Alexandros Tabakis

{{short description|Greek footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Alexandros Tambakis | image = | caption = | fullname = Alexandros Tambakis | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|12|8}} | birth_place = Athens, Greece | height = {{convert|1.91|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = FC Tulsa | clubnumber = 1 | youthyears1 = 2005–2011 | youthclubs1 = Panathinaikos | years1 = 2011–2016 | clubs1 = Panathinaikos | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2014–2015 | clubs2 = → Niki Volos (loan) | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2015 | clubs3 = → VVV-Venlo (loan) | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2016 | clubs4 = Charleston Battery | caps4 = 21 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2017 | clubs5 = Atlanta United | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2017 | clubs6 = → Charleston Battery (loan) | caps6 = 8 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2018–2020 | clubs7 = North Carolina FC | caps7 = 77 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2021–2025 | clubs8 = New Mexico United | caps8 = 134 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2026– | clubs9 = FC Tulsa | caps9 = 0 | goals9 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2010–2011 | nationalteam1 = Greece U19 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = | nationalcaps2 = | nationalgoals2 = | pcupdate = 29 January 2026 }}

'''Alexandros Tabakis''' ({{langx|el|Αλέξανδρος Ταμπάκης}}; born 8 December 1992), also known as '''Alex Tambakis''', is a Greek professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for USL Championship side FC Tulsa.

==Career== He started playing football for Takis Oikonomopoulos's academy, in Artemida, Attica, from there, he moved to Paiania (training ground) to be a member of Panathinaikos's youth academies. He was promoted to the first team on 1 July 2011, signing a contract which would keep him in Panathinaikos until 2016. He made his debut as a player of the first team on 23 April 2012 at a 4–0 win against Panetolikos F.C.,<ref>[http://www.balleto.gr/ellada2/superleague/tampakis_aidiaiteri_mera_gia_menaa.html balleto.gr] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131125232/http://www.balleto.gr/ellada2/superleague/tampakis_aidiaiteri_mera_gia_menaa.html |date=2016-01-31 }} Great honor for me</ref> replacing Kotsolis on the 86th minute of the game.

On 2 February 2015 Tabakis was loaned to Eerste Divisie side VVV-Venlo until the end of the season, but he did not make an appearance with the first team before returning.<ref>[https://www.venlonaren.net/alex-tabakis-naar-vvv-venlo/?lang=en] Alex Tabakis to VVV-Venlo</ref> He made two appearances with the Under-21 side, and he was also named to the squad for Venlo's first-round promotion playoff matches against Oss, ahead of Eric Verstappen.

On 25 January 2016 Tambakis transferred from Panathinaikos to Atlanta United FC on a free transfer.<ref name="Atl United website">{{cite web|title=Atlanta United FC sign the first player in its history, goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis|url=http://www.univision.com/deportes/futbol/mls/atlanta-united-fc-ficha-el-primer-jugador-en-su-historia-el-portero-alexander-tambakis|website=Univision|accessdate=25 January 2016|language=Spanish|archive-date=11 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011034429/http://www.univision.com/deportes/futbol/mls/atlanta-united-fc-ficha-el-primer-jugador-en-su-historia-el-portero-alexander-tambakis|url-status=dead}}</ref> He became the first player to be signed by the club, who were set to make their debut in the 2017 season.<ref name="BizJournals">{{cite web|last1=Hudson|first1=Phil|title=Atlanta United begins building roster with signing of Alexander Tambakis as first player|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2016/01/25/atlanta-united-begins-building-roster-with-signing.html|website=Atlanta Business Chronicle|publisher=BizJournals.com|accessdate=25 January 2016}}</ref> He was immediately sent on loan to third division with Charleston Battery.<ref name="Atl United website"/><ref name=ChasBattery>{{cite web|last1=Conover|first1=Dan|title=Atlanta to send goalkeeper Tambakis on loan|url=http://charlestonbattery.com/news/atlanta-to-send-goalkeeper-tambakis-on-loan/|website=Charleston Battery|publisher=CharlestonBattery.com|accessdate=26 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131214750/http://charlestonbattery.com/news/atlanta-to-send-goalkeeper-tambakis-on-loan/|archive-date=2016-01-31|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tambakis made 19 appearances for the Battery in 2016, as well as 2 in the postseason, keeping 6 clean sheets. Tambakis was loaned back out to Charleston ahead of the 2017 season,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charlestonbattery.com/news_article/show/773308-tambakis-ambrose-loaned-to-battery-for-usl-opener |title=TAMBAKIS, AMBROSE LOANED TO BATTERY FOR USL OPENER |work=Charleston Battery |first=Sarah |last=Cardamone |date=March 23, 2017 |access-date=October 6, 2017 |archive-date=March 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329234525/https://www.charlestonbattery.com/news_article/show/773308-tambakis-ambrose-loaned-to-battery-for-usl-opener |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was recalled multiple times by Atlanta throughout the season. Tambakis made his first teamsheet with Atlanta on 18 March, listed ahead of Kyle Reynish as the reserve goalkeeper.

