Apostolos Giannou (Template:Lang-el; born 25 January 1990) is a footballer player who currently plays for PAOK in the Superleague Greece.^[1][2]

Giannou was born in Naousa, Greece but moved to Australia at a young age growing up in Melbourne, Victoria. In Melbourne he was known as Paul Giannou. Giannou played junior football for Oakleigh Cannons and South Melbourne. Following state representative honours at under-14 and under-15 level, Giannou was selected for the VIS by Ernie Merrick. He took part in Melbourne Victory's pre-season friendlies prior to the 2006–07 A-League season with an intention of being signed in an apprenticeship capacity. However, Giannou and his family had turned to a FIFA player's agent who secured a two week trial for him with PSV Eindhoven's Reserve and Academy team's.^[3] Giannou was assured that if he would not sign with the Dutch club, he could return to Melbourne Victory.^[4] Despite the unsuccessful trial, Giannou came back to Melbourne and signed a six month contract with Victorian Premier League side Oakleigh Cannons.

By mid-2007, Giannou was transferred to Greek second division side Apollon Kalamarias. Giannou netted his first goal for Apollon Kalamarias in late 2008, an 81st minute consolation goal in a 3–1 defeat at home to Kerkyra.^[5] Giannou would go on to score 5 more times in the 2008–2009 Beta Ethniki season before being transferred to Kavala, who had gained promotion to Superleague Greece for the 2009–2010 season, on a five-year contract.

On 21 November 2009 Giannou debuted for Kavala where he was substituted on after 79 minutes, after being played through on goal Giannou neatly passed the ball into the back of the net on the 88th minute mark to seal a 2–1 victory against AEK Athens.^[6][7][8] Down the track, Giannou was one of five Australians in the Greek side as the club welcomed the arrivals of Robert Stambolziev, Zeljko Kalac, Andreas Govas and Craig Moore.

After the relegation of Kavala, Giannou was set free and on 30 September 2011 signed a three-year-contract with PAOK.^[9] He made his first appearance for PAOK in the 2011–12 season in a 0-0 draw against OFI Crete on 16 October, where he was substituted onto the field for Vladimir Ivic in the 78th minute.^[10] Giannou scored his first goals for PAOK, a brace, in a 2-0 away victory against OFI on 11 February.^[11]

In 2006 Giannou represented the Australia under-17 team at the AFC U-17 Championship 2006 Qualification. Giannou scored in Australia's 3–1 win against Indonessia.^[12] Giannou was the only Victorian player selected for Australia's under-17 side that took part in the International Youth Football tournament in Niigata, Japan. The team finished top of their respective group as Giannou scored a goal in a 5–1 win against Albirex Niigata.^[13]

In 2008 Giannou represented the Greece under-19 team at the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification where Greece qualified for the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, he played alongside Australian Dean Bouzanis. Under coach Alexis Alexiou, Giannou appeared twice at the European Under-19 Championships when he was substituted on in a 1–1 draw against Italy and started in a 3–0 loss against England as Greece finished at the bottom of their group.^{[14][15][16][17]}

On 5 September 2010 Giannou returned to the international stage after 2 years absence, he was selected for the Greece under-21 team for a 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifier against Macedonia which Greece won 2–1.^[18][19][20]

• Apostolos Giannou – UEFA competition record (archive)
• Apostolos Giannou at Soccerbase
• Transfermarkt Profile

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