Panagiotis "Panny" Nikas (born 27 July 1988) is a former Australian footballer. He is most notable for playing for A-League clubs Central Coast Mariners FC and North Queensland Fury FC.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Panagiotis Nikas | ||
| Date of birth | 27 July 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sans Souci | |||
| Sydney Olympic | |||
| 2009–2010 | Central Coast Mariners | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008 | Penrith Nepean United | 13 | (3) |
| 2009 | Sutherland Sharks | 25 | (14) |
| 2009–2010 | Central Coast Mariners | 3 | (0) |
| 2010 | Sutherland Sharks | 9 | (4) |
| 2010–2011 | North Queensland Fury | 18 | (1) |
| 2011–2014 | Sutherland Sharks | 89 | (39) |
| 2015–2018 | Sydney United 58 | 83 | (45) |
| 2019 | Rockdale Ilinden | 10 | (2) |
| 2020 | North Shore Mariners | 2 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2013– | Australia (Beach Soccer) | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022 | Northbridge Bulls Under 20's Assistant coach | ||
| 2023 | Sutherland Sharks | ||
| 2024- | Rockdale Ilinden Youth Technical Director | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2022 | |||
Nikas also represented Australia in beach soccer in 2013.
Nikas is a two time winner of the National Premier Leagues NSW with Sutherland Sharks FC (2009) and Sydney United 58 (2016) and the Waratah Cup (2015, 2016). He was also National Premier Leagues NSW Player of the Season in 2013 and the Central Coast Mariners Youth Player of the Season in 2010.
Club career
editPenrith Nepean United
editWhilst at the club during 2008, Nikas played 13 games scoring 3 goals.
Sutherland Sharks
editIn 2009, he signed a contract with Sutherland Sharks. Playing 25 games and scoring 14 times. Whilst playing for the Sutherland Sharks, Nikas was selected in the TeleChoice. He also trained in the 2000 2009 NSW Premier League season All-Star team.[1]
Central Coast Mariners
editHe signed a contract with Central Coast Mariners in 2009–2010. Most of the year he had been playing in the National Youth League. Nikas made his first team debut for the Central Coast Mariners coming on as a substitute for Nicky Travis in a 2–0 home defeat to the Wellington Phoenix on 31 December 2009. Nikas was named the National Youth League 2009/10 Player of the Season.[2]
On 23 March 2010, despite his impressive performances in their NYL side, Nikas was released by the Mariners.[3][4]
Sutherland Sharks Return
editIn 2010 after being released by Central Coast Mariners he returned to the Sutherland Sharks playing 9 times and scoring 4 goals. He returned to the A-league after his stint with the club.
North Queensland Fury
editIn July, 2010, Nikas signed with Australian A-League club North Queensland Fury. He made his club debut in a 2–3 loss against Melbourne Heart.
Back to Sutherland
editWith the demise of North Queensland Fury, Nikas returned to his state league club Sutherland Sharks for the 2011 NSW Premier League season.[5]
In 2015, Nikas signed with NPL NSW powerhouse Sydney United 58 FC. Nikas scored eight league goals in 19 games as United finished 7th in the league. Nikas also scored a brace in the 2015 FFA Cup Round of 32, as his side beat South Hobart FC on penalties. The following season, Nikas scored an incredible 18 league goals from midfield as Sydney United 58 took out the premiership.
A-League career statistics
edit(Correct as of 16 February 2011)
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Central Coast Mariners | 2009–10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| North Queensland Fury | 2010–11 | 18 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 21 | 1 | 0 | |
Honours
edit- Individual
References
edit- ^ 2009 Gold Medal Dinner a huge success as Bradley Boardman scoops major award
- ^ National Youth League Final Review Archived 7 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Central Coast Mariners release youth skipper Nikas | A League News | tribalfootball.com". Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ^ "Arnie axes his NYL skipper". Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
- ^ "Special Feature: Panny Nikas – Home at the Sharks". Retrieved 30 March 2011.