.

Giannakis 'Ioannis' Okkas (born February 11, 1977 in Larnaca) is a Cypriot football striker, who currently plays for Anorthosis Famagusta FC. He is also the captain of the Cyprus national football team and the 2nd leading scorer of all time just behind Michalis Kostantinou for Cyprus. With 103 national caps over the last 14 years, Okkas has made more appearances for Cyprus than any other player in history.

International career

At the age of 19, Okkas was called into the Cypriot national team, and remained a regular fixture in the following decade, passing the 50-cap mark in 2003.

He scored three goals in his side's failed attempts to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, and was also on target in Euro 2004's qualifying stage, notably against France, in which Cyprus lost 1-2, but with fine displays from Okkas, including a delicate chip that left French keeper Grégory Coupet completely stranded.[1]

On November 15, 2006, Okkas netted in a surprising Euro 2008 qualifier draw with giants Germany. He started captaining the national squad since the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

On October 8, 2010, Okkas reached 100 appearances with the Cyprus national football team against Norway in Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. In the same match, he managed to score his 25th goal but Cyprus lost 1-2.

Trivia

For two consecutive years, Okkas scored the first league goal of the season in Greece, with AEK in 2003-04 and Olympiacos the next season.

References

^ World Soccer review

Ancient Greece

Science, Technology , Medicine , Warfare, , Biographies , Life , Cities/Places/Maps , Arts , Literature , Philosophy ,Olympics, Mythology , History , Images