Adam Tzanetopoulos (Greek: Άνταμ Τζανετόπουλος; born 10 February 1995) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for UAE First Division League club Al Dhafra, for which he is captain.

Adam Tzanetopoulos
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-02-10) 10 February 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Volos, Greece
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Al Dhafra
Number 55
Youth career
–2009 Niki Volos
2009–2012 Olympiacos
2012–2013 Niki Volos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Niki Volos 0 (0)
2013–2018 AEK Athens 30 (0)
2016–2017Iraklis (loan) 17 (0)
2018–2019 Apollon Smyrnis 10 (0)
2019–2024 Lamia 112 (2)
2024– Al Dhafra 4 (1)
International career
2015–2016 Greece U21 10 (0)
2015 Greece 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:00, 17 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 October 2015

Club career

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Born in Volos, Tzanetopoulos joined the Olympiacos academies at the age of 15. Three years later, he left Olympiacos, signing a contract with Niki Volos. His distinguished playing along with his ability in defensive game attracts the interest of both Nikos Liberopoulos and Traianos Dellas.

AEK Athens

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Tzanetopoulos joined AEK Athens in 2013. Tzanetopoulos scored his first professional goal against Atromitos in the Greek Cup in a 3–0 home victory.[1] Tzanetopoulos in his first year with the club played in seven Football League 2 games and also scored in the 2–0 win over Kifisia, which meant that AEK had mathematically secured its promotion to the Football League.[2]

The summer friendly international with the winners of last year's UEFA Europa League, Sevilla was a step forward in his career. The Andalusians by having the opportunity to check him realized that he is a player with tremendous perspective, therefore they submitted a proposal to AEK Athens on a long-year loan, with a purchase option of €1.5 million,[3] but was rejected. On 4 February 2016, AEK Athens officially announced that the 21-year-old international central defender Tzanetopoulos renewed his contract, for an undisclosed fee, with the club until the summer of 2020, despite the fact that is not among the first priorities of AEK Athens manager Gus Poyet. "I am very happy for that because it was my desire to stay here, now the only thing in my mind is working hard in order to thank the club's officials for having faith in my ability", said Tzanetopoulos, whose previous contract with AEK was expiring at the end of next season.[4] On 28 February 2016, in a derby against rivals Panathinaikos returned to the squad after almost three months as a late substitute helping his club to celebrate a 1–0 home win.

As of December 2016, it seemed that international central defender/defensive midfielder of AEK Athens would continue his career at Cyprus, on loan since January. The 21-year-old player has performed in only one official match during 2016–17 season, the one against Anagennisi Karditsa for the Greek Cup.[5] Eventually, on 9 January 2017, he was loaned to Iraklis until the end of the season. He finished the second half of the season with 17 appearances and as a result of his solid performances he returned to AEK Athens.

On 26 October 2017, Tzanetopoulos scored after almost 3 years in a comfortable 7–0 Cup away win against Apollon Larissa.[6]

Apollon Smyrnis

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On 5 July 2018 Tzanetopoulos joined Apollon Smyrnis on a three-year deal.[7]

Lamia

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On 29 January 2019, he signed a contract with Lamia on a free transfer,[8] but he didn't play until the end of 2018–19 season.

On 28 May 2021, he agreed to extend his contract, until the summer of 2024.[9]

International career

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On 5 October 2015, the interim national coach Kostas Tsanas called Tzanetopoulos to replace Kyriakos Papadopoulos, who was injured in Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga's game against Augsburg, for the games against Northern Ireland and Hungary, for the EURO 2016 qualifiers. This was the first call of the young AEK Athens centre-back.[10]

Tzanetopoulos make his debut as a substitute, on 11 October 2015, in a dramatic 4–3 win game over Hungary for Euro 2016 qualifiers. It was the first and only win of Greece in the qualification round finishing last in the Group F qualifying campaign.[11]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 13 May 2024
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AEK Athens 2013–14 Gamma Ethniki 7 1 0 0 7 1
2014–15 Super League Greece 2 16 0 5 1 21 1
2015–16 Super League Greece 13 0 4 0 17 0
2016–17 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
2017–18 1 0 4 2 2[a] 0 7 2
Total 37 1 15 3 2 0 54 4
Iraklis (loan) 2016–17 Superleague Greece 17 0 17 0
Apollon Smyrnis 2018–19 10 0 3 1 13 1
Lamia 2018–19 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019–20 8 0 6 0 14 0
2020–21 25 1 0 0 25 1
2021–22 23 0 6 1 29 1
2022–23 18 0 3 0 21 0
2023–24 28 0 0 0 28 0
Total 102 1 15 1 0 0 0 0 117 2
Career total 166 2 33 5 2 0 0 0 201 7

International

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As of 11 October 2015
National team Year Apps Goals
Greece
2015 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

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AEK Athens

Notes

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  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

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  1. ^ "Τζανετόπουλος: H ιστορία του". 12 February 2015.
  2. ^ "ADAM TZANETOPOULOS - Defender".
  3. ^ "Τζανετόπουλος: Το φθηνότερο περιουσιακό στοιχείο της ΑΕΚ". 20 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Tzanetopoulos renews his contract with AEK".
  5. ^ "Ενδιαφέρον από Κύπρο".
  6. ^ "Πάρτι πρόκρισης για την ΑΕΚ, 7-0 με τον Απόλλωνα Λάρισας" (in Greek). Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Επίσημο: Στον Απόλλωνα Σμύρνης ως ελεύθερος ο Τζανετόπουλος" (in Greek). Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Λαμία: Τζανετόπουλος η τέταρτη προσθήκη" (in Greek). Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Λαμία: Ανανέωσε ο Τζανετόπουλος για τρία χρόνια". sport24.gr. 28 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Φοράει τα γαλανόλευκα ο Τζανετόπουλος". 5 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Greece - Hungary 4-3". www.sportinglife.com. 11 October 2015.
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