Interview with Nikos Dabizas, Former Greek Player
Dabizas is one of the first Greek international footballers who playing in Premier League with teams as Newcastle United and Leicester City. Speaks with Manos Staramopoulos Chief Editor Discoveryfootball
Nikos Dabizas is one of the first Greek international footballers who had the luck and joy of playing in the Premier League, the top league in the world for many. In March 1998, Newcastle United acquired him for 2 million pounds. He remained with the Magpies until June 2004. He even scored the winning goal against Sunderland (1-0) in the away derby Tyne-Weir at the Stadium of Light on February 24, 2002. Of course, he also took part in the FA Cup finals in 1998 and 1999.
He then went to Leicester who were fighting to stay in the Premier League, but their efforts were insufficient and they were relegated to the Championship. It looked like it would be a very disappointing season, but it wasn't over yet. Dabizas was selected for the Greek team for the 2004 European Football Championship, but never played, as an injury kept him out of the game.
After Euro 2004, Dabizas chose to remain at Leicester, despite having a relegation release clause in his contract.
Then in May 2005 he went to
Larissa with which he won the second Greek Cup in 2007. In 2013 he took over as football director at Panathinaikos until 2014. In 2018 he returned and stayed until 2019. In 2019 he joined as football director at Cypriot Omonia. For a while this year he worked at OFI and is now a television commentator for A. television. Of course, his greatest success was when at the age of 21 Olympiacos acquired him from Pontioi Veria. At
Olympiacos he won two Greek championships (something the red and whites had not achieved for 10 years), while he wore the Greek national team jersey 70 times (no goals). He was one of the best central defenders that not only Olympiacos but Greek football in general has known.
Nikos Dabizas spoke exclusively to Manos Staramopoulos about the Premier League, the Champions League, the Greek national team and other interesting topics...
DF: Nikos, Liverpool has spent around 500 million euros in the summer of 2025, but its image does not justify the investment size. What is happening?
R/: “Liverpool’s problem is neither numerical nor financial; it is purely structural. When a team changes its core, coaching philosophy and balance at the same time, the risk is enormous. Liverpool paid a lot, but did not invest properly in the way these players will function as a whole.
There is quality material, but there is no identity. And when in such a demanding championship you lose the basics —stability, roles, rhythm— money is not enough.”
DF: Arsenal, on the contrary, seems to be “galloping”. What makes it so stable and capable of evolution?
R/: “Arsenal is the best example of a European team built with vision and consistency. Arteta and the club have been patient during times when other teams would have changed managers.
Now you see:
• order,
• possession plan,
• proper depth management,
• players with clear roles.
It’s not just that he’s “galloping”. It’s that you can see where he wants to go.”
DF: Manchester City seem to have lost a bit of momentum. Do you think they will recover?
R/: “City are the team with the greatest structural stability in Europe in the last decade. If there is a club that can make 10 consecutive wins and enter the title fight from nowhere, it is Guardiola’s City.
I take it for granted that they will recover. The quality, the know-how and the championship experience are there.”
DF: Newcastle, given their project, did not spend as much as we expected. Does this affect their performance?
R/: “Newcastle has a strategy that many do not understand: they invest step by step.
They do not want to get burned by the logic of “I throw 300 million and go”.
They want:
• financial balance,
• players with resale value,
• a stable core.
Of course this means that at times when you need depth, especially in Europe, you are left exposed. But in the long term, this model is healthier.”
– What is happening with Manchester United? Why do they keep making mistakes?
“United has a basic issue: they make decisions without a unified philosophy.
They change coaches, technical directors, scouting, priorities.
When there is no common line, there is no football continuity.
That's why we see:
• expensive transfers without adaptation,
• inconsistent competitive image,
• lack of leadership on the pitch.
DF: UEFA Champions League: Who are the real favorites?
"If we're talking about real dynamics, not theories, I see five clear favorites:
1. Arsenal - the most complete team at the moment.
2. Real Madrid - because in the Champions League, Real is... Real.
3. Bayern - with depth, speed and mentality.
4. Barcelona - renewed, with a very good technical plan.
5. Paris Saint-Germain - this year has a better balance offensively-defensively."
"Of these five, Arsenal and Real are half a click ahead."
DF: Greek National Team: The Failure to Qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Greece failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Why did we end up here again?
R/: “The Greek National Team has improved compared to 5–6 years ago, but the level required to go to the World Cup is very high.
The failure is not due to one factor; it is a combination of:
The continuous individual mistakes,
• details in defense and transition,
• the absence of great personalities who will make the difference and
• also the youth of one year old and the team is now being built….
But the important thing is something else:
You have to build a stable core that will develop for the next 3–4 years. If we do this, Greece has a basis to enter major tournaments again.”
DF: Do you believe there is a future?
“Yes, there is.
But a unified plan is required from all levels of Greek football.
The National Team cannot rely only on the form of 3–4 players.
It needs systematic work and certainly more experience.
Manos Staramopoulos
Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs
Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com
Athens (Greece)
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