Former Champions League defender scores FIVE goals in just 34 minutes on sensational debut for non-league team
ROMA hero Kostas Manolas scored FIVE goals in just 34 minutes on his debut with a Greek non-league club he surprisingly joined after leaving Serie A.
Manolas, 33, made a name for himself in Italy and Greece, which led to interest from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea throughout his career.
The centre-back burst onto the scene with Olympiacos and the Greek national team, whom he helped reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time ever in 2014.
The defender joined Roma 10 years ago where he scored eight goals in 206 appearances.
The ex-AEK Athens star also helped the Italian giants reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2018 with a sensational goal in a famous 3-0 win over Barcelona at the Olimpico.
After brief stints with Napoli, Emirati outfit Sharjah and Salernitana last season, Manolas made the decision to relocate to his homeland of Naxos with his family.
That led to him joining local club Pannaxiakos, who compete in the fourth division, after a few training sessions with them during pre-season.
The ex-Greece international received a hero’s welcome and many within the club see him as the man that will lead them to the third division.
And Manolas honoured their faith in a stunning debut, despite playing out of a position as a CENTRE-FORWARD against Marpissaikos on Sunday.
According to Sport24, the ex-Napoli star started for the Cycladic outfit and scored a staggering five goals.
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The versatile defender led his new team-mates to a stunning 12-1 win over Marpissaikos.
That led to manager Giorgos Mostratos hauling him off after just 34 minutes in the first half.
Manolas’ move to Pannaxiakos has been described across Greek media as the “transfer of the year”.