.jpg) | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Giorgos Merkis | ||
| Date of birth | (1984-07-30)30 July 1984 (age 41) | ||
| Place of birth | Limassol,Cyprus | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1990–2001 | Apollon Limassol | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2016 | Apollon Limassol | 252 | (17) |
| 2016–2021 | APOEL | 138 | (11) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2020 | Cyprus | 55 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13 May 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 April 2018 | |||
Giorgos Merkis (Greek:Γιώργος Μερκής, born 30 July 1984) is a retiredGreek Cypriot professionalfootballer who played as acentre back forCypriot First Division clubsApollon Limassol andAPOEL, and theCyprus national team.
Merkis is a product ofApollon Limassol academies, making his first team debut during2001–02 season at the age of 17. He spent the vast majority of his career with Apollon, where he won onechampionship, twocups and onesuper cup. After fifteen years at the club, his contract was mutually terminated on 12 January 2016.[1]
On 12 January 2016, Merkis signed an 18-month contract with fellowCypriot First Division clubAPOEL.[2] He made his official debut on 17 January 2016, coming on as a 69th-minute substitute in APOEL's 3–0 home win againstEnosis Neon Paralimni for theCypriot First Division.[3] He scored his first goal for APOEL against his former teamApollon Limassol on 2 April 2016, netting a late equalizer in his team's 2–2 home draw for theCypriot First Division Championship play-offs.[4] A few months after joining APOEL, he was crowned champion as his team won theCypriot First Division title for a fourth consecutive time.[5][6]
On 2 March 2017, Merkis signed a two-year contract extension with APOEL, running until 31 May 2019.[7]
Merkis made his international debut withCyprus National Team on 1 March 2006, in friendly match againstArmenia atTsirion Stadium, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in Cyprus' 2–0 win. He scored his first goal on 16 November 2014, netting the opening goal in the 5–0 home victory againstAndorra in theUEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers.[8]
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 16 November 2014 | GSP Stadium,Nicosia,Cyprus |  Andorra | 1–0 | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
Apollon Limassol
APOEL
On June 3, 2017 Merkis married Cypriot journalist Andrea Kyriakou. On October 8, 2018 Kyriakou gave birth to their first child, a son Labrinos Merkis.