Ilias Kotsios

Ilias Kotsios
Personal information
Date of birth	25 April 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth	Larissa, Greece
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1992-1995	Ikaros Neapolis
1995–1996	Iraklis Larissa
Senior career*
Years	Team
1996–2004	OFI
2004–2007	Panathinaikos
2007–2009	AEL
2009–2012	PAS Giannina
2012–2013	AEL Kalloni
2014–2015	Levadiakos
2015–2017	OFI
Managerial career
2017	OFI (technical director)
2019	Kentavros Vrilission
2020	Lamia (assistant)
2021	AEL (technical director)
2022	Karaiskakis (assistant)
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ilias Kotsios (Greek: Ηλίας Κώτσιος; born 25 April 1977) is a former Greek footballer who played as defender. He has also played for Levadiakos, Panathinaikos, AEL, PAS Giannina and AEL Kalloni.

Career

Kotsios started his career from the youth department of Ikaros Neapolis, a clb based in Larissa. After two years he moved to Iraklis Larissa and he was recommended to OFI Crete by his Ikaros Neapolis coach Ilias Selionis,^[1] also an ex-player of the Cretan club. He first worked with renowned Dutch coach Eugene Gerrard and stayed with OFI for 8 seasons before signing for Panathinaikos.
Kotsios stayed with Panathinaikos for 3 years and in 2007 he returned to his hometown club Larissa playing in the UEFA Cup. In 2015 he signed for OFI Crete again to finish his career in 2017.

On 2 November 2005 Pnathinaikos were defeated by Barcelona with 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League in Lionel Messi.^[2] After the end of the game Kotsios swapped jerseys with the 18-year old then Lionel Messi who scored his first ever goal in Europe.