Kostas Chalkias

Thirty-two international caps define the career of Kostas Chalkias, a goalkeeper from Larissa who stood as the final representative of the 2004 European championship-winning squad to exit professional football. His trajectory spans nearly two decades of competitive play, encompassing shifts between Greek domestic giants and brief stints in the English and Spanish league systems.

Early Career and Domestic Circuits

Emerging from the Panathinaikos youth academy, Chalkias transitioned to Apollon Athens in 1996 on a five-year contract to replace Antonis Minou. He returned to his parent club in 1998, though playing opportunities remained limited behind Jozef Wandzik and Antonis Nikopolidis. Following a tenure at Iraklis, he secured a return to Panathinaikos for the 2003–04 season, contributing to an Alpha Ethniki league title and Greek Cup victory.

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International Assignments

Chalkias debuted for the Greece national team on 10 November 2001 in a victory against Estonia. He participated in the 2004 European Championship as a reserve and later stepped into the starting role for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds. By the time he reached the 2012 European Championship, he held the distinction of being the tournament's oldest participant at 38 years old.

Foreign Leagues and Later Years

In January 2005, Chalkias joined the English club Portsmouth, debuting in an FA Cup match against Southampton. His time in England concluded in January 2006 after five league appearances, followed by a short stint with Real Murcia. He returned to Greece in 2006 with Aris Thessaloniki and signed with PAOK in 2008, where he remained until 2012. After a four-year retirement, he played for Panachaiki, winning the 2016–17 Gamma Ethniki title.