Giorgos Malekkidis talks about his contract extension and goals

The Apollon Football (Public) Ltd is pleased to announce the extension of its collaboration with Giorgos Malekkidis until May 2027.

The Cypriot defender joined Apollon in July 2020 and has been consistently improving each year, culminating in last season where he played in 32 matches across all competitions, scoring four goals.

Giorgos Malekkidis spoke to www.apollon.com.cy about his new contract until 2027.

Giorgos, congratulations on your contract renewal! How do you feel about continuing to wear the Apollon jersey for the next three years?

It’s something that makes me very happy and honors me greatly. I hope to repay the trust of the management with my performances on the field. I will try to give my all and work even harder to bring more success to the club.

What does it mean to you that even though you had a contract with the team, your collaboration has been extended until 2027?

It’s something I’ve always sought as a footballer—to have my efforts recognized. They showed great trust in me, and despite my injury, a period during which I might have doubted myself, the team stood by me and supported me. Through hard work and perseverance, some very good performances came. The team may not have had a great season last year, but personally, I feel that I did very well. I feel that the team, with this move, rewarded me for last year’s effort, and it makes me very happy.

Last season, you had the best and most complete year in your career so far, which also led to your debut with the national team. What do you think contributed to this success?

The most important factors are my family, who stood by me during the most difficult phase of my football career, during a period when I didn’t believe in myself, as I mentioned earlier, and the coach, who gave me the opportunity to show who I am. I want to particularly thank Mr. Tsolakis, who believed in me.

Is there a specific player who helped you with this?

I don’t want to mention names because I might leave someone out, but my teammates, who I’ve been with for years, feel like family to me.

You’ve played on loan for other teams. How do you think these experiences helped you evolve as a footballer and return to Apollon more prepared?

If the injury was something significant that helped me evolve, the period I played on loan was the second crucial factor. The opportunity to go to a team where I played constantly, to build confidence, and improve with playing time, was key to my development and to becoming the player I am today.

How do you see yourself evolving in the team over the next few years? Are there specific areas of your game you want to improve?

There are many. Improvement is a daily goal. More than anything, I want us to achieve things as a team, not individually.

How was your experience of wearing the national team jersey for the first time?

As I’ve said before, playing for the national team was my biggest dream. I would prefer to play in a Euro or World Cup with the national team rather than achieve something on a club or individual level. I hope to accomplish more with the national team in the future. I’m looking forward to the next national team match and to hearing the national anthem.

Apollon has high goals for the new season. How do you think the team can achieve them?

Regardless of last season’s performance, Apollon’s goals are timeless, as shown by the team’s recent successes. We don’t want to be just a “flash in the pan” this year; we want to build a team that will have longevity and bring even greater successes.

Do you have any personal goals you want to achieve this year?

I don’t have any personal goals. As I said earlier, I want to bring collective success, not individual recognition. I hope to stay healthy and get as much playing time as possible.

There’s been talk lately that Giorgos Malekkidis is the new Giorgos Vasiliou of Apollon. How do you feel about that?

It’s very honorable to be compared to someone who has had so many successes with Apollon and has written his name in the club’s history. Perhaps the fact that I play with as much passion as he did, or that we both came from Aris, or that we play in the same position, are the reasons we are compared. It’s a great honor, and it encourages me and gives me extra motivation. I hope to achieve as much as he did, and even more.

What message would you like to send to Apollon fans who support you?

First of all, I want to thank them for their support. They are one of the reasons I succeeded last year because I received a lot of supportive messages when I was injured. Believe me, even one message is a sign of love, and it can encourage me to overcome a difficult moment. Even if just one person believes in you, it gives you the strength to continue. I promise to work as hard as I can and give my best to help the team succeed.

I want them to be by our side as they were last year in the semifinal against Paphos. It was the first time I experienced such an atmosphere, and it was a great feeling. For any team, it’s a great thing to have the support of so many people. That day, no matter the mistakes, I didn’t hear a single boo, nor any disapproval; everyone was by our side and believed in the qualification. Regardless of how the game ended with that goal, the essence was, is, and will always be the incredible support of the fans. I want to experience that again this year.