Panagiotis Engomitis

{{Short description|Cypriot footballer and manager}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Yiotis Engomitis | image = | fullname = Panagiotis Engomitis | height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|5|26}} | birth_place = Famagusta, Cyprus | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Right midfielder, Right back | youthyears1 = 1989–1992 | youthclubs1 = Ethnikos Achna | years1 = 1992–1997 | years2 = 1997–2000 | years3 = 2000–2006 | years4 = 2006–2009 | clubs1 = Ethnikos Achna | clubs2 = Anorthosis Famagusta | clubs3 = PAOK | clubs4 = Ethnikos Achna | caps1 = 118 | caps2 = 61 | caps3 = 76 | caps4 = 36 | goals1 = 33 | goals2 = 28 | goals3 = 10 | goals4 = 2 | totalcaps = 291 | totalgoals = 73 | nationalyears1 = 1994–2003 | nationalteam1 = Cyprus | nationalcaps1 = 45 | nationalgoals1 = 7 | pcupdate = | ntupdate = | manageryears1 = 2009–2017 | managerclubs1 = Ethnikos Achna (assistant) | manageryears2 = 2016 | managerclubs2 = Ethnikos Achna (caretaker) | manageryears3 = 2017 | managerclubs3 = Ethnikos Achna (caretaker) | manageryears4 = 2017 | managerclubs4 = Ethnikos Achna | manageryears5 = 2018 | managerclubs5 = Ethnikos Achna (assistant) | manageryears6 = 2018–2019 | managerclubs6 = Ethnikos Achna | manageryears7 = 2020–2021 | managerclubs7 = Cyprus U-17 | manageryears8 = 2021– | managerclubs8 = Cyprus (assistant) }}

'''Panagiotis "Yiotis" Engomitis''' (Greek: Παναγιώτης "Γιώτης" Εγκωμίτης; born 26 May 1972) is a former Cypriot international footballer who played as a right midfielder and is currently a football coach. He played for Ethnikos Achna, Anorthosis Famagusta and PAOK.

==Playing career== ===Club career=== Engomitis began his football career at Ethnikos Achna. In 1997, he moved to Anorthosis Famagusta with which he won 3 Cypriot League titles (1998, 1999, 2000), 1 Cup (1998) and 2 Super Cups (1998, 1999).<ref>{{cite web|title=ΡΕΤΡΟ: Παίκτες που έγραψαν ιστορία, Γιώτης Εγκωμίτης|trans-title=Players that wrote history, Giotis Engomitis|url=https://sportime.sigmalive.com/podosfairo/kypros/retro/8884_retro-paiktes-poy-egrapsan-istoria-giotis-egkomitis|work=sportime.sigmalive.com|author=Akis Kyriakou|language=Greek|date=15 September 2018|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref> In 1999, he was named Athlete of the Year by the Cyprus Sports Writers Association ({{langx|el|Ένωση Αθλητικογράφων Κύπρου}} or ΕΑΚ), which is considered the top sports award in the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=Η Γιορτή των Αρίστων|url=https://eak.org.cy/i-giorti-ton-ariston/#toggle-id-3-closed|work=eak.org.cy|language=Greek|date=|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref>

