View source for Giourkas Seitaridis

{{short description|Greek footballer (born 1981)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Giourkas Seitaridis
| image = Seitaridis 2008.jpg
| caption = Seitaridis playing for [[Greece national football team|Greece]] in 2008
| full_name = Georgios Seitaridis
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|6|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Piraeus]], Greece
| height = 1.85 m
| position = [[Right-back]], [[centre-back]]
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1998–2001
| clubs1 = [[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]]
| caps1  = 40
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 2001–2004
| clubs2 = [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]
| caps2  = 77
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2004–2005
| clubs3 = [[F.C. Porto|Porto]]
| caps3  = 23
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2005–2006
| clubs4 = [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]]
| caps4  = 8
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2006–2009
| clubs5 = [[Atlético Madrid]]
| caps5  = 59
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2009–2013
| clubs6 = [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]
| caps6  = 41
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 248
| totalgoals = 6
| nationalyears1 = 2002–2010
| nationalteam1 = [[Greece national football team|Greece]]
| nationalcaps1 = 72
| nationalgoals1 = 1<!-- When you update this parameter, please update the ntupdate parameter! -->
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|GRE}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{medal|W|[[UEFA Euro 2004|2004]]|}}
}}

'''Georgios''' "'''Giourkas'''" '''Seitaridis'''  ({{Langx|el|Γεώργιος "Γιούρκας" Σεϊταρίδης}} {{IPA|el|ʝeˈorʝioz ˈʝurkas seitaˈriðis|}}; born 4 June 1981) is a Greek former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[right-back]] and occasionally as a [[centre-back]].<ref name="fifa profile">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player=215517/profile.html |title=Giourkas Seitaridis profile |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=11 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225249/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/players/player%3D215517/profile.html |archive-date=2 December 2013}}</ref> He has last played in 2013 for [[Super League Greece]] side [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]], having played previously at [[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]], [[F.C. Porto|Porto]], [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]] and [[Atlético Madrid]]. He is a former member of the [[Greece national football team|Greece national team]], for which he made a total of 72 international appearances, scoring one goal.<ref>{{NFT player|2672|accessdate=}}</ref> He was part of their team which won [[Euro 2004]], for which he was voted into the Team of the Tournament.

Both his grandfather and father, Dimitris Seitaridis, were footballers and eventually managers.<ref name="giourkas 2000">{{cite news|url=http://www.athlitikihxo.gr/showhighlights.php?papercode=220443&imagecode=220443 |title=Το μήλο κάτω από... δύο μηλιές (The apple under... two apple trees) |last=Christou |first=Dimosthenis |date=30 November 2000 |publisher=Athlitiki Icho |language=el }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Club career==

===PAS Giannina===
Of [[Pontic Greeks|Pontic Greek]] heritage, Seitaridis started his professional career with northern Greek side [[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]], nicknamed Ajax of [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]], in 1997, becoming an important right full-back for the club. Seitaridis helped the team towards the promotion of the [[Super League Greece 2|Super League 2]] in the [[1999–2000 Beta Ethniki|1999–2000]] at the [[Greek Superleague]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/grk2hist.html|title=Beta Ethniki 1999–00|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref> He made a total of 40 league appearances with [[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]], scoring 5 goals.

===Panathinaikos===
He was soon spotted by [[Athens]]-based club [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]], and on 12 January 2001 he signed a 5-year contract with them for a total fee of 300 million [[Modern drachma|drachmas]].<ref name="giourkas signs">{{cite news|url=http://www.athlitikihxo.gr/showhighlights.php?papercode=262913&imagecode=262913 |title=Και ο Γιούρκας στην Παιανία (Also Giourkas at Paiania) |last=Spanoudakis |first=Giorgos |date=12 January 2001 |work=Athlitiki Icho |language=el }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He quickly established himself as a regular player for the team and at the age of 22 he won his first silverware by helping Panathinaikos do the [[double (association football)|double]] at the [[2003–04 in Greek football|2003–04]] season, winning the [[2003–04 Alpha Ethniki]] and the [[2003–04 Greek Cup|Greek Cup]] against rivals [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epo.gr/vodafon/kyppello/Kipello2003-2004.pdf|title=2003–04 Greek Cup overview|publisher=[[Hellenic Football Federation]]|language=el|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref>

