Giorgos is just getting going

FYSSAS SAYS BEST IS YET TO COME FROM FELLOW GREEK GIAKOUMAKIS

HE came from Greece, he had a thirst for knowledge. Keen to learn all he could about Scottish football after Celtic made a move for him last summer, Giorgos Giakoumakis turned to a famous compatriot back in Athens.

A Euro 2004 winner who went on to lift the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 2006, Takis Fyssas was in no doubt that Giakoumakis was built to thrive in the rough and tumble environment of the Premiership.

Last season’s leading scorer in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie with VVV-Venlo, Giakoumakis would at first endure a slow, injury-hit start to his Parkhead career.

But the Greece international finished the season strongly as the top flight’s joint top scorer on 13 goals — and Fyssas believes a fully-fit Giakoumakis has all the tools to go to the next level in his second season in Scotland.

‘When I heard Celtic were interested in Giorgos and he wanted to move there, I spoke to him about Scottish football,’ revealed Fyssas. ‘I told him that the Scottish league would be perfect for him.

‘He’s strong, he’s clever, he scores goals, he works for the team and he also had the right experience to do well in Scotland.

‘At the start of the season he had a few problems on and off the park and he wasn’t in a healthy situation. But he managed to get over that and put it behind him and then he started playing and scoring for Celtic.

‘It was his first season and to finish as top scorer in Scotland — a year after being the top scorer in Holland — is a great achievement. But I think he can do even better next season with Celtic.

‘For Greek football we need guys like Giorgos to be playing well in a good league.’

Celtic regaining the title from Rangers means Ange Postecoglou’s side go straight into the Champions League group stage next season.

Now sporting director for the Greek national team, Fyssas believes starring in European football’s most prestigious club competition can help 27-year-old Giakoumakis become his national team’s first-choice forward.

Greece boss Gus Poyet has selected the Celtic frontman in his squad to face Northern Ireland in the Nations League next Thursday before taking on Kosovo home and away either side of the visit of Cyprus to Athens.

‘In Greece we have some other good players in the striking position,’ said Fyssas. ‘We have

Vangelis Pavlidis in Holland with AZ Alkmaar who is scoring all the time. He is also an improving player and he has big value, too.

‘We have Anastasios Douvikas at Utrecht, we have Taxiarchis Fountas who plays in America with DC United. But Giorgos has started to show his quality.

‘If Giorgos starts to play great games and shows his quality in the Champions League or the Europa League, of course he is going to improve himself and become a very important member of the national team.

‘It’s important in the national team that we have players who are doing well for their clubs but they need to understand that they need to have success with the national team as well.

‘It’s important to have good performances for the national team and go and play in the big tournaments, like Scotland may do in the World Cup later this year.’

Giakoumakis has already sampled a Champions League night at Parkhead, albeit as an unused substitute as AEK Athens knocked out Brendan Rodgers’ side in the 2018 qualifiers.

But he did play in the group stage that season, coming off the bench twice against Ajax and once against Benfica.

‘He’s an experienced player, Giorgos,’ nodded Fyssas. ‘Every year will give him more confidence, and that’s especially true for goalscorers. They feed off the goals.

‘It is in his hands. He has to show to everybody that he is stable in his performances and that he is getting better all the time.

‘It is important for Giorgos to show everyone who he is again next season. Let everybody see how he is going to react to his first season at Celtic.

‘But of course I believe there is a lot more to come from him if he can avoid injuries, get a good preparation, and also live a nice life. He is a family guy, so I’m not afraid for him in that last respect.

‘I wish Giorgos all the best in Scotland next season — but I hope he doesn’t do well against Hearts!’

lAN Audience with Takis Fyssas takes place at the O2 Academy in Edinburgh on Sunday, June 26. For tickets visit www.headlineevents.online/takis-fyssas

13 Giakoumakis netted goals in his first season at Celtic as they won back the league title from Rangers and the Greek striker was the joint top scorer in the Premiership