View source for Nikos Machlas

{{short description|Greek footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Nikos Machlas
| image               =
| fullname            = Nikolaos Machlas
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1973|6|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Heraklion]], [[Crete]], Greece
| height              = 1.83m
| position            = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| youthyears1         = {{0|0000}}
| youthclubs1         = [[OFI Crete F.C.|OFI]]
| years1              = 1990–1996
| years2              = 1996–1999
| years3              = 1999–2003
| years4              = 2003
| years5              = 2003–2004
| years6              = 2004–2006
| years7              = 2006–2008
| clubs1              = [[OFI Crete F.C.|OFI]]
| clubs2              = [[SBV Vitesse|Vitesse]]
| clubs3              = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| clubs4              = → [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] (loan)
| clubs5              = [[Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki)|Iraklis]]
| clubs6              = [[OFI Crete F.C.|OFI]]
| clubs7              = [[APOEL FC|APOEL]]
| caps1               = 154
| goals1              = 48
| caps2               = 92
| goals2              = 60
| caps3               = 74
| goals3              = 38
| caps4               = 14
| goals4              = 2
| caps5               = 26
| goals5              = 10
| caps6               = 52
| goals6              = 21
| caps7               = 51
| goals7              = 17
| totalcaps = 463
| totalgoals = 196
| nationalyears1      = 1993–2002
| nationalteam1       = [[Greece national football team|Greece]]
| nationalcaps1       = 61
| nationalgoals1      = 18
}}
'''Nikos Machlas''' ({{langx|el|Νίκος Μαχλάς}}, born 16 June 1973) is a retired Greek former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]].

==Club career==
===OFI Crete===
Machlas began his career with [[OFI Crete F.C.|OFI]], where he made his debut in February 1991 against [[Panionios NFC|Panionios]]. He stayed at the club for six seasons.<ref name="Ev">{{cite web|publisher=Evrytania News|author=Kolokotsios, Lambros|script-title=el:Αθλητικοί Φάκελοι (ΜΑΧΛΑΣ)|trans-title=Sporting Capsules (Machlas)|url=http://www.evrytanika.com/article.php?id=6474|language=el|date=27 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018004502/http://evrytanika.com/article.php?id=6474|archive-date=18 October 2011}}</ref> He had the Dutchman [[Eugène Gerards]] as a coach at OFI Crete.

===Vitesse===

Machlas signed for Dutch side [[Vitesse Arnhem]] in [[1996–97 in Dutch football|1996]] from Greece.<ref>[https://www.vice.com/nl/article/nikos-machlas-zoon/ Nikos Machlas over zware jaren met zijn zoon en de kip van Mido] vice.com</ref> He scored a disappointing 8 goals in 29 games in his first season in the [[Eredivisie]], but in his second season he scored 34 goals in just 32 games, a feat which earned him the [[European Golden Boot]] for the [[1997–98 in Dutch football|1997–98 season]]. He scored 60 goals in 92 matches for Vitesse.<ref name="rsssf_european_topscorers">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/beforegboot.html |title=European Topscorers by Season |website=rsssf.org |publisher=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=29 April 2024|archive-date=31 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231122820/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/beforegboot.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Ajax===
Machlas joined Eredivisie giant [[Ajax Amsterdam]] in June 1999 for a then-club record $8.6 million.
Despite netting 38 goals in 74 Eredivisie league games spread over three seasons, Machlas' goalscoring record was not deemed prolific enough for the demanding Ajax fans and coaching staff. The team went through a transition as poor results meant Machlas had to endure three coaches in as many years.
His place as striker became threatened by coach [[Ronald Koeman]]'s preference for the younger strikers [[Zlatan Ibrahimović]] and [[Mido (footballer)|Mido]]. His 12 goals in the [[2001–02 in Dutch football|2001–02 season]] were nevertheless important in the run toward the first league title for Ajax in four years. Ajax also won the [[KNVB Beker]] that season, meaning they achieved [[Double (association football)|the "double"]]. At the start of the [[2002–03 in Dutch football|2002–03 season]], Koeman made it clear to Machlas that there was no future for him anymore in the first team of Ajax and was thus relegated to training and playing matches with the youth team. Eventually, the Greek striker and [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] Amsterdam had split. ''"By mutual consent, Ajax and Nikos Machlas have terminated their contract. The termination takes effect immediately,"'' Ajax said in a statement, adding that ''"the player could now join another club on a free transfer".'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/news/story?id=272566&cc=5739|publisher=espnfc.com|title=Ajax split with Machlas|date=31 July 2003}}</ref>

