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Fullname: Georgios Samaras
aka: Sammy, Gorgeous George
Born: 21 February 1985
Birthplace: Heraklion, Greece
Height: 6.04
Signed: January 2008 (loan), July 2008 (permanent)
Left: 22 Aug 2014 (to WBA, free)
Position: Striker, forward
Squad No.: 9
Debut: Kilmarnock 1-5 Celtic, Scottish Cup, 2nd February 2008
Internationals: Greece
International Caps: 81
International Goals: 9
Biog
| “Memories are about winning games and trophies, not the money. I love this club.” Georgios Samaras |
Georgios Samaras began his playing career in Holland with Heerenveen, one of several top class players to make their breakthrough with the Friesland club – following in the footsteps of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Samaras played 59 games in all competitions for the Dutch club, scoring 33 goals over the space of 3 seasons. In January 2006, he moved to Manchester City in a deal worth £5.25m where he scored 8 goals in 28 games, mainly as a substitute. When Stuart Pearce, the manager who signed Samaras, was replaced with Sven-Goran Eriksson, Samaras found first-team opportunities at a premium despite scoring both goals in the Carling Cup win against Norwich City. Hd was proving to be a less than stellar performer at Man City, and the knives were out for him there.
Following speculation about his future, Samaras signed for Celtic in January 2008 on a 6-month loan, with Celtic having the option to make the deal permanent. Samaras cited the chance to play first team football and try to win his place back in the Greek national squad for the European Championships in 2008 as the main driving factors behind his move.
Samaras made his debut in the Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Kilmarnock, coming on as a substitute to score the fifth and final goal in a 5-1 rout. Collecting the ball on the right touchline, Samaras beat two players as he cut inside and bent a neat left-footed finish beyond Combe. His first goal at Celtic Park came in the 2-1 win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, heading Aiden McGeady‘s cross firmly past Caley keeper Michael Fraser. We thought we could see a cracking talent in this player.
He would make a noteworthy contribution to Celtic’s last gasp SPL championship triumph and in July 2008 Samaras made the switch to Glasgow permanent when he signed a three-year contract.
The 2008 campaign saw the striker start the season challenging for a starting spot with Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. However as the season progressed he would struggle with form and confidence as Celtic surrendered their grasp on the title. With a lack of firepower cited by many as a key reason behind the Bhoys’ poor league campaign their was now a question mark over the forward’s Parkhead future.
Samaras was simply not performing, yet few other players seemed to get the same slack as Samaras did. Maybe it was the innocent looking face he had that seemed to get him the sympathy, but in terms of results he simply not paying dividends. It kept on being said that he was a confidence player, and needed support to get the best out of him. This was ridiculous as simply as he was by now he should have been experienced and old enough to handle these situations, the manager’s can only do so much. No denying his effort on the pitch but a striker’s worth can more easily be measured than any other on the field, and he was very much in the red.
With the departure of Gordon Strachan from the manager’s chair in May 2009 fresh doubt was cast on Sammy’s chances at Celtic as new boss Tony Mowbray quickly splashed the cash to bring in forward Marc-Antoine Fortune. But Mowbray promised to give all players a chance to prove their worth, and the Greek international was given it.
It was to prove another hugely disappointing season though for both the player and club. Mowbrary utilised the player mostly from the bench and Samaras looked less than comfortable in the wide position he was frequently asked to play in but in fairness to the manager, Samaras was not showing he deserved the more prominent main striker role. By March 2010 Celtic were out of the league race and Mowbray was out of a job. Samaras had scored 13 goals in all competitions but his performances remained the cause of great frustration.
His style was hard-working (loads of “dig“), fast running and direct. He was very much a striker and quite out of place elsewhere on the pitch. His lanky slim build made him better suited to forward work as it is. Problem became that he had to work strongly on some obvious areas. He was a poor headerer of the ball and many would complain (with some justification) that he was inept in the challenge for the ball, a bit harsh but on balance he should have been more aggressive. To his credit, whenever a more defensive formation was required he was the best man for a sole striker’s role in a 4-5-1 formation, which he did well, something that others like Hooper were unable to do.
