Greek Australian striker Apostolos Giannou has been signed up by Indian Superleague Club Kerala Blasters over from A-League Club Macarthur FC, reported The Times of India.
According to the media outlet, this is the first first foreign signing of the season for the Blasters who have signed up the talented 32-year-old international for the upcoming season of Indian Super League.
Born in Greece, Giannou moved to Australia at a young age and played for youth teams at the Victorian Institute of Sport and South Melbourne, before making his professional debut with the Oakleigh Cannons.
International Career
In 2006, Giannou represented the Australia under-17 team at the AFC U-17 Championship 2006 Qualification. Giannou scored in Australia's 3–1 win against Indonesia. Giannou was the only Victorian player selected for Australia's under-17 side that took part in the International Youth Football tournament in Niigata, Japan. The team finished top of their respective group as Giannou scored a goal in a 5–1 win against Albirex Niigata.[
In 2008, Giannou represented the Greece under-19 team at the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification where Greece qualified for the Championship finals, he played alongside Australian Dean Bouzanis. Under coach Alexis Alexiou, Giannou appeared twice at the European Under-19 Championships when he was substituted on in a 1–1 draw against Italy and started in a 3–0 loss against England as Greece finished at the bottom of their group.
On 5 September 2010, Giannou returned to the international stage after two years' absence, he was selected for the Greece under-21 team for a 2011 European Under-21 Championship qualifier against the Macedonia which Greece won 2–1.
On 24 March 2015, Giannou was selected but did not appear for the Greece national team for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Hungary.
On 5 November 2015, Giannou was selected but did not appear for the Greece national team for the friendly matches against Luxembourg and Turkey. On 17 November, he made his debut appearance with Greece as a late substitute for Kostas Mitroglou in a 0–0 away draw against Turkey.
He was capped by Greece, on 25 February 2016, but Giannou declared his intent to play for Australia.
Giannou was called up for Australia for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Tajikistan and Jordan on 9 March 2016.[40] Giannou made his debut for Australia in a 7–0 win against