He scored his first European goal against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 7 March 2001, in a game for the second group stage of the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League#Second group stage|2000–01 UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/mar/07/newsstory.panathinaikos|title=Panathinaikos 1 – 1 Man Utd|last=Biggs|first=Matt|date=7 March 2001|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> In September of the same year, he was named [[Greek football PSAP awards#Greek Young Footballer of the year|Greek Young Footballer]] of 2001, along with [[Pantelis Kafes]] and [[Angelos Charisteas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/article/?aid=132732|title=ΑΕΚ, Ολυμπιακός και ΠΑΟΚ οι υποψήφιες κορυφαίες ομάδες του ΠΣΑΠ (AEK, Olympiacos and PAOK the candidates for Best Team)|date=10 September 2001|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref>

===Porto===
On 11 June 2004, a day before the eventually successful [[UEFA Euro 2004]] campaign for [[Greece national football team|Greece]], it was rumored that Seitaridis signed for [[Portugal|Portuguese]] side, and at the time [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] holders, [[F.C. Porto]], for a transfer fee of €3&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/article/?aid=544654|title="Έκλεισε" στην Πόρτο για 3 χρόνια ο Σεϊταρίδης (Porto "captured" Seitaridis for 3 years)|date=11 June 2004|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> However, the official announcement was made on 26 July 2004, almost a month and a half later, with rumors linking him to [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] in the meantime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/article/?aid=546079|title=Στο στόχαστρο της Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης ο Γιούρκας Σεϊταρίδης! (Real have their eyes on Giourkas Seitaridis)|date=18 June 2004|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/article/?aid=553389|title=Στο Οπόρτο ο Σεϊταρίδης για να περάσει από ιατρικές εξετάσεις (Seitaridis to Porto for his medicals)|date=26 July 2004|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> He helped the ''Dragões'' win the [[Portuguese SuperCup]] and [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] of that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/matchreport/newsid=514942.html#toyota+cup+2004 |title=Toyota Cup 2004 |publisher=[[UEFA]] |access-date=10 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514024043/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/matchreport/newsid%3D514942.html#toyota+cup+2004 |archive-date=14 May 2012}}</ref>

===Dynamo Moscow===
On 23 May 2005, he was sold to Russian side [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]] for €10&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=303874.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110085316/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=303874.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 November 2012|title=Dinamo pay record fee for Seitaridis|date=23 May 2005|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> following the footsteps of ex-Porto teammates [[Derlei]], [[Costinha]], [[Maniche]] and [[Thiago Silva (footballer)|Thiago Silva]], who also moved to the Russian club the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news/01a9-0f8471fe0d74-7783e9a77bc8-1000--porto-pair-move-to-moscow/|title=Porto pair move to Moscow|date=13 May 2005|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=328681.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205023714/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=328681.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 February 2013|title=Rising from the roubles|last=Sekundo|first=Eugene|date=26 August 2005|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> Soon however, Seitaridis began to show his discomfort at the club, failing to settle in Moscow,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://backpagefootball.com/opinion/greece-team-of-2004/|title=Greece team of 2004&nbsp;– where they are now|last=Keys|first=Killian|date=17 December 2009|publisher=Backpage Football}}</ref> and claimed the reasons he wanted to leave was that the weather was different from his native Greece and that he could not adapt to the cold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://talentspotter.fourfourtwo.com/blogs/thespotter/sixmorebrilliantfreeagents.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722054446/http://talentspotter.fourfourtwo.com/blogs/thespotter/sixmorebrilliantfreeagents.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 July 2012 |title=Six more brilliant free agents |date=3 August 2009 |publisher=[[FourFourTwo]] }}</ref> In his one-year spell at the club, he only managed to make 8 league appearances before deciding to leave.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0253-0d7da2048b11-8792d85e2aab-1000--greece-renew-russia-rivalry/|title=Greece renew Russia rivalry|date=9 January 2012|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>

