Nikos Machlas

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Nikos Machlas (Template:Langx, born 16 June 1973) is a retired Greek former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Club career

OFI Crete

Machlas began his career with OFI, where he made his debut in February 1991 against Panionios. He stayed at the club for six seasons. He had the Dutchman Eugène Gerards as a coach at OFI Crete.

Vitesse

Machlas signed for Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in 1996 from Greece. 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 season. He scored 60 goals in 92 matches for Vitesse.

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. His 12 goals in the 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 the "double". At the start of the 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 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".

After a brief (and frustrating) period in the Ajax youth team, he joined Spanish side 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 striker, who was the highest-paid player at 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. 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 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."

Iraklis

The 30-year-old Greek international forward signed a one-year contract with 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.

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, in Cyprus and signed a two years contract.

APOEL

In his first year at APOEL, Machlas helped his team to win the Championship. On 17 May 2008, he announced his retirement after the end of the Cypriot Cup final, where APOEL beat 2–0 Anorthosis and clinched the title.

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 team and scored 18 goals. He also scored a crucial goal against 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, Nigeria and Bulgaria and failed to score a goal. He played his last game for Greece against Cyprus in May 2002.

Career statistics

International

Scores and results list Greece's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Machlas goal.

List of international goals scored by Nikos Machlas

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	10 March 1993	Ernst Happel Stadion, Wien, Austria	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Austria	flag alias = Flag of Austria.svg	flag alias-empire = Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Austria (state).svg	flag alias-1230 = Flag of Austria (1230–1934).svg	flag alias-war = Austria-Hungary-flag-1869-1914-naval-1786-1869-merchant.svg	flag alias-1934 = State flag of Austria (1934–1938).svg	flag alias-1938 = Flag of Germany (1935–1945).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of Austria (state).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-army = Austrian Land Forces	flag alias-naval = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-naval = Austrian Navy	link alias-air force = Austrian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Flag of Austria (state).svg	link alias-navy = Austrian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|1–2 || Friendly
2	12 October 1993	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Luxembourg	flag alias = Flag of Luxembourg.svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Luxembourg.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–1 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
3	17 November 1993	Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Russia	flag alias = Flag of Russia.svg	flag alias-1668 = Flag of Russia (1668).svg	flag alias-1696 = Flag of Russia.svg	flag alias-1858 = Romanov Flag.svg	flag alias-1918a=Flag of Russia (1918).svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Russia (1918–1920).svg	flag alias-1925 = Flag of the Russian SFSR (1920-1937).svg	flag alias-1937 = Flag of the Russian SFSR (1937-1954).svg	flag alias-1954 = Flag of the Russian SFSR.svg	flag alias-1991 = Flag of Russia (1991–1993).svg	flag alias-military = Banner of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (obverse).svg	link alias-military = Russian Armed Forces	flag alias-army = Flag of the Russian ground forces.svg	link alias-army = Russian Ground Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Russia.svg	link alias-naval = Russian Navy	flag alias-VV MVD naval-1992 = Russia, Naval flag of ships and vessels of the Interior Force 1992.svg	flag alias-VV MVD naval = Russia, Naval flag of ships and vessels of the Interior Force 2000.svg	flag alias-NGF naval-2016 = Russia, Naval flag of ships and vessels of the Interior Force 2000.svg	flag alias-NGF naval = Russia, Flag of ships and vessels of the National Guard.svg	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Russia.svg	link alias-navy = Russian Navy	flag alias-navy-1992 = Naval ensign of Russia (1992).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Air Force of the Russian Federation.svg	link alias-air force = Russian Air Force	flag alias-marines = Флаг Морской пехоты ВМФ России (2021).jpg	link alias-marines = Russian Naval Infantry	flag alias-space force = Russian military space troops flag.svg	link alias-space force = Russian Space Forces	flag alias-coast guard = Russia, Flag of border service 2008.svg	link alias-coast guard = Russian Coast Guard	flag alias-coast guard-1993 = Russia. Flag of ships of Border Guard Force 1993.svg	link alias-coast guard-1993 = Russian Coast Guard	flag alias-roc-olympics = Russian Olympic Committee flag.png	flag alias-nbfr-badminton = Nbfr logo.png	flag alias-rwf-wrestling = RWF logo.svg	flag alias-tennis = Rtf tennis flag vector.svg	flag alias-aerospace forces = Flag of the Russian Aerospace Forces.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = 1991 }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
4	27 April 1994	Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Saudi Arabia	flag alias = Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg	flag alias-1744 = Flag of the First Saudi State.svg	flag alias-1822 = Flag of the First Saudi State.svg	flag alias-1902 = Flag of the Second Saudi State.svg	flag alias-1921 = Flag of Nejd (1921).svg	flag alias-1926 = Flag of Nejd (1926).svg	flag alias-1932 = Flag of Saudi Arabia (1932–1934).svg	flag alias-1934 = Flag of Saudi Arabia (1934–1938).svg	flag alias-1938 = Flag of Saudi Arabia (1938–1973).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Saudi Arabia.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Saudi Navy	flag alias-navy = Naval base flag of the Royal Saudi Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Saudi Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Royal Saudi Land Forces.svg	link alias-army = Saudi Arabian Army	flag alias-military = Saudi Armed Forces Flag.svg	link alias-military = Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia	flag alias-air force = Ensign of the Royal Saudi Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Royal Saudi Air Force	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|5–1 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
5				2–0
