Andreas Bouchalakis

Andreas Bouchalakis (Greek: Ανδρέας Μπουχαλάκης, born 5 April 1993) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for German 2. Bundesliga club Hertha BSC and the Greece national team.

Andreas Bouchalakis
Bouchalakis with Nottingham Forest in 2017
Personal information
Full nameAndreas Bouchalakis[1]
Date of birth (1993-04-05) 5 April 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthHeraklion, Crete, Greece
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Hertha BSC
Number5
Youth career
2008–2011Ergotelis
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2014Ergotelis71(7)
2014–2017Olympiacos22(2)
2017–2018Nottingham Forest21(2)
2018–2023Olympiacos119(8)
2023Konyaspor (loan)12(0)
2023–Hertha BSC25(1)
International career
2012–2013Greece U199(0)
2013–2014Greece U207(1)
2013–2016Greece U219(1)
2017–Greece45(1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Greece
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Runner-up2012 Estonia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:00, 7 June 2024 (UTC).

Club career

Ergotelis

Bouchalakis started his football career attending the Ergotelis Academy, the youth system of his local Superleague club Ergotelis. His performances with the club's youth teams in the Greek Superleague Youth Leagues led the club's board of directors to promote him to the first team on 19 May 2011, when he signed his first professional contract with the club at the age of 18.[2] He eventually made his debut on 11 December 2011, in a game against Doxa Drama.[3]

During the summer of 2012, Bouchalakis earned the trust of manager Siniša Gogić and became a regular starter for the club during their short tenure in the Greek Football League. His good performances reportedly drew the attention of many clubs, both in Greece and abroad. Eventually, Greek giants Olympiacos acquired his rights from Ergotelis on 22 March 2013 for a reported €150K, following up on the acquisition of Bouchalakis' fellow Ergotelis teammate Manolis Tzanakakis.[4][5] As part of the deal, both players were allowed to finish the season with Ergotelis, who also acquired the right re-sign both players on loan in the following season. Bouchalakis was instrumental in helping the club return to the Superleague at the end of the 2012–13 season, summing up 40 caps in both the Football League and Greek Cup competitions and managing to score 6 goals while dishing out two assists.

After Bouchalakis' and Tzanakakis' transfers were announced by Olympiacos, the club's board of directors decided to green-light the loan deal with Ergotelis, who added both players to their roster for the 2013–14 Superleague season in order for them to receive substantial playing time in top-flight in a familiar environment.[6] Bouchalakis contributed to Ergotelis' all-time best (at the time) 7th-place finish with 30 caps and 2 goals. He returned to Olympiacos in the summer of 2014 to earn a spot in the champions' roster for next season.

Olympiacos

Bouchalakis scored from long distance in a 3–0 win against Milan in the 2014 International Champions Cup.[7]

On the beginning of the 2015–16 season, Bouchalakis tried his best to convince his coach Marco Silva to stay in the club.[8] His contract was extended in 2016 until the summer of 2020.[9]

Nottingham Forest

After a trial in pre-season, Bouchalakis signed a 3-year contract with EFL Championship club Nottingham Forest in July 2017. As Forest and Olympiacos had the same owner, there was no transfer fee.[10] He scored twice on his league debut as Forest won 4–3 away to Brentford on 12 August.[11] He played regularly in the first half of the season but lost his place under new manager Aitor Karanka.[12]

Return to Olympiacos

Bouchalakis rejoined Olympiacos in July 2018.[citation needed] On 23 August 2018, he scored with a header from Kostas Fortounis' free kick to help Olympiacos beat Burnley 3–1 at home in the first leg of the 2018–19 Europa League play-off round; it was his first goal in UEFA competitions.[13][14] On 31 March 2019, he scored his first goal of the 2018–19 Super League season to beat Atromitos 2–1.[14] On 1 March 2020, Bouchalakis latched on to the second Mathieu Valbuena's assist in the game, to score a second for Olympiacos in a 2–0 home game against Panetolikos, head into the 2019–20 playoffs with an undefeated 26 matches' record. It was his first goal for the season.[15]

Hertha BSC

On 31 August 2023, Bouchalakis signed a two-year contract with Hertha BSC in Germany.[16]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 March 2024[17][18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ergotelis2011–12Super League Greece200020
2012–13Super League Greece 239610406
2013–14Super League Greece30210312
Total71820738
Olympiacos2014–15Super League Greece91611[a]0162
2015–1651100061
2016–1780504[b]0170
Total22212150393
Nottingham Forest2017–18Championship2121030252
Olympiacos2018–19Super League Greece181309[c]1302
2019–2033130160521
2020–2130371121495
2021–2228240100422
2022–23312090141
Total112819156218711
Konyaspor (Ioan)2022–23Süper Lig12000120
Hertha BSC2023–242. Bundesliga19120211
Career total257213623061235625

International

As of 21 November 2023[19]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Greece201840
201960
202050
2021110
202291
202371
Total421
Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Giakoumakis goal.[19]
List of international goals scored by Giorgos Giakoumakis
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
125 March 2022Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania  Romania1–01–0Friendly

Honours

Club

Olympiacos

International

Greece U19

Individual

References