Giorgos Katidis

Giorgos Katidis

Katidis with Greece in 2012 UEFA Euro U19
Personal information
Date of birth	(1993-02-12) 12 February 1993 (age 24)
Place of birth	Salonica, Greece
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team	FF Jaro
Number	12
Youth career
2008–2010	Aris
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2012	Aris	15	(0)
2012–2013	AEK Athens	20	(2)
2013–2014	Novara	10	(0)
2014–2015	Veria	4	(0)
2015	Levadiakos	9	(1)
2016–2017	Panegialios	12	(0)
2017–	FF Jaro	1	(1)
National team
2009–2011	Greece U17	8	(2)
2011–2012	Greece U19	30	(9)
2012–2013	Greece U21	6	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 April 2017.

Giorgos Katidis (Greek: Γιώργος Κατίδης; born 12 February 1993) is a Greek association football player, currently representing FF Jaro in Finnish Ykkönen.

Katidis rose through the youth ranks at Aris and managed to make his debut for the team at 17 years old.

On 27 August 2012, Katidis signed a 4-year contract with AEK Athens which would keep him at the club until 2016. AEK Athens and his former club Aris agreed on a €100,000 transfer fee.

Katidis created an international controversy on 16 March 2013, when he gave what appeared to be a Nazi-style salute after scoring the winning goal against Veria. His action drew condemnation from politicians, fans and the media. He later told the public he was unaware of the gesture's connotations, stating that he just wanted to dedicate the goal to a colleague in the stands. AEK coach Ewald Lienen remarked that Katidis "doesn't have an idea about politics". As a result of the salute, the Hellenic Football Federation voted unanimously to give Katidis a lifetime ban from all Greek national teams and he was fined €50,000. He was furthermore suspended by AEK for the rest of the season.

Italian Serie B side Novara signed Katidis. Novara's owner Massimo De Salvo recently said that they won't be 'playing down' the incident. "We don't have the intention to play down his gesture," he said. "It was disrespectful to the millions of people that suffered and paid with their lives for those who believed in false ideals and myths." Salvo also said Katidis' remorse was a key factor in beginning negotiations with the 20-year-old. "We want to give him another chance, because we believe that making such a mistake is serious, but acknowledging it is worthy." The Italian media have dubbed Katidis the 'Greek Di Canio', referring to the former Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio, who caused controversy as a Lazio player celebrating a goal by giving a Roman salute. Eventually Katidis signed a 1+1 year contract with the club.