Ioannis Drikakis

[[File:Ioannis Drikakis at Undrdog Athletix Photoshoot in Virginia.jpg|thumb|333x333px|

]] Ioannis Drikakis (Greek: Ιωάννης / Γιάννης Δρικάκης; born 14 March 2002) is a Greek professional football player who currently is a free agent. In his early career Ioannis started off as a striker but now he primarily plays as a centre back.

Career

Ioannis Drikakis was born on 14 March 2002 in Chania, Crete in Greece. He began playing football at the age of 3 at Olympiakos Academy in Chania (also known as: Ακαδημία Νέας Κυδωνίας) and spent 9 years playing there where according to local media he was one of the most promising talents in the country at the time. In 2014 he signed for the Youth Team of AEEK SYNKA (known then as: AEEK INKA) and during the season 2015/16 Ioannis broke all regional scoring records whilst being captain of both club (AEEK INKA) and Regional Team (also known as: Μικτή Χανίων) playing alongside the likes of players like Konstantis Tzolakis and Konstantinos Koulierakis. In 21 appearances Ioannis scored 41 goals whilst also providing 16 assists averaging over 2.7 goal involvements per game for club and for Region in 6 appearances Ioannis scored 3 goals and provided 4 assists averaging a bit over 1 goal involvement per game. In January 2016, Ioannis was being scouted by the biggest clubs in Greece (Olympiakos F.C., AEK Athens F.C. Panathinaikos F.C.) and also went on trial with Atromitos F.C. On 28 February 2016 Ioannis was horrifically injured in a shock collision with the opposition goalkeeper in a league match versus Aris Soudas in the last 5 minutes of the game. He was then rushed to hospital with injuries later diagnosed as a raptured spleen and kidney with ongoing internal bleeding. Doctors at the time believed that Ioannis had to have both spleen and left kidney removed and that he will never play football again. However, after what Ioannis calls a miracle from God, the doctors were able to find a route to full recovery without the surgical removal of his injured organs. The recovery process consisted of 24/7 medical supervision while Ioannis had been strictly prohibited from moving out of bed in order to avoid tensing his abdominal muscles and hurting his spleen and kidney furthermore. This resulted in severe muscle atrophy all over his body making the recovery process even harder. Even though Ioannis's injury was highly severe due to the original injury and extra complications of muscle atrophy across all his body he was able to make a remarkable return to football within 6 months of his injury signing for the youth team of professional side Platanias F.C. which then competed in the Greek Super League. Ioannis featured as a starter in the opening match of the U15 Greek Super League against AEK Athens F.C and then went on to feature in 20 games that season scoring no goals and providing 3 assists in a season were it was later diagnosed that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from his injury.

Ioannis was able to get over his mental struggle the following year and started consistently putting in very impressive performances according to his coaches with both U15 and then U17 squads which led him at just the age of 16 to make his senior professional debut in a friendly match between Platanias F.C. and Palaiochora F.C. coming on as a sub on the 86th minute of the game.

In that season Ioannis was promoted to the U19 squad and was named one of the captains of the team. He then went on to feature in 8 games, scoring 3 goals and providing 7 assists. In the 2019/20 season according to sources close to Ioannis, Ioannis was eager to get senior experience and filed for a loan move which he later got to Panakrotiriakos F.C. which competed then in the Greek 3rd tier also known as Gamma Ethniki. Ioannis went to score on his debut for the club. He then went on to make a total of 6 appearances with the club but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Greek 3rd tier was postponed and then later cancelled.

After the first nationwide lockdown was over, Ioannis's loan deal had expired so he then proceeded to sign for Ergotelis F.C. on a permanent transfer from Platanias F.C. which competed in the Super League 2 as well and was then later included in the U19 squad of the team.

Later on the whole league was cancelled due to a second nationwide lockdown because of the pandemic and Ioannis didn't get to make any official appearances with the club. In the pre season friendlies though Ioannis made 10 appearances scoring 3 goals and provided 5 assists. In January 2021 Ioannis was called to due his mandatory military service in Chania and was forced to move away from Heraklion where Ergotelis F.C. is based and then went on to sign on a loan to AEEK SYNKA.

Due to the heavy schedule of serving his country, Ioannis was able to make only 3 appearances with the club scoring 1 goal and providing no assists. In the summer of 2021 AEEK SYNKA, even though finished 5th in that years Gamma Ethniki, didn't apply for participation in next years competition which forced Ioannis to move club again and more specifically for Aris Soudas which also competed in the Gamma Ethniki.

Due to very limited game time Ioannis moved to a 4th tier team to rediscover his form called Niki Sitias. Ioannis played a total of 7 games, scoring 3 goals and provided 6 assists. He was voted League Youngest Player of the Year and was able to help his team win their first league cup in 23 years. He also helped his team reach the final of the regional cup but didn't play in the final due to an injury he picked up in the semi final vs Neapoli. After a very successful 6 months at Niki Sitias, Ioannis moved to his hometown Chania to play for Apollon Agiou Ioanni which also competed in the 4th tier of greek football. He went on to make 10 appearances with the club scoring once and providing 5 assists. In January 2023 Ioannis left the club and told the media he has decided that it's best for his development to go on trial with professional sides like Kampaniakos F.C. and the Maryland Bobcats, to get professional training and return to the level he played at before his military service.

After a successful year of training and preparing, Ioannis had a full medical with specialist Leonidas Papadakis that proved he was more than ready to return to the professional game. After showing very high physical and athletic attributes Ioannis's coaches at the time decided that it would be best to go further down on the pitch and become a centre back. His medical attracted offers from first division (Super League) side Lamia F.C. and from second division (Super League 2) sides Aigaleo F.C. and Panargiakos F.C.

Ioannis then for his development decided that he would get more playing time in the second division and signed his first full professional contract with Panargeiakos F.C.. In a pre season session, Ioannis tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and then on the 22nd of August went through ACL reconstruction surgery at The Metropolitan Hospital in Piraeus from Dr. Georgios Tsakotos and started his recovery process immediately in Athens.

Ioannis made a full recovery earlier this summer and has moved to England but has attracted offers from European Clubs as well. He has participated in trials with professional clubs whom names are still unknown. Sources close to Ioannis say he is happier than ever and very close to signing for his new club.

Other Sporting Achievements

Ioannis came 3rd place in the 2017 National Track in field races in the 4 x 80m. relay. 1 (page 5.) which points played part in their establishment finishing 1st nationwide (page 4.) Ioannis came 3rd place in the 2017 Cretan Track in field races in the 80m sprint. Ioannis came 2nd place in the 2017 Cretan Track in field races in the 300m sprint. He then proceeded to receive an Honorary for successes of the year 2017 and the Regional Award of Crete for successes in Classical sport for the year 2017.

References