After a brief (and frustrating) period in the Ajax youth team, he joined Spanish side [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]] on loan for the rest of the season, with the Spanish club had an option to sign him on a three-year contract at the end of the season. The former [[Vitesse Arnhem|Vitesse]] striker, who was the highest-paid player at [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], suffered further misery in Spain, after he was arrested for traffic offences. He made things worse by 'insulting and injuring' police officers who tried to arrest him after the offence had been committed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11834/2272426/machlas-and-ajax-part-company|publisher=skysports.com|title=Machlas and Ajax part company }}</ref> He scored just 2 goals in 14 appearances. Upon returning to Ajax, his contract was terminated in July 2003.
Before returning to Greece Machlas has emerged as a possible transfer target for [[FC Twente|Twente]]. Twente was in desperate need of an experienced striker capable of leading their attacking line next term. ''"We don't just want any striker,"'' Tukkers chairman Herman Wessels told. ''"We need someone that fits in with us and makes us better."'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11913/2271088/twente-linked-with-machlas|publisher=skysports.com|title=Twente linked with Machlas }}</ref>

===Iraklis===
The 30-year-old Greek international forward signed a one-year contract with [[Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki)|Iraklis]] with the option of a further two seasons. He played under the man he calls his "footballing father", Dutch coach Eugène Gerards, who gave Machlas his break aged 18 at OFI Crete. He scored 10 goals in 26 appearances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=87408.html#machlas+back+greece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521215524/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=87408.html#machlas+back+greece|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 May 2014|publisher=[[UEFA]]|title=Machlas back in Greece|date=1 August 2003| access-date= 9 November 2016 }}</ref>

===Return to OFI===
He returned to his first club, OFI and stayed there for two seasons. Upon the termination of his contract and after conflict with the club's chairman, he moved to [[APOEL FC|APOEL]], in Cyprus and signed a two years contract.

===APOEL===
In his first year at APOEL, Machlas helped his team to win the [[2006–07 Cypriot First Division|Championship]]. On 17 May 2008, he announced his retirement after the end of the [[Cypriot Cup]] final, where APOEL beat 2–0 [[Anorthosis Famagusta FC|Anorthosis]] and clinched the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/199216.html |publisher=contra.gr |script-title=el:"Αντίο" στα γήπεδα είπε ο Μαχλάς |language=el |date=18 May 2008 |access-date=19 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524085535/http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/199216.html |archive-date=24 May 2008 }}</ref>

In 2009, he returned to his first club, OFI to take up the role of Sporting Director as they bid to return to the Greek Superleague.

==International career==
Machlas won 61 caps for the [[Greece national football team|Greece national team]] and scored 18 goals. He also scored a crucial goal against [[Russia national football team|Russia]] that led Greece to [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] at only 20 years of age. He started each of Greece's group games in the USA though they lost all three, to [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] and [[Bulgaria national football team|Bulgaria]] and failed to score a goal. He played his last game for Greece against [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]] in May 2002.