In 2000, he moved to Greece and was transferred along with his teammate Giannis Okkas to PAOK, following a recommendation for their acquisition by the then PAOK manager, Dušan Bajević.<ref>{{cite web|title=Όταν υπέγραψαν στον ΠΑΟΚ, Οκκάς και Εγκωμίτης…|trans-title=When Okkas and Engomitis signed for PAOK|url=https://balla.com.cy/2022/07/otan-ypegrapsan-ston-paok-okkas-kai-egkomitis/|work=balla.com.cy|language=Greek|date=19 July 2022|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref> He played for PAOK until 2006, winning 2 Greek Cups (2001, 2003).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/cup-2001-nchc/special-2001/|title=Title again...with a triumph against Olympiacos|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Κυρίαρχος ο ΠΑΟΚ νίκησε με 4–2 τον Ολυμπιακό και κατέκτησε το Κύπελλο Ελλάδας|trans-title=PAOK dominated, defeated Olympiacos 4–2 and won the Greek Cup|url=http://www.in.gr/2001/05/12/sports/kyriarxos-o-paok-nikise-me-4-2-ton-olympiako-kai-katektise-to-kypello-elladas/|work=in.gr|language=Greek|date=12 May 2001|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/history-2/titles/cup-2003-nchc/special-2003/|title=A Cup triumph in Toumba|work=paokfc.gr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ο ΠΑΟΚ Κυπελλούχος Ελλάδας Vodafone 2003, 1–0 τον Αρη στον τελικό|trans-title=PAOK wins the Vodafone Greek Cup 2003, defeating Aris 1–0 in the final|url=https://www.epo.gr/el/arthra/o-paok-kypelloyhos-elladas-vodafone-2003-1-0-ton-ari-ston-teliko|language=el|work=HFF|date=17 May 2003|access-date=19 January 2026}}</ref> On 12 May 2001, in the Greek Cup final held at Nikos Goumas Stadium, he opened the scoreline in the 4th minute and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match in a 4–2 win over Olympiacos.<ref>{{cite web|title=Πρώτοι μεταξύ ίσων!|trans-title=First among equals!|url=https://www.epo.gr/el/arthra/protoi-metaxy-ison|work=epo.gr|date=4 May 2016|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref> Engomitis played for PAOK mainly as a right midfielder and his contribution to the club would undoubtedly have been greater if he had not frequently suffered from muscle injuries. His virtue, talent and fighting spirit were appreciated by PAOK fans and in February 2015, he was honored by the PAOK FC management at the Toumba Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAOK Story: Γιώτης Εγκωμίτης|url=https://www.paokfc.gr/nea/20150202-paok-story-giotis-egkomitis/|work=paokfc.gr|language=Greek|date=2 February 2015|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ο Γιώτης Εγκωμίτης, συνέδεσε τ’όνομά του με τον Π.Α.Ο.Κ.|trans-title=Engomitis linked his name with PAOK|url=https://www.dieci10.gr/giotis-egkomitis-paok-cyprus-greece/|work=dieci10.gr|language=Greek|date=|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Εγκωμίτης: «Αν έπαιζα ένα παιχνίδι ακόμη θα ήταν το ΠΑΟΚ - Ολυμπιακός»! (pics&vids)|trans-title="If I played one more game it would be PAOK - Olympiaco"|url=https://www.gazzetta.gr/weekend-journal/article/1592841/egkomitis-epaiza-ena-paihnidi-akomi-tha-itan-paok-olympiakos-picsvids|work=gazzetta.gr|language=Greek|author=Stavros Sountoulidis|date=18 May 2021|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Εγκωμίτης: «Ευχαριστώ τον Θεό που έπαιξα στον ΠΑΟΚ»|trans-title="I thank God that I played for PAOK"|url=https://www.ant1live.com/athlitika/374775_egkomitis-eyharisto-ton-theo-poy-epaixa-ston-paok|work=ant1live.com|language=Greek|date=22 April 2020|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref>

In 2006, he returned to Cyprus and played for Ethnikos Achna until 2009, when he retired from active football.

On 18 October 2009, a testimonial match was held in his honour at the Dasaki Stadium between Ethnikos and Anorthosis (1–1), where he was awarded by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), the Cyprus Sports Writers' Association (EAK), the Cyprus Footballers' Association (PASP), the Coaches' Association and other bodies. The gate receipts were donated to charitable institutions, at his own request.<ref>{{cite web|title=Το αντίο του Γιώτη Εγκωμίτη...|trans-title=Engomitis' farewell|url=https://www.sigmalive.com/archive/sports/football/cyprus/a+league/203004|work=sigmalive.com|language=Greek|author=Dimitris Fokis|date=18 October 2009|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref>

===International career=== Engomitis had 45 caps and scored 7 goals for the Cyprus national football team between 1994 and 2003.