===Atlético Madrid===
On 16 June 2006 he was transferred to [[Atlético de Madrid|Atlético Madrid]] for a fee of €12&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/2669/birthdays/2010/06/04/1957672/spanish-cumpleanos-antoni-ramallets|title=Spanish Cumpleanos: Antoni Ramallets|last=Madden|first=Paul|date=4 June 2010|publisher=Goal.com}}</ref> being the second Greek footballer to play for Atlético after [[Striker (association football)|striker]] [[Demis Nikolaidis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/international/article/?aid=710642|title=Στην Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης ο Σεϊταρίδης μαζί με τον Κοστίνια (Seitaridis to Atlético Madrid with Costinha)|date=30 May 2006|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> The latter was the one who convinced him to join the club, together with his ex-Dynamo teammate Costinha who joined Atlético  the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=430275.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109222846/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=430275.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 November 2012|title=Seitaridis joins Atlético newcomers|date=16 June 2006|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>  Seitaridis was sent off in the first half of his debut game, in the [[La Liga]] opening match away to [[Racing Santander]] on 27 August 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://guardian.touch-line.com/StatsCentre.asp?Lang=0&mTEID=533&Season=2006%20-%202007&CTID=29&CPID=68&TEID=533&RFID=&PLID=57125&MAID=364308&ListType=8&pStr=Match_Details&t=2 |title=Santander 0 – 1 Atl.Madrid |date=27 August 2006 |work=[[The Guardian]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518141009/http://guardian.touch-line.com/StatsCentre.asp?Lang=0&mTEID=533&Season=2006%20-%202007&CTID=29&CPID=68&TEID=533&RFID=&PLID=57125&MAID=364308&ListType=8&pStr=Match_Details&t=2 |archive-date=18 May 2012}}</ref> On 15 October 2006, he received his second red card only six games into the season, as he was [[Yellow card (association football)|cautioned]] twice in a home league game against [[Recreativo Huelva]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/international/article/?aid=746618|title=Νέα νίκη της Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης παρά τη δεύτερη φετινή αποβολή Σεϊταρίδη (Another Atletico victory despite Seitaridis' second red card)|date=15 October 2006|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref>

He scored his first goal for Atlético the following year, on 21 July 2007, in a game against [[Gloria Bistriţa]] for the [[Intertoto Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/intertotocup/fixturesresults/round=15113/match=300827/report=rp.html|title=Seitaridis steals Gloria's thunder|date=21 July 2007|publisher=[[UEFA]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524213417/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/intertotocup/fixturesresults/round%3D15113/match%3D300827/report%3Drp.html|archive-date=24 May 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2007, Seitaridis damaged his achilles tendon in a match against [[UD Almería]], which meant he needed to undergo surgery.<ref name="giourkas achilles">{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0254-0d7bbd745abe-56710b14c2ac-1000--seitaridis-set-for-surgery/|title=Seitaridis set for surgery|date=15 November 2007|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> His period of absence was initially evaluated at about six weeks, but he was ready two and a half months later, in April 2008.<ref name="giourkas achilles"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/international/article/?aid=887983|title=Εαυτόν στη διάθεση του Αγκίρε θέτει ο Σεϊταρίδης (Seitaridis feels ready to play)|date=3 April 2008|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> Due to his injury problem, he only managed to make 14 league appearances for Atlético in the [[2007–08 Atlético Madrid season|2007–08 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7c1b81646b-011aa958ce5a-1000--seitaridis-reflects-on-greek-expectations/|title=Seitaridis reflects on Greek expectations|last=Papantonopoulou|first=Vassiliki|date=9 June 2008|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>