==Career statistics==
===International===
:''Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Machlas goal''.<ref>http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=12756 Football PLAYER: Nikolaos "Nikos" Mahlas</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Nikos Machlas
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 10 March 1993 || [[Ernst Happel Stadion]], [[Wien]], Austria || {{fb|Austria}} || align="center"|'''1'''–2 || align="center"|1–2 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 12 October 1993 || [[Stade Josy Barthel]], [[Luxembourg City]], Luxembourg || {{fb|Luxembourg}} || align="center"|'''1'''–0 || align="center"|3–1 || [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || 17 November 1993 || [[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Olympic Stadium]], [[Athens]], Greece || {{fb|Russia|1991}} || align="center"|'''1'''–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
|-
| align="center"|4 || rowspan="2"|27 April 1994 || rowspan="2"|Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece || rowspan="2"|{{fb|Saudi Arabia}} || align="center"|'''1'''–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|5–1 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|5 || align="center"|'''2'''–0
|-
| align="center"|6 || rowspan="2"|12 October 1994 || rowspan="2"|[[Kaftanzoglio Stadium]], [[Thessaloniki]], Greece || rowspan="2"|{{fb|Finland}} || align="center"|'''3'''–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|4–0 || rowspan="2"|[[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|7 || align="center"|'''4'''–0
|-
| align="center"|8 || 16 November 1994 || Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece || {{fb|San Marino}} || align="center"|'''1'''–0 || align="center"|2–0 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
|-
| align="center"|9 || 15 November 1995 || [[Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium]], [[Heraklion]], Greece || {{fb|Faroe Islands}} || align="center"|'''3'''–0 || align="center"|5–0 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
|-
| align="center"|10 || 19 August 1997 || Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, Heraklion, Greece || {{fb|Cyprus}} || align="center"|'''1'''–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|11 || 6 September 1997 || [[Bežigrad Stadium]], [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia || {{fb|Slovenia}} || align="center"|'''3'''–0 || align="center"|3–0 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|12 || 6 September 1998 || Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece || {{fb|Slovenia}} || align="center"|'''1'''–1 || align="center"|2–2 || [[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying|UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|13 || 14 October 1998 || Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece || {{fb|Georgia|1990}} || align="center"|'''1'''–0 || align="center"|3–0 || UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier
|-
| align="center"|14 || 5 June 1999 || [[Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena]], [[Tbilisi]], Georgia || {{fb|Georgia|1990}} || align="center"|'''2'''–1 || align="center"|2–1 || UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier
|-
| align="center"|15 || rowspan="2"|13 November 1999 || rowspan="2"|National Stadium, [[Kilkis]], Greece || rowspan="2"|{{fb|Nigeria}} || align="center"|'''1'''–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|2–0 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|16 || align="center"|'''2'''–0
|-
| align="center"|17 || 2 June 2001 || Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, Heraklion, Greece || {{fb|Albania}} || align="center"|'''1'''–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier]]
|-
| align="center"|18 || 10 November 2001 || [[Nikos Goumas Stadium]], Athens, Greece || {{fb|Estonia}} || align="center"|'''4'''–0 || align="center"|4–2 || Friendly
|}

==Honours==
'''Ajax'''
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[2001–02 Eredivisie|2001–02]]
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[2001–02 KNVB Cup|2001–02]]

'''APOEL'''
*[[Cypriot First Division]]: [[Cypriot First Division 2006–07|2006–07]]
*[[Cypriot Cup]]: [[Cypriot Cup 2007–08|2007–08]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Eredivisie#Top_scorers|Eredivisie top scorer]]: [[1997–98 Eredivisie|1997–98]]
*[[European Golden Boot]]: 1998

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Navboxes colour
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|title= Awards
|list1=
{{Eredivisie top scorers}}
{{European Golden Shoe}}
{{Super League Greece young footballer of the year}}
}}
{{Greece Squad 1994 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Machlas, Nikos}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Footballers from Heraklion]]
[[Category:Greek men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:OFI Crete F.C. players]]
[[Category:SBV Vitesse players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:Sevilla FC players]]
[[Category:Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki) players]]
[[Category:APOEL FC players]]
[[Category:Super League Greece players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Cypriot First Division players]]
[[Category:Greece men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Greek expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus]]