As season 2010/11 got underway Sammy entered the final year of his Hoops contract having returned from World Cup duty with Greece (where he gathered praise for his non-scoring peformance against highly favoured Argentina). With Neil Lennon now in the Parkhead hotseat the striker appeared to be once more on the fringes of the first team as new Bhoys Gary Hooper, Anthony Stokes and Daryl Murphy appeared as the manager’s preferred frontmen.
When the New year came around, it was do or die time and a further defeat at this junction would mean likely end to the Celtic challenge for the league title and maybe Lennon’s tenure as manager. In typical Samaras fashion the forward produced an inspired performance as he netted both goals in the New Year game against Rangers at Ibrox as the Hoops secured a vital 2-0 victory (and saved Lennon’s job).
The Greek striker had been given a rare start due to injuries but he produced the performance of his Hoops career scoring a double, and it revived talks of a new Celtic contract and quietened down the doommongers. His efforts in this game won him Goal.com’s World Player of the Week Award! Further good performances in the season, against Rangers in particular, resulted in an extended contract. In March 2011 Samaras signed a new deal which tied him to the club until summer 2014.
However, he let himself down by missing a crucial penalty in the final league game v Rangers in 2010/2011, and this was a major key moment in losing the title. In fairness, obviously not the only reason but it didn’t help his reputation. Samaras seemed to perform well against Rangers, with his gangly size and speed scaring Rangers’ players whenever Celtic played them and was an indication of his ability.
Regardless, his tally for the season was still unacceptable at this point, 3 league goals in 22 league appearances, four in all other comps but skewed by a hat-trick against a lowly second division side in the league cup. He was even being booed on occasion by the home support not out of personal dislike for him, but more out of frustration on his continued presence in the first team despite his lack of success.
He was shunted back in the squad. His inability to regularly score goals meant that with Hooper & Samaras being preferred strikers, Samaras had to remould his game. Manager Neil Lennon moved his role to more of a winger on the left wing. This was a big move and change for Samaras who had previously stated that: “I am not a winger. I am a striker”. It was the only way for him to get a game if that is what he wanted, and in fairness he took the bull by the horns in his new role.
The following season began as much of the last season, and he had become the supports main gripe. The clamour was in hope that he’d be sold in the summer but to no avail despite rumours/tales that bids had come in for him. His goal drought carried on into the season (his efforts not aided by unsupportive fans) and with the first team struggling against a poor Rangers side in the league, his retention in the squad made him an easy target for critics of the team management.
Things changed around Nov/Dec 2011, and Samaras seemed to somehow find some good form with a string of impressive performances. The support got off his back, and he was pleasing the fans with his play. Scoring the double against Kilmarnock on Xmas Eve sealed his return to the fold as welcome. After so much criticism, this change was good for his sanity.
Not all were convinced, and in truth a typical type of Samaras match was for example the Celtic v Dundee United match in January 2012. As ever, Samaras worked damn hard, chased every ball and took chances at goal, yet he couldn’t score. Hooper did relatively far less but would still then pop out of nowhere to score. What would you take? The problem is that this situation happened too often to be dismissed. Samaras could easily split the support in their views on him.
However, the turn in 2012 was to begin an almost major change in the game for Samaras to the surprise of everyone.
Samaras – Reboot?
He was to concentrate on creating opportunities for the main striker rather than being the one converting them, and his game improved rapidly. Possibly age and experience also played their part as maturity meant he was no longer suffering the low confidence bouts that had plagued him in the past.
The big turn in events began in around January 2012, a great double from Samaras against Rangers won the side a major game and Samaras looked peerless. From there on in, his game was improving in a new way.
One great irony was that with the pressure for goals eased off his shoulders, he now actually began to chip with a lot more goals, his best run since his debut season.