The [[2008–09 Atlético Madrid season|2008–09 season]] did not start well for Seitaridis, as he lost his place in the first team to new signings [[Tomáš Ujfaluši]] and [[John Heitinga]], and his heavy contract meant that Atlético was looking to sell him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/international/article/?aid=919811|title=Πιέζεται για... έξοδο από την Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης ο Γιούρκας (Giourkas pressured to exit Atlético Madrid)|date=16 July 2008|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> Despite that, Seitaridis was a starter in Atlético's opening game, in a 4–0 victory over [[Málaga CF]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/international/article/?aid=933695|title=Επιμένει η Μπενφίκα για την απόκτηση του Σεϊταρίδη (Benfica insists on signing Seitaridis)|date=1 September 2008|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> and went on to make 14 league appearances that season. On 29 April 2009 however, him and teammate Maniche were suspended by Atlético's president [[Enrique Cerezo]] because they failed to appear in an Atlético home match against [[Sporting Gijón]] despite not being included in the 18-man squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=39595|title=Τελειώνει από την Ατλέτικο ο Σεϊταρίδης (Seitaridis finished from Atletico)|date=29 April 2009|publisher=[[Eleftherotypia]]|language=el}}</ref><ref name="giourkas released">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_5321750,00.html|title=Atletico release Seitaridis|last=Bailey|first=Richard|date=13 May 2009|publisher=[[Sky Sports]]}}</ref> Two weeks later on 13 May 2009, it was announced that Seitaridis was released by Atlético a year before his contract was to expire, with a statement on the club's official website reading "Seitaridis is therefore free to negotiate with other clubs who may be interested in signing him".<ref name="giourkas released"/>

===Return to Panathinaikos===
On 10 September 2009, the last day of the Greek transfer period for [[free agent]] players, Seitaridis signed a 4-year deal with [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]], returning to the team after five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=1051571|title=Ο πρώην ελεύθερος Γιούρκας επέστρεψε στον Παναθηναϊκό (Ex-free agent Giourkas returns to Panathinaikos)|date=10 September 2009|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> It soon became apparent that Giourkas was unfit and was struggling to re-establish himself due to frequent injuries,<ref name="valerega1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/protash_gia_ton_seitaridh.1693680.html|title=Πρόταση για τον Σεϊταρίδη (Offer for Seitaridis)|date=16 March 2012|publisher=Sport24|language=el|access-date=11 April 2012|archive-date=26 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526201506/http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/protash_gia_ton_seitaridh.1693680.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> missing most of the 2009–10 season's matches. However, on 21 March 2010, he surprisingly returned to the line-up for the [[Derby of the eternal enemies|big derby]] against rivals [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=1118688|title=Ο Ντάρμπισιρ χάλασε το... πάρτι του Παναθηναϊκού στο κατάμεστο ΟΑΚΑ (Derbyshire ruined Panathinaikos' party at full OAKA)|date=21 March 2010|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> and despite their defeat, [[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]] managed to end the season positively by winning the double.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=issue.el.home&date=26/04/2010&id=155432|title=Το "αφεντικό" σφίγγει το ζωνάρι... (The "boss" tightens the strings)|last=Livanios|first=Savvas|date=26 April 2010|work=[[Eleftherotypia]]|language=el}}</ref> Seitaridis himself didn't appear at the [[2009–10 Greek Football Cup]] final against [[Aris Thessaloniki F.C.|Aris]] due to injury,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=153612|title=Αμφίβολη η συμμετοχή του Σεϊταρίδη στον τελικό (Seitaridis' appearance at Greek Cup Final is douptful)|date=20 April 2010|publisher=[[Eleftherotypia]]|language=el}}</ref> but made 2 appearances on the road to the final.

The [[2010–11 Super League Greece|2010–11 season]] started well for Seitaridis, being a starter at Panathinaikos' opening league fixture against [[Xanthi F.C.|Skoda Xanthi]] on 27 August 2010 and giving a good performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=220205|title=Χορεύοντας με τις θλάσεις (Dancing with muscle injuries)|last=Livanios|first=Savvas|date=4 November 2010|publisher=[[Eleftherotypia]]|language=el}}</ref> However, another muscle injury<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e9-0e759bf1362b-4bfde8300690-1000--panathinaikos-lose-kante-and-seitaridis/|title=Panathinaikos lose Kanté and Seitaridis|date=27 September 2010|publisher=[[UEFA]]}}</ref> meant that Seitaridis would return at a league game against [[Panserraikos F.C.|Panserraikos]] two months later, on 4 December.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=1231069989|title=Στη κορυφή ο ΠΑΟ με νίκη 2–0 επί του Πανσερραϊκού και Γάλλους σκόρερ (Panathinaikos at top with a 2–0 win over Panserraikos and with French scorers)|date=4 December 2010|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> Due to the player's poor condition he was placed on the transfer list in January 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=1231071904|title=ΠΑΟ... για ενίσχυση και ξεσκαρτάρισμα του ρόστερ (PAO vows for improvement and cleanup of the roster)|date=22 December 2010|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> but despite various offers from foreign teams during the summer transfer period,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=1231123001|title=Όταν ο Γιούρκας φεύγει, ο Κάστρο έρχεται (Giourkas goes, Castro comes)|date=5 August 2011|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> he stayed at Panathinaikos.