6	12 October 1994	Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Finland	flag alias = Flag of Finland.svg	flag alias-grand duchy = Flag of Russia.svg	flag alias-1809 = Flag of Russia.svg	flag alias-1917 = Flag of Finland 1918 (state).svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Finland (1918-1920).svg	flag alias-1920 = Flag of Finland.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Finland (state).svg	flag alias-state-1918 = Flag of Finland 1918-1920 (State).svg	flag alias-state-1920 = Flag of Finland 1920-1978 (State).svg	flag alias-naval = Military Flag of Finland.svg	border-naval =	flag alias-naval-1918 = Flag of Finland 1918-1920 (Military).svg	border-naval-1918 =	flag alias-naval-1920 = Flag of Finland 1920-1978 (Military).svg	border-naval-1920 =	link alias-naval = Finnish Navy	flag alias-navy = Naval Jack of Finland.svg	link alias-navy = Finnish Navy	link alias-air force = Finnish Air Force	flag alias-military = Military flag of Finland.svg	link alias-military = Finnish Defence Forces	flag alias-army = Military flag of Finland.svg	link alias-army = Finnish Army	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|3–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|4–0 || rowspan="2"|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
7				4–0
8	16 November 1994	Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = San Marino	flag alias = Flag of San Marino.svg	flag alias-1465 = Old Flag of San Marino.svg	flag alias-1862 = Flag of San Marino (1862–2011).svg	flag alias-civil = Flag of San Marino (civil).svg	link alias-army = Sammarinese Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–0 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
9	15 November 1995	Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, Heraklion, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Faroe Islands	flag alias = Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|5–0 || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier
10	19 August 1997	Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, Heraklion, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Cyprus	flag alias = Flag of Cyprus.svg	flag alias-1878 = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1881 = Flag of Cyprus (1881–1922).svg	flag alias-colonial = Blue Ensign of Cyprus (1922).svg	flag alias-April 1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960).svg	flag alias-1960 = Flag of Cyprus (1960–2006).svg	link alias-army = Cypriot Ground Forces	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team }} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|2–1 || Friendly
11	6 September 1997	Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Slovenia	flag alias = Flag of Slovenia.svg	link alias-army = Slovenian Ground Force	link alias-military=Slovenian Armed Forces	flag alias-military=Flag of the Slovenian Armed Forces.svg	flag alias-naval=Naval Jack of Slovenia.svg	link alias-naval=Slovenian Navy	link-alias-navy=Slovenian Navy	link alias-air force = Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence	size =	variant =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|3–0 || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
12	6 September 1998	Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Slovenia	flag alias = Flag of Slovenia.svg	link alias-army = Slovenian Ground Force	link alias-military=Slovenian Armed Forces	flag alias-military=Flag of the Slovenian Armed Forces.svg	flag alias-naval=Naval Jack of Slovenia.svg	link alias-naval=Slovenian Navy	link-alias-navy=Slovenian Navy	link alias-air force = Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence	size =	variant =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|2–2 || UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier
13	14 October 1998	Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece	Template:Country data Georgia	1–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier
14	5 June 1999	Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia	Template:Country data Georgia	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier
15	13 November 1999	National Stadium, Kilkis, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Nigeria	flag alias = Flag of Nigeria.svg	flag alias-state = Flag of Nigeria (state).svg	flag alias-colonial = Flag of Nigeria (1914–1952).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-naval = Nigerian Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Nigerian Army Headquarters.svg	link alias-army = Nigerian Army	flag alias-military=Flag of the Nigerian Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military=Nigerian Armed Forces	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-air force = Nigerian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Nigeria.svg	link alias-navy = Nigerian Navy	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Nigeria.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" align="center"|2–0 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
16				2–0
17	2 June 2001	Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, Heraklion, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Albania	flag alias = Flag of Albania.svg	flag alias-1914 = Flag of Albania (1914–1920).svg	flag alias-1914a= Regentaschapalbanievlag.gif	flag alias-1920 = Flag of Albania (1920–1926).svg	flag alias-1926 = Flag of Albania (1926–1928).svg	flag alias-1928 = Flag of Albania (1934–1939).svg	flag alias-1939 = Flag of Albania (1939–1943).svg	flag alias-1943 = Flag of Albania (1943–1944).svg	flag alias-1944 = Flag of Albania 1944.svg	flag alias-1946 = Flag of Albania (1946–1992).svg	flag alias-1992 = Flag of Albania (1992–2002).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Albania.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Albania.svg	link alias-naval = Albanian Naval Force	link alias-army = Albanian Land Force	flag alias-army=Albanian Land Forces insignia.svg	border-army=	flag alias-air force=Albanian Air Forces insignia.svg	link alias-air force=Albanian Air Force	border-air force=	flag alias-navy=Albanian Naval Forces insignia.svg	link alias-navy=Albanian Naval Force	border-navy=	link alias-military = Albanian Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier
18	10 November 2001	Nikos Goumas Stadium, Athens, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Estonia	flag alias = Flag of Estonia.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Jack of Estonia.svg	link alias-naval = Estonian Navy	flag alias-army=Flag of Estonian Land Forces.svg	link alias-army=Estonian Land Forces	flag alias-air force =Flag of the Estonia Air Force.png	link alias-air force = Estonian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Estonia.svg	link alias-navy = Estonian Navy	border-naval =	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center"|4–0 || align="center"|4–2 || Friendly

Honours

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 2001–02
• KNVB Cup: 2001–02

APOEL

• Cypriot First Division: 2006–07
• Cypriot Cup: 2007–08

Individual

• Eredivisie top scorer: 1997–98
• European Golden Boot: 1998