His reboot could best be seen in the European Cup campaign of 2012/13 where he was one of the foremen of the team. He set a new record for consecutive goals in away matches, and scored pivotal goals against Helsinki, Helsingborg and Spartak Moscow which won Celtic matches and valuable points to take Celtic through to the last 16 of the Champions League. He even scored some majestic headers, when in seasons past his heading was seen as a major weakness. He actually produced a very good scoring record in Europe of around a goal every two games or so.
They were some great days for Samaras and his critics had been mostly silenced. He’d become an unquestioned figure in the squad, and there were fewer doubters. Although he did have to rotate often with Stokes for the first team spot but never seemed to begrudge the seat on the bench.
What did come out was his genuine love for the club & support. He was not necessarily a clichéd badge kisser (most of whom are paper thin in their actual affections for their clubs), but you could see with Samaras that when he scored or we won how much it really meant to him and he was never shy to hide his show his emotions to the support. As he was to put it so poetically himself :
“I don´t play football for records or numbers. I play football because I love it and I want my team to win. The rest is just numbers for me. If we win and I score a goal, okay. But the main point in the end is to try to get something from the game not because I want to score.”
Georgios Samaras (2013)
The problem is that the good times turned out to be a purple patch and not the norm. What we thought (at the time) was that we’d now begun to see a great Samaras but he seemed to revert back to the frustrating and inconsequential player he could be too often in the past. Few goals, little in assists and just not much value with too many excuses being made on his behalf. What made matters worse was that Celtic had hit a buffer with strikers’ goals, relying on Commons who was really a midfielder and put players like Samaras in the shade.
In fairness, Samaras could be in a no win situation too. Possibly expectations were too high and if our strategy failed then he was an automatic target. Against Ajax away in 2013, our tactics were abysmal, and throughout the match we relied upon long kicks from goal to the far left wing to Samaras. This was predictable and nullified Celtic in the match, and Samaras was made to look poorer than he actually was that night as the Ajax defence simply swamped him every time. There’s just so much any team’s tactics should rely on any single player. The flak that night was misdirected and should have been at the coaches.
He’d spent probably long enough at Celtic, and did try his best. Many players see a dip in form in their last season at the club, staying longer than they should. His last season wasn’t a success in his overall return.
In any case, he bowed out on a high, playing his last game at the trophy presentation in the final league match of 2013/14 where on winning the ball from a wonderful tackle in the Dundee Utd box, he was fouled to win a penalty. He stepped up and scored, so giving him a goal in his last game in a 3-1 victory at home. What warmed the heart was when he picked up a young boy from the crowd, a young disabled boy called Jay, and give him a parade around the ground at trophy presentation time. Wonderful moment, touching and spoke volumes about him as a person. Videos of this moment went viral and in an interview on this experience he came over as humbled and genuinely decent.
He poetically said on his departure: “I am leaving Celtic but Celtic will never leave me“. In his case, we can believe it was truly heart-felt and honest.
Overall, despite any criticisms on his play he still provided Celtic with great goals, some sublime dramatics, and celebrated with memorable theatrics. As a person, he was a delight and we feel proud to be able to number him amongst our own.
Problem is that on the pitch the memories and highlights are greater than the actual whole tenure with Samaras. He did very well with many great moments but there somehow should have been so much more and consistently. In any case, those great moments will ensure he will be fondly remembered for his time at the club, both as much as a person and as a player. As a person you couldn’t ask for better to represent our club.
A cult hero. Both brilliant and infuriating in equal measure.
Post-Celtic
After Celtic, he was to play for various clubs around the globe, including West Bromwich Albion, Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Rayo OKC (USA), Zaragoza (Spain) and lastly for Samsunspor (Turkey). Admittedly, he never again hit the heights but he gave his all, and he finally hung up his boots in October 2018.
We all wished him the very best.
Trivia
- Samaras comes from a family with a lot of footballing heritage; his grandfather helped found Australian club South Melbourne, and his father had a successful career in Greece with Panathinaikos. Interestingly, Samaras also qualifies for Australia through his father, who was born and raised in the country before he moved to Greece as a 13 year old.
