Konstantinos Tsimikas

Name in Home Country: Konstantinos Tsimikas

Date of birth/Age: May 12, 1996 (28)

Place of birth: Thessaloniki Greece

Height: 1,79 m

Citizenship: Greece

Position: Defender - Left-Back

Foot: Left

Current club: Liverpool FC

Joined: Aug 10, 2020

Contract expires: Jun 30, 2027

Last contract extension: Sep 25, 2023

Konstantinos Tsimikas, commonly known as Kostas Tsimikas, is a professional footballer from Greece, playing as a left-back for Liverpool FC in the English Premier League and for the Greece national team.

Early Career

Birth and Early Life: Born on May 12, 1996, in Thessaloniki, Greece, Tsimikas hails from the village of Lefkonas, Serres. He began his football journey in his village before moving to AS Neapoli Thessaloniki at the age of 14.

Youth Career: After Neapoli, he joined Panserraikos in 2013, where he scored 5 goals in the Gamma Ethniki league during the 2013-14 season.

Professional Career

Olympiacos: Tsimikas made his professional debut for Olympiacos in the Greek Super League against AEL Kalloni on December 19, 2015. His tenure at Olympiacos included loan spells at Esbjerg in Denmark and Willem II in the Netherlands, where he notably scored 5 goals in the 2017-18 Eredivisie season.

Achievements with Olympiacos: He was part of the team that won the Greek Super League in the 2019-20 season, showcasing his skills in both domestic and European competitions.

Transfer to Liverpool:

Move: In August 2020, Liverpool FC signed Tsimikas from Olympiacos for a reported fee of £11.75 million, making him only the second Greek player to play for Liverpool after Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

Debut: His debut for Liverpool was in the EFL Cup against Lincoln City on September 24, 2020, which Liverpool won 7-2. His Premier League debut came as a substitute against Manchester City.

Performance at Liverpool:

Assists and Impact: Tsimikas has been noted for his crossing ability and has provided numerous assists, with 16 recorded by the time of his 86th appearance for Liverpool.

Key Moments:

He scored the decisive penalty in the FA Cup final shootout against Chelsea in May 2022, clinching the trophy for Liverpool.

He played a significant role in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, notably providing two assists in a match against Benfica, which helped Liverpool reach the semi-finals.

Injuries and Recovery: Tsimikas faced a setback with a broken collarbone in December 2023 after a physical challenge during a match against Arsenal. However, he returned in time to play in the 2024 EFL Cup final, assisting Virgil van Dijk from a corner kick.

Contract: In September 2023, Tsimikas signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, reportedly keeping him at the club until 2027.

International Career

Greece National Team: Tsimikas has represented Greece at various youth levels before making his senior debut in October 2018. He has continued to be a part of the national team setup.

Current Role at Liverpool

Position: Primarily a left-back, Tsimikas has been the understudy to Andy Robertson, providing quality when called upon but also showing moments of brilliance that have contributed to Liverpool's success in various competitions.

Challenges: There's been some discussion about his defensive capabilities, with opinions varying on his suitability as a direct replacement for Robertson. However, his offensive contributions, especially his crossing, are highly valued.