Valentinos Sielis

Valentinos Sielis (Greek: Βαλεντίνος Σιέλης; born 1 March 1990) is a Cypriot professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Doxa Katokopias FC.

Valentinos Sielis
Personal information
Full nameValentinos Sielis
Date of birth (1990-03-01) 1 March 1990 (age 34)
Place of birthPaphos, Cyprus
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)Centre-back / Full-back
Team information
Current team
Doxa Katokopias
Number4
Youth career
2000–2002Arsenal
2002–2007Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2007–2008Doncaster Rovers0(0)
2008–2009Thoi Lakatamia3(0)
2009–2014Anorthosis Famagusta62(0)
2014–2017AEL Limassol65(3)
2017–2019Gangwon FC68(3)
2020Jeju United3(0)
2021–2023Busan IPark49(3)
2023−Doxa Katokopias10(0)
International career
2009–2012Cyprus U218(2)
2011–Cyprus14(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 March 2017

In 2014, he signed with AEL. Sielis is a Cypriot international and made his debut on 9 February 2011, against Romania in the CytaVision Cyprus Tournament 2011.[1]

He was awarded the best youth player in Cyprus in May 2012.[2]

Early life

Sielis was born in Paphos, a town in Cyprus. He is the second born of three siblings. Valentinos has two brothers, also footballers. The eldest, Giorgos, plays for AEK Kouklia, and the youngest, Christos, plays for Panetolikos.

Club career

Early career

Sielis began his career in England first in Arsenal F.C. U12, Tottenham F.C. U13, the first professional team for Doncaster Rovers,[3] Sielis signed with local club of Enosis Neon Thoi Lakatamia FC, and after a great season he moved to Anorthosis Famagusta. In 2014, he moved to AEL, where he has played consistently well since joining.

Anorthosis Famagusta

Sielis joined Anorthosis at 15 June 2009 from Enosis Neon Thoi Lakatamia FC as a free agent.

Sielis made his team debut as 30th-minute substitute in a 0–3 away victory over Othellos Athienou F.C. for Cypriot Cup on 23 September 2009.[4] he play as a first time in a European competition on the starting squad in a 1–2 home defeat from CSKA Moscow in Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium for the UEFA Europa League 4th qualifying round.[5] He made his debut at the 72nd minute in Cypus first division in a 2–1 home victory over Olympiakos Nicosia. At the end of the season he played for 18 matches, 10 of them as a substitution, with 875 minutes of total playing time. On 8 May 2011, Sielis played for a first time in a Derby on the basic squad in a 1–0 away defeat from Omonia Nicosia. For the season 2011–12, during the period with coach Stanimir Stoilov, Sielis was a basic player of Anorthosis in the European competitions with 3 appearances in 4 matches, all as a substitution. After the arrival of Ronny Levy, Sielis played 4 times, once on the basic squad against Olympiakos Nicosia.[6] For the season 2012–13, Sielis, Began the season as the second left back of the team. After the announcement that William Boaventura end his career,[7] Sielis became the main left back for the team. From 8th until 19th match day Sielis starts all the matches in the basic line-up. In March 2013, Sielis had a serious injury and he underwent surgery. As a result, the team lost all the other matches until the end of the season.[8]

Outside football

Volunteering

Valentinos Sielis is particularly sensitive to issues related to helping our fellowmen. It is amazing that in the transmission of reckoning AEL LimassolAnorthosis from CytaVision, Savvas Kosiaris, some time before the incident with Kaluđerović said that Sielis was a compatible bone marrow transplant donor and his altruism helped a fellow human to stay alive.[9]

Heroic act – Kaluđerović serious injury

At 26 April 2014, the striker of AEL Limassol, Andrija Kaluđerović claimed the ball with Paulo Jorge and seemed to hit the head of his opponent, with Kaluđerović to fall to the ground unconscious. The broadcaster of Cytavision who was at the soccer ground, said that Kaluđerović swallowed his tongue and Sielis of Anorthosis had brought him back, when the Cypriot swiftly gave him first aid.[9][10][11][12]

Career statistics

As of 9 October 2022.[13]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Doncaster Rovers2007–08EFL League One
Enosis Neon Thoi Lakatamia2008–09Cypriot Second Division3030
Anorthosis Famagusta2009–10Cypriot First Division00201030
2010–111700010180
2011–121700030200
2012–131603000190
2013–141702000190
Total6707050790
AEL Limassol2014–15Cypriot First Division2316150342
2015–1624140281
2016–1718120201
Total65312150824
Gangwon FC2017K League 1710071
201832000320
201924200242
Total6330000633
Jeju United2020K League 2303060
Busan IPark202124100241
202225220272
Total4932000513
Career total250924110028410

International goals

Scores and results list Cyprus' goal tally first.[14]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.13 November 2016GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus  Gibraltar3–13–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification

International career

Sielis was the captain of Cyprus national team under 21,[1] with 8 appearances and 2 goals. On 3 September 2010 Sielis scored his first goal with the national team under 21 in an away victory 1–3 over Norway under-21 football team.

On 26 March 2010, Sielis made his debut with the national team of Cyprus in the home draw 0–0 against Iceland. In 2012–13, Sielis played in 2 of national team matches, in a home victory 1–0 against Iceland, and in away defeat 2–1 from Slovenia.

Honours

Individual

  • Best player of the year in Cyprus
    • Best youth Footballer: 2012[2]

References