Georgios Athanasiadis (footballer, born 1993)

Georgios Athanasiadis (Γεώργιος Αθανασιάδης; born 7 April 1993) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Super League club AEK Athens and the Greece national team.

Asteras Tripolis
On 29 June 2016, Asteras Tripolis officially announced the signing of Athanasiadis on a three-year deal.

AEK Athens
On 13 June 2019, AEK Athens confirmed the signing of the Greek goalkeeper, with his contract running until the summer of 2023. Athanasiadis made his debut vs Zorya Lugansk on 26/11/2020, where AEK lost 0–3 after staying with 10 men. During the 2020–21 season he shared the goalkeeper position with Tsintotas and AEK managed to clinch a spot in the Conference league Qualifiers, by clinching 4th place 3 match days before the end of the season. Athanasiadis won the Super League on 14/5/2023 when he started and kept a clean in AEK Athens' 4–0 victory over Volos. Athanasiadis was subbed in the game vs Marseille in Velodrome after starting goalkeeper Cican Stankovic received a red card and caused a penalty in the second half. The score at the time was 1-1 but AEK went on to lose 3-1. He also played another two Europa League games vs Marseille and Ajax, but AEK finished 4th in the group stage. Athanasiadis kept a clean sheet vs Aris on 4/12/2023, helping AEK clinch a tight 1-0 victory.

Loan to Sheriff Tiraspol
On 18 June 2021, he was loaned to Sheriff Tiraspol until the summer of 2022. The Greek keeper had a vital contribution in the qualifying phase and play-off round, keeping six clean sheets in eight matches. In the qualifying phase, Athanasiadis made 21 saves and produced another man-of-the-match performance on 21 August against Dinamo Zagreb, keeping a clean sheet & making six crucial saves.

On 28 September 2021, in the second UEFA Champions League group stage match he performed impressively against Real Madrid, making 10 saves, producing one of the great Champions League shocks as the competition's least experienced club defeated the 13-time European champions at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. He was voted Man of the Match for his performance.

On 24 December 2021, Athanasiadis was named the best goalkeeper of the year in Moldova for his excellent performances with his club. In the league, he participated in 11 matches for Sheriff, recording an impressive nine clean sheets, while he played in 13 matches in the UEFA Champions League including the qualifying rounds. He was the goalkeeper with the most saves in the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League group stage with 29 saves.

International career
Athanasiadis was called up by the senior Greece side for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches against Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Cyprus in June 2022.

He made his debut on 7 June 2024 in a friendly against Germany at Borussia-Park. He substituted Odysseas Vlachodimos in the 78th minute, as Germany scored the last-minute goal to finish their comeback in a 2–1 victory.

Honours
Sheriff Tiraspol
 * Moldovan National Division: 2021–22
 * Moldovan Cup: 2021–22

AEK Athens
 * Super League Greece: 2022–23
 * Greek Cup: 2022–23