The [[2011–12 Superleague Greece|2011–12 season]] was even more disappointing for him, as he was only used for 45 minutes in an away game against [[Atromitos F.C.|Atromitos]], where he was substituted at half-time due to poor performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=310698|title=Ο Λέτο έσωσε στο τέλος τον βαθμό (Leto saved the point at the end)|date=17 September 2011|publisher=[[Eleftherotypia]]|language=el}}</ref> He played for a second time in an away game against [[Asteras Tripolis F.C.|Asteras Tripolis]], staying on the pitch a full 90 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/superleague/article/?aid=1231191912|title=Κλέιτον και Λάζαρος "οδήγησαν" τον ΠΑΟ στο "διπλό" της Τρίπολης – Αθλητισμός (Cleyton and Lazaros lead PAO to Tripoli win)|date=18 April 2012|publisher=[[In.gr]]|language=el|access-date=31 July 2012|location=Tripoli}}</ref>

The [[2012–13 Superleague Greece|2012–13 season]] started well for Seitaridis, playing as a starter in the first three league matches at the beginning of the season. He also contributed with one assist in Panathinaikos' [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League]] group stage match against [[Tottenham Hotspur]], which ended 1–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/giourkas_seitaridhs_9_xronia_meta.1956443.html|script-title=el:Γιούρκας Σεϊταρίδης: 9 χρόνια μετά|trans-title=Giourkas Seitaridis: 9 years later|date=5 October 2012|publisher=Sport24.gr|language=el|access-date=5 October 2012|archive-date=7 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007175538/http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Panathinaikos/giourkas_seitaridhs_9_xronia_meta.1956443.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the summer of 2013 he didn't renew his contract and left the club.

==International career==

===Youth career===
Seitaridis is a former [[Greece national under-21 football team|Greece under-21]] international,<ref name="giourkas 2000"/> making his debut on 6 October 2000, in a [[2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification#Group 9|2002 UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier]] against [[Finland national under-21 football team|Finland under-21]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/teams/player=55908/profile/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917130950/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/teams/player=55908/profile/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 September 2012|title=Giourkas Seitaridis profile|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref> He participated at the finals of the [[2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship|2002 UEFA Under-21 Championship]] in Switzerland,<ref name="giourkas sky">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/player/0,27042,13952_99270,00.html |title=Giourkas Seitaridis profile |publisher=[[Sky Sports]] |access-date=11 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229182701/http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/player/0,27042,13952_99270,00.html |archive-date=29 December 2011}}</ref> where his team was eliminated from the group stage, having collected one point in three games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eur-u21-2002.html|title=2002 European U-21 Championship, details|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>

