώ;Retrieved 4 October 2020
  20. ↑ Ξανά άτυχος ο Παναγιώτης Ρέτσος!;Retrieved 25 October 2020
  21. ↑ Ρέτσος: Όσκαρ ατυχίας με νέο τραυματισμό;Retrieved 10 January 2021
  22. ↑ Το κρίσιμο καλοκαίρι του Πάνου Ρέτσου;Retrieved 30 May 2021
  23. ↑ Ρέτσος: Ανακοινώθηκε από την Βερόνα;Retrieved 25 January 2022
  24. ↑ "Panagiotis Retsos returns to Olympiacos". Olympiacos. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  25. ↑ "Παναγιώτης Ρέτσος: Από τη Νότιο Αφρική... ο πιο νέος αρχηγός του Ολυμπιακού! | Gazzetta".
  26. ↑ "Mzansi-Born Star Explains Why He Represents Greece, Not SA". 18 October 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  27. ↑ "Panagiotis Retsos". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  28. ↑ "Panagiotis Retsos". superleaguegreece.net. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  29. ↑ IEFIMERIDA.GR, NEWSROOM (29 January 2018). "Βραβεία ΠΣΑΠ: Μάνταλος-Ιβιτς οι κορυφαίοι της χρονιάς 2016/17 [εικόνες] | ΣΠΟΡ". iefimerida.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 11 January 2022.
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