- With his long flowing hair, guess it was inevitable that mixed with his international popularity (okay in Greece and Scotland) he ended up starring in a hair shampoo advert for “Head & Shoulders” for Greek TV (2013). The advert was a good parody on the humorous jibes above his love for his hair. Compared to most other football player adverts, this one at least made you genuinely laugh. link
Quotes
‘He is our player. He definitely has attributes. But he is the sort of player that could get me the sack.’
Neil Lennon on Samaras (15th Oct 2011, Celtic AGM)
“This game is about the whole community – religion, politics, everything’s part of it & you can see it in the passion of the fans.”
Georgios Samaras (Apr 2012)
“If you have money you can buy anyone you want. But sometimes pride is worth more than money. You can’t buy pride”.
Georgios Samaras, on Celtic’s qualification to Champions League KO stages on minimal spending compared to the profligate Chelsea & Man City who had been KO’ed out at the group stages (Dec 2012)
“I never give up, I work hard and do everything to win games and win titles. It´s all about Celtic.”
Georgios Samaras (2013)
“I have a great relationship with the manager and, if he wants me, I want him as well.”
Georgios Samaras (2013)
“Even in the tough periods I felt Celtic Park and this club was my home.”
“f you play in the English Premier League for a club finishing 11th or 12th the only thing you will remember when you retire is money”
“There are no words to express the atmosphere in the stadium. I can’t find the correct words to express all I see, feel and hear”
Georgios Samaras (Oct 2013)
“Memories are about winning games and trophies, not the money. I love this club.”
Georgios Samaras
“There are no words to express the atmosphere in the stadium on Champions League nights. It’s everything; from the warm-up, the Champions League anthem, during the game, after the game – everything.”
Georgios Samaras
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2007/08 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 21 |
| Goals | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2008/09 | 31 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 40 |
| Goals | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| 2009/10 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 42 |
| Goals | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| 2010/11 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 33 |
| Goals | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 2011/12 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 37 |
| Goals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2012/13 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 40 |
| Goals | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14 |
| 2013/14 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 32 |
| Goals | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| Total Appearances | 171 | 21 | 9 | 47 | 248 |
| Total Goals | 53 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 74 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish Cup:
Scottish League Cup:
| KDS Honours | ||
| MOTM Winners 2007-08 | ||
| 27-Feb-08 | Celtic 2 v 1 ICT | SPL |
| MOTM Winners 2008-09 | ||
| 13-Sep-08 | Motherwell 2-4 Celtic | SPL |
| 17-Sep-08 | Celtic 0-0 Aalborg | Champions League |
| 21-Sep-08 | Killie 1-3 Celtic | SPL |
| 24-Sep-08 | Celtic 4-0 Livingston | CIS League Cup |
| Sep-08 | Sep-08 Player of the Month | |
| 04-Apr-09 | Celtic 4-0 Hamilton | SPL |
| MOTM Winners 2009-10 | ||
| 05-Dec-09 |
Celtic 3-0 Aberdeen | SPL |
| MOTM Winners 2010-11 | ||
| 22-Sep-10 |
Celtic 6-0 ICT | League Cup |
Pictures
Articles
Song
Factfile
1985:
Born in Heraklion, Greece, on February 21.
2001:
Moves to Dutch club Heerenveen as a 16-year-old trialist.
2003:
Makes his first-team debut for the Eredivisie outfit and plays 10 games in the 2003/04 season.
2006:
Despite interest from Arsenal, joins Manchester City in a £6million deal after impressing then-boss Stuart Pearce. Scores his first Premiership goal in a 3-2 victory over Charlton on February 12. Though he was also eligible to represent Australia, through his father who was born in Melbourne, makes his Greece debut on February 28, against Belarus.
2007:
Ends season with six goals in 42 appearances for City and is rarely used in the following campaign by new manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. Knocks back a move to Middlesbrough in August to stay in Manchester and fight for his place in the team.
2008:
Signs for Celtic on loan on January 29 and scores six goals, three of them matchwinners, to help Gordon Strachan’s side clinch a third successive SPL title. Is part of Greece’s squad for Euro 2008.
Signs a three-year deal at Parkhead 15 July 2008