Stelios leaves Hull for Larissa

Stelios Giannakopoulos ruled out a return to Greece this summer, but six months after rejecting a move back home, the former-Greece international has done the exact opposite. Making little impact with Premier League club Hull City since joining the Tigers shortly after the transfer window closed, Giannakopoulos has left the English outfit for the Super League’s AE Larissa.

After being released by Bolton Wanderers ahead of season’s end last year, Giannakopoulos attempted to revive his international career by joining Phil Brown at Hull. It never developed into the success he enjoyed at the Reebok Stadium, as the player referred to more by his first name than his traditional surname made three appearances; only one of them being a start – an appearance in the starting eleven against Newcastle in the FA Cup.

It now seems the chance to return to the Greek National Team has vanished for one of Greece’s EURO 2004 heroes, but a move to Thessaly with Larissa could see Giannakopoulos play a steering role for a club underachieving according to their supporters’ ambitions.

Signing a contract lasting until the end of the 2009/2010 season, Giannakopoulos will be tied down at the Alkazar Stadium in his first return to Greece since leaving Olympiacos for the Premier League back in 2003.

Currently sitting in fifth place amongst the sixteen clubs in the Greek top flight, Larissa currently hold down the last playoff spot ahead of Panionios by one point. With the winter additions of Sasa Ilic and now Giannakopoulos could see the ‘Vyssini’ improve on their fifth place ranking.