Stelios Manolas
Stelios Manolas (, born 13 July 1961) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a center back for AEK Athens and a current manager. Arguably the best Greek defender of his era, being one of the few Greek footballers to have played his entire professional career for a single club. In 2021, IFFHS chose him in the best XI of all time of Greek football. Club career Manolas started football from a young age, playing on the streets and vacant lots in and around the Athens suburb of Galatsi, where he lived during his childhood. In his early teens he, alongside his friend Kostas Antoniou, played for the small amateur club, Aetos Galatsi, where he was discovered by scouts and brought to the attention of AEK Athens. At the age of 15, he was playing for the AEK Youth teams. Over time, he was noticed for his technical skill, intelligence and tactical mind. In January 1980, he signed his first professional contract with the club. As a young player, his solid technical training, dynamism and perception and a fighting spirit, were shown in his efforts on the pitch for team defense and attack. He was a mastermind of