On 3 October 2017 Tambakis made his MLS debut, coming on as a substitute for Reynish, who was sent off for denying Minnesota United forward Abu Danladi a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Entering the game at a 1–0 deficit, Atlanta would score two goals before conceding two more in the 3–2 defeat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-united-loses-minnesota-united/syJDkzrK2TD3t5RYCAwh5O/ |title=Atlanta United loses to Minnesota United |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |first=Doug |last=Roberson |date=October 3, 2017}}</ref> Tambakis was in the squad because first-choice goalkeeper Brad Guzan was away at international duty, and second-choice Alec Kann was out injured.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.atlutd.com/post/2017/10/01/two-atlanta-united-players-called-international-duty |title=Two Atlanta United players called up for international duty |work=Atlanta United |date=October 1, 2017}}</ref>

After his option was declined following the 2017 season, Tambakis' rights were traded by Atlanta on 10 December 2017 to Sporting Kansas City along with Kenwyne Jones's rights and a 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, Kevin Oliveira, and Tyler Pasher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2017/12/10/sporting-kc-acquires-forward-kenwyne-jones-goalkeeper-alexander-tambakis-and-2021|title = Sporting KC acquires forward Kenwyne Jones, goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis and 2021 draft pick in trade with Atlanta United FC}}</ref>

On 2 March 2018 Tambakis joined USL side North Carolina FC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northcarolinafc.com/news_article/show/892912|title = North Carolina FC Signs Goalkeeper Alex Tambakis|date = 2 March 2018}}</ref>

On 11 March 2021 Tambakis joined New Mexico United.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newmexicoutd.com/news_article/show/1151638 |title=NEW MEXICO UNITED ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF GAME-CHANGING GOALKEEPER ALEX TAMBAKIS |website=www.newmexicoutd.com |date=March 11, 2021}}</ref> He was named New Mexico United's Defensive Player of the Year following the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Staff |title=NEW MEXICO UNITED'S ALEX TAMBAKIS WINS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR |url=https://www.newmexicoutd.com/news/2022/10/26/new-mexico-uniteds-alex-tambakis-wins-defensive-player-of-the-year/ |website=New Mexico United |access-date=30 July 2024}}</ref>

On 9 January 2026, FC Tusla announced that Tambakis signed with the team for the 2026 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=USLChampionship com |date=2026-01-09 |title=FC Tulsa brings aboard goalkeeper Alex Tambakis |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1353123-fc-tulsa-brings-aboard-goalkeeper-alex-tambakis |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=USL Championship |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Career statistics == {{Updated|match played 10 July 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Greece - A. Tambakis - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|url=https://us.soccerway.com/players/alexandros-tampakis/159050/|url-status=live|access-date=10 July 2021|website=Soccerway|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310064630/http://us.soccerway.com/players/alexandros-tampakis/159050/|archive-date=10 March 2017}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |National Cup ! colspan="2" |League Cup ! colspan="2" |Continental ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- | rowspan="6" |Panathinaikos F.C. |2011/12 | rowspan="5" |Super League Greece |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |- |2012/13 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |2013/14 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |- |2014/15 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |2015/16 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !1 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0 !1 !0 |- |Niki Volos F.C. (loan) |2014/15 |Super League Greece |4 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |4 |0 |- |VVV-Venlo (loan) |2014/15 |Eerste Divisie |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |- |Atlanta United FC |2017 |MLS |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |1 |0 |- | rowspan="3" |Charleston Battery (loan){{Efn|Player signed for Atlanta United FC in 2016; the club began play in the 2017 season|name=efn1|group=lower-alpha}} |2016 | rowspan="2" |USL |19 |0 |0 |0 |2{{Efn|Appearance(s) in USL playoffs|name=efn2|group=lower-alpha}} |0 | colspan="2" |— |21 |0 |- |2017 |8 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |8 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !27 !0 !0 !0 !2 !0 ! colspan="2" |— !29 !0 |- | rowspan="4" |North Carolina FC |2018 |USL |33 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |34 |0 |- |2019 | rowspan="2" |USL Championship |29 |0 |1{{Efn|Appearance(s) in U.S. Open Cup|name=efn3|group=lower-alpha}} |0 |1{{Efn|name=efn2|group=lower-alpha}} |0 | colspan="2" |— |32 |0 |- |2020 |14 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |14 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !77 !0 !2 !0 !1 !0 ! colspan="2" |— !80 !0 |- | rowspan="5" |New Mexico United |2021 | rowspan="4" |USL Championship |31 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |31 |0 |- |2022 |30 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |20 |0 |- |2023 |25 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |26 |0 |- |2024 |15 |0 |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |18 |0 |- ! colspan="2" | !101 !0 !4 !0 ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— !105 !0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !211 !0 !6 !0 !3 !0 !0 !0 !220 !0 |- |} {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==Honours== ;Panathinaikos * Greek Cup: 2014

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * {{sports links}}

{{FC Tulsa squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tabakis, Alexandros}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Greek expatriate men's footballers Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Atlanta United FC players Category:Charleston Battery players Category:FC Tulsa players Category:Niki Volos F.C. players Category:Panathinaikos F.C. players Category:VVV-Venlo players Category:North Carolina FC players Category:Super League Greece players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:USL Championship players Category:Major League Soccer players Category:New Mexico United players Category:Footballers from Athens Category:Greek men's footballers Category:21st-century Greek sportsmen