Fotis Ioannidis spoke about last year’s challenging season, the new chapter in his career with Sporting Lisbon, as well as the experiences that have shaped him, in an interview he gave to Elena Papadopoulou for the new show “ALL IN.”

The international forward discussed the difficulties he faced due to his injury and his efforts to return to top form, while speaking candidly about the missed opportunity against the Netherlands, his disappointment over the national team’s absence from the World Cup, and how he now handles the pressure.

He also explained why he decided to step away from social media, described his life in Portugal with Eleni Voulgaraki, and revealed that he has even begun thinking about a coaching career for the time after his playing days are over.

The Difficult Year and the Comeback

Ioannidis first referred to last season, which did not go as he would have liked due to the problems he faced with his injury. As he explained, he’s now back and wants to put those difficulties behind him, regaining a steady rhythm through training and match appearances.

“I’m always here. It’s true that I just had a tough year last year. The injury caused some difficulties, but I’m back now,” he said.

For the Greek forward, the goal is to train every day and get more playing time so he can find his rhythm and showcase his potential on the field.

The duel with Tiao and Van Dijk’s distinctive presence

With a sense of humor, Ioannidis described his tough duel with German defender Malik Tiao, revealing that by the end of the match, both of them were exhausted.

“At one point, in the 80th minute, we were talking, and he told me, ‘That’s enough,’ and I told him, ‘That’s enough.’ I told him I couldn’t take it anymore, I was going to collapse,” he said, describing the scene that unfolded on the field.

He was then asked to compare Tiao with Virgil van Dijk, whom he has also faced, and highlighted the Dutch center back’s distinctive presence.

““I think Van Dijk has that same aura about him. Virgil is Virgil,” was his characteristic comment.

Kourbelis’s goal and the missed opportunity against the Netherlands

The international forward also spoke about the standout moments from the national team’s recent matches, referring both to his own goal and to the ovation he received at Toumba Stadium.

He made special mention, however, of Dimitris Kourbelis’s goal, revealing just how happy he was for his teammate. “Kourbelis’s goal

felt as if I had scored it myself,” he said, explaining that both his own goal and the standing ovation at Toumba were significant moments for him, as he felt he had given it his all.

The conversation wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the missed opportunity against Germany. Ioannidis made it clear that he knows missed opportunities are part of soccer, but at that moment he found it hard to accept that particular mistake.

““It wasn’t that I missed it, but that it was unthinkable to me that this chance was missed,” he explained.

As he revealed, he also discussed the incident with Vangelis Pavlidis, who reminded him that many strikers have missed similar chances and that there will be new opportunities in the future.

Ioannidis even explained his own approach to handling such situations, emphasizing that there’s no point in dwelling on something you can’t change.

““The thing is, you can’t rewind life, so you just try to forget about it as much as you can,” he noted, emphasizing that the important thing is to be ready for the next opportunity that comes along.

In fact, he also described how he approaches penalty kicks in practice, explaining that he often stops after missing a kick following several successful attempts, keeping in mind that the next one will be a success.

“Confidence is everything, but don’t underestimate your opponent”

Ioannidis also spoke about the national team’s image, noting that talent must be combined with personality and a competitive mindset. He highlighted, among other things, the efforts of his teammates, mentioning Konstantinos Karetsas and Andreas Tetei, as well as the different demands placed on each player on the field.

At the same time, he shared his own message about the importance of self-confidence, making it clear that belief in a team’s capabilities should not lead to underestimating the opponent.

““I’ve said that self-confidence is everything, but you shouldn’t underestimate the opponent,” he said, citing Van Dijk’s quality and presence as an example.

Disappointment Over the World Cup

The experience of the national team’s elimination from the World Cup was particularly difficult for Ioannidis.

He recalled the period when the team failed to secure a spot in the tournament, describing how painful it was to watch the other players compete in the World Cup, while Greece was playing friendly matches.

““When you see others playing in the World Cup and you’re playing friendly matches, it’s tough,” he said, explaining that the disappointment becomes even greater when you realize what you’ve missed out on.

In fact, he himself was unable to join the team during that period because he was dealing with an injury. As he made clear, the only thing everyone on the national team wants is to never have to go through a similar situation again.

Why He Quit Social Media

One of the most personal moments of the interview concerned Ioannidis’s decision to step away from social media.

The Greek forward explained that he felt he was wasting valuable time in his daily life and decided to set a clear boundary by changing the way he spent his time.

““I was wasting far too much time in my life,” he said.

As he explained, this change has been good for him, as he has found new hobbies and devoted more time to activities that interest him.

Among them are chess, which he plays with Vaya, and reading. In fact, he revealed that he has read Dostoevsky and subsequently delved into texts about Socrates.

At the same time, he described the social media environment as toxic, admitting that in the past there had been comments that had bothered him. However, as he explained, he has tried to work on himself so as not to be affected to the same degree by what is written.

Life in Lisbon and Eleni’s Support

Ioannidis also spoke about his new daily life in Portugal, emphasizing how important it is for him to have the people he loves by his side. As he explained, the life of a professional soccer player can be lonely, and the experiences he’s had away from his homeland have helped him mature.

In his case, the presence of his partner, Eleni, who is by his side, as well as the support of his family, has played a decisive role.

““It’s very important to come home and have the person you want to be with,” he said.

At the same time, he spoke very warmly about Eleni, emphasizing that he admires her creativity and her desire to work and grow professionally.

When asked how he envisions his personal life in the future, Ioannidis emphasized tranquility, their shared journey, and the possibility of starting a family.

Coaching, Formula 1, and the Future

The 26-year-old forward did not rule out the possibility of still playing in ten years, though he admitted that he considers it more likely he will have ended his soccer career by then.

What has changed, as he revealed, is his attitude toward coaching. While he used to think he wouldn’t get involved in that field, he has now begun to consider that possibility.

In fact, he revealed that he’s been discussing with friends a hypothetical coaching staff, with Baka as head coach and himself as an assistant.

Formula 1 is also part of his plans, as he revealed that he would like to host a show with Kostas (Psarra) at some point.

“I really want to play for Sporting.”

For now, however, Ioannidis’s focus is entirely on his development as a soccer player in Portugal.

The international forward made it clear that he isn’t immediately considering a return to Greece, although he doesn’t rule out the possibility of doing so at a later stage in his career.

“Right now, I’m very happy in Portugal and having a great time. The team is truly amazing. I’m 100% committed because I really want to play for Sporting and prove to myself that I can excel even there,” he emphasized.

His goal is clear: To put the difficulties of last season behind him, regain a consistent rhythm on the field, and prove that he can meet Sporting’s expectations.

*photo source: AP