==Managerial career== After his retirement from active playing, Engomitis became involved in coaching and worked as an academy director and later as an assistant, caretaker and head coach at Ethnikos Achna. In the 2018–19 season, he led Ethnikos to promotion to the first division, winning the Second Division Championship. In 2020, he was appointed as Cyprus U17 National Team coach and since 2021 he has been an assistant coach of the Men's National Team.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ο Γιώτης Εγκωμίτης αναλαμβάνει την Εθνική Παίδων U17|url=https://www.cfa.com.cy/Gr/news/39877|work=cfa.com.cy|language=Greek|date=12 June 2020|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ομόφωνα ο Νίκος Κωστένογλου νέος προπονητής της Εθνικής Ανδρών|url=https://www.cfa.com.cy/Gr/news/41303|work=cfa.com.cy|language=Greek|date=18 February 2021|access-date=10 December 2025}}</ref>

== Career statistics == ===Club career=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Years !! Club !! League Apps (Goals) |- | 1992–1997 ||align=left|{{flagicon|Cyprus}} Ethnikos Achna ||align=center|118 (33) |- | 1997–2000 ||align=left|{{flagicon|Cyprus}} Anorthosis Famagusta ||align=center|61 (28) |- | 2000–2006 ||align=left|{{flagicon|Greece}} PAOK ||align=center|76 (10) |- | 2006–2009 ||align=left|{{flagicon|Cyprus}} Ethnikos Achna ||align=center|36 (2) |}

===International career=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |1994||2||0 |- |1995||8||2 |- |1996||2||0 |- |1997||8||1 |- |1998||4||2 |- |1999||4||1 |- |2000||5||0 |- |2001||5||1 |- |2002||2||0 |- |2003||5||0 |- !colspan="1"|Total!!45!!7 |}

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Panagiotis Engomitis |- !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |- |align="center"|1 |15 February 1995 |Tsirio Stadium, Limassol |{{fb|EST}} |align="center"|2–1 |align="center"|3–1 |Friendly |- |align="center"|2 |8 March 1995 |Tsirio Stadium, Limassol |{{fb|SWE}} |align="center"|3–3 |align="center"|3–3 |Friendly |- |align="center"|3 |14 February 1997 |Paralimni Stadium, Paralimni |{{fb|LVA}} |align="center"|2–0 |align="center"|2–0 |Cyprus International Tournament |- |align="center"|4 |19 August 1998 |Makario Stadium, Nicosia |{{fb|ALB}} |align="center"|1–2 |align="center"|3–2 |Friendly |- |align="center"|5 |5 September 1998 |Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca |{{fb|ESP}} |align="center"|1–0 |align="center"|3–2 |UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |- |align="center"|6 |5 September 1999 |Tsirio Stadium, Limassol |{{fb|ISR}} |align="center"|1–0 |align="center"|3–2 |UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying |- |align="center"|7 |28 February 2001 |GSZ Stadium, Larnaca |{{fb|UKR}} |align="center"|2–1 |align="center"|4–3 {{aet}} |Cyprus International Tournament |}

==Honours== ===As a player=== '''Anorthosis Famagusta''' * Cypriot League (3): 1998, 1999, 2000 * Cypriot Cup: 1998 * Cypriot Super Cup (2): 1998, 1999

'''PAOK''' * Greek Cup (2): 2001, 2003

'''Individual''' * Cyprus Sports Writers' Association (EAK) Awards - Athlete of the year: 1999 * Greek Cup final MVP: 2001

===As a manager=== '''Ethnikos Achna''' * Cypriot Second Division: 2019

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=5483 EU-football.info - Engomitis International career] * {{NFT player|pid=1822}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Sports|Association football|Cyprus}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Engomitis, Panayiotis}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Cypriot men's footballers Category:Cypriot expatriate men's footballers Category:Cyprus men's international footballers Category:Anorthosis Famagusta FC players Category:PAOK FC players Category:Ethnikos Achna FC players Category:Super League Greece players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Sportspeople from Famagusta Category:Cypriot expatriate sportspeople in Greece Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece Category:Ethnikos Achna FC managers Category:Cypriot football managers