===First steps & UEFA Euro 2004===
Seitaridis made his international debut with the senior team on 13 February 2002, in an international friendly match against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]].<ref name="giourkas sky"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/article/?aid=360449|title=Ισοπαλία... υποσχέσεων για την εθνική (Promising draw for the national team)|date=13 February 2002|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref> He helped [[Greece national football team|Greece]] qualify to the [[UEFA Euro 2004]] in Portugal for the second time in history,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tovima.gr/sports/article/?aid=154396|title=Πρόκριση με λυτρωτή τον Τσιάρτα (Qualification with Tsiartas as a hero)|last=Sabrakos|first=Vasilis|date=12 October 2003|work=[[To Vima]]|language=el}}</ref> and was also one of the key players during Greece's successful campaign, a win that shocked the footballing world as Greece were considered outsiders before the tournament started.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2004/overview/index.html#underdogs+have+their|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130092649/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2004/overview/index.html#underdogs+have+their|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 January 2012|title=Underdogs Greece have their day|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref> Seitaridis won a penalty at the first match against Portugal as he was knocked down by [[Cristiano Ronaldo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/article/?aid=544844|script-title=el:Νίκη-"θαύμα" της εθνικής με 2–1 την Πορτογαλία|trans-title=Surprise victory for Greece with 2–1 against Portugal|date=12 June 2004|publisher=[[In.gr]]|language=el|access-date=21 October 2012|location=Porto}}</ref> In the final, he also won the important corner by playing the ball in the center which was blocked from [[Cristiano Ronaldo]]. Overall his contributions for the victorious team were recognised by naming him as part of the 23-man [[UEFA]] 2004 All-Star squad, together with fellow [[Greece national football team|Greek]] players [[Antonis Nikopolidis]], [[Traianos Dellas]], [[Theodoros Zagorakis]] and [[Angelos Charisteas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2382464/Four-England-players-in-UEFA-all-star-squad.html|title=Four England players in UEFA all-star squad|date=5 July 2004|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>

===FIFA Confederations Cup 2005===
As a result of the win at [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]], Greece qualified to the [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup]] in Germany as European champions. Giourkas Seitaridis was a member of the 23-man squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/article/?aid=629424|script-title=el:Με το μυαλό στην Ουκρανία επέστρεψε από την Τουρκία η εθνική|trans-title=Greece returned from Turkey with its mind at Ukraine|date=5 June 2005|publisher=[[In.gr]]|language=el|access-date=21 October 2012|location=Athens}}</ref>

===UEFA Euro 2008 & 2010 FIFA World Cup===
He scored his debut international goal on 2 June 2007 against [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] in a [[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying|Euro 2008 qualifying]] match,<ref name="giourkas sky"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090528155409/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/gamecast?id=197346&league=UEFA.EUROQ Greece&nbsp;– Hungary] ESPN, June 2007</ref> helping the Greece national team to [[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying|qualify]] to the [[UEFA Euro 2008]] championship. He played twice in the disappointing [[UEFA Euro 2008 Group D|Euro 2008]] campaign for Greece,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/teams/49--greece/|title=Greece squad at Euro 2008|publisher=[[UEFA]]|access-date=11 April 2012}}</ref> having been injured during the second game against [[Russia national football team|Russia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/international/article/?aid=910414|title=Αργησε να "μπει" στο Euro η Εθνική και... βγήκε νωρίς (The national team was late to "join" the Euro and "left" early)|date=14 June 2008|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref>

Despite concerns about his fitness,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8674994.stm|title=World Cup 2010: Greece pick Patsatzoglou & Seitaridis|date=11 May 2010|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Greece national manager [[Otto Rehhagel]] called Seitaridis in his 23-man squad for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8715822.stm|title=World Cup 2010: Greece boss Otto Rehhagel names squad|date=1 June 2010|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> He only played for 90 minutes in the first game of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup Group B|group stage]] against [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]], losing 2–0.<ref name="fifa profile"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/football/worldcup/article/?aid=1231048459 |title=Πρεμιέρα με... λάθη μοιραία και ήττα από τη Ν.Κορέα (Premiere with fatal errors and defeat from South Korea) |date=12 June 2010 |publisher=[[in.gr]] |language=el |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308090525/http://sports.in.gr/football/worldcup/article/?aid=1231048459 |archive-date=8 March 2013}}</ref> After this game, Seitaridis played two consecutive European and a World Cup with the [[Greece national football team|Greece national team]].

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/giorgios-seitaridis/3039/|title=Giorgos Seitaridis profile|work=Soccerway|access-date=10 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.in.gr/article/?aid=536036|title=Ο Σουμ έδιωξε τον Γκούμα και άφησε τον Ολισαντέμπε να ξεκουραστεί (Soum expelled Goumas and let Olizadebe rest)|date=6 May 2004|publisher=[[in.gr]]|language=el}}</ref>
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[PAS Giannina F.C.|PAS Giannina]]
|1998–99
|[[Beta Ethniki]]
|6||0||–||–||–||–||–||–||6||0
|-
|1999–00
|Beta Ethniki
|24||3||–||–||–||–||–||–||24||3
|-
|2000–01
|[[Alpha Ethniki]]
|10||2||–||–||–||–||–||–||10||2
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Panathinaikos F.C.|Panathinaikos]]
|2000–01
|Alpha Ethniki
|12||0||–||–||2||1||–||–||14||1
|-
|2001–02
|Alpha Ethniki
|19||0||1||0||7||0||–||–||27||0
|-
|2002–03
|Alpha Ethniki
|25||0||2||0||2||0||–||–||29||0
|-
|2003–04
|Alpha Ethniki
|21||0||6||0||8||0||–||–||35||0
|-
|[[F.C. Porto|Porto]]
|2004–05
|[[Primeira Liga]]
|23||0||2||0||11||0||–||–||36||0
|-
|[[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]]
|2005
|[[Russian Premier League]]
|8||0||–||–||–||–||–||–||8||0
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Atlético Madrid]]
|2006–07
|[[La Liga]]
|31||0||2||0||–||–||–||–||33||0
|-
|2007–08
|La Liga||14||0||–||–||4||1||–||–||18||1
|-
|2008–09
|La Liga||14||0||2||0||4||0||–||–||20||0
|-
| rowspan="4" |Panathinaikos
|2009–10
|[[Super League Greece]]
|8||0||2||0||–||–||–||–||10||0
|-
|2010–11
|Super League Greece||7||0||2||0||–||–||–||–||9||0
|-
|2011–12
|Super League Greece||2||0||–||–||–||–||1||0||3||0
|-
|2012–13
|Super League Greece||24||0||3||0||5||0||1||0||33||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!248!!5!!22!!0!!43!!2!!2!!0!!315!!7
|}

===International===
:''Score and result list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Seitaridis goal''.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ International goal scored by Giourkas Seitaridis
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
|align="center"|1||2 June 2007||[[Pankritio Stadium]], [[Heraklion]], Greece||{{fb|HUN}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|2–0||[[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group C|Euro 2008 qualifying]]
|}

==Honours==
'''PAS Giannina'''
* [[Football League (Greece)|Beta Ethniki]]: [[1999–2000 Beta Ethniki|1999–2000]]

'''Panathinaikos'''
* [[Super League Greece]]: [[2003–04 Alpha Ethniki|2003–04]], [[2009–10 Super League Greece|2009–10]]
* [[File:Trophy(transp).png|15px]] [[Greek Cup]]: [[2003–04 Greek Football Cup|2003–04]], [[2009–10 Greek Football Cup|2009–10]]

'''Porto'''
* [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]: [[2004 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|2004]]
* [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[2004 Intercontinental Cup|2004]]

'''Greece'''
*[[UEFA European Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Greek football PSAP awards#Greek Young Footballer of the Year|Greek Young Footballer of the Year]]: 2001
* [[UEFA Euro 2004#Awards|UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: 2004

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{UEFA|55908|archive=20171030023709}}
* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=1133&pn=Giourkas_Seitaridis FootballDatabase.com statistics for Giourkas Seitaridis]

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament}}
{{Super League Greece young footballer of the year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Greece squads
|bg=#0000cd
|fg=#FFFFFF
|list1=
{{Greece Squad 2004 European Championship}}
{{Greece Squad 2005 Confederations Cup}}
{{Greece Squad 2008 Euro Cup}}
{{Greece Squad 2010 World Cup}}
}}
{{PAS Giannina F.C.}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seitaridis, Giourkas}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Greek men's footballers]]
[[Category:Greece men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Greece men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:PAS Giannina F.C. players]]
[[Category:Panathinaikos F.C. players]]
[[Category:FC Porto players]]
[[Category:FC Dynamo Moscow players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Atlético Madrid footballers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:European champions for Greece]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:UEFA European Championship–winning players]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:Russian Premier League players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Piraeus]]
[[Category:Super League Greece players]]
[[Category:Football League (Greece) players]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate sportspeople in Portugal]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Pontic Greeks]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal]]
[[Category:21st-century Greek sportsmen]]