Marios Neophytou

Marios Neophytou (Greek: Μάριος Νεοφύτου; born 4 February 1977 in Limassol, Cyprus) is a retired Cypriot football striker.

He began his career in 1993, playing for AEL Limassol. He remained to AEL until 1999, when he was transferred to Anorthosis. In his last season in Anorthosis, after having a successful season with his team and playing in all the Championship matches for his team scoring thirty three goals and becoming the top scorer in the season 2002-2003. Then he caused the interest of the Greek team OFI and he transferred there in the summer of 2003. The next season, he returned in Cyprus, to APOEL where in three seasons he scored 26 goals. In June 2007 he signed with AEK Larnaca. In 2008, he signed for Nea Salamina and then for Olympiakos Nicosia in 2009. He then moved to APOP Kinyras Peyias. Afterwards he signed to Akritas Chlorakas in 2010 where he played for one year as a player and became the season's top scorer of the club.

On 15 November 2000, Neophytou made his debut with the national team of Cyprus in the home victory 5–0 against Andorra for 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification match, coming on as a substitute in 74th minute.^[1]

In 2011, he became also the coach of Akritas team and continued also as a player. In June 2012, Neophytou signed with APEP, becoming their new coach/player.^[2] In April 2013, he undertook Ayia Napa,^[3] again with double role, so as to help the team to gain the promotion in the Cypriot First Division but in October 2013 left the club to join AEL Limassol as caretaker manager and later as an assistant manager by the side of the Bulgarian manager Ivaylo Petev.^[4] In November 2014, after Ivaylo Petev was sacked, Neophytou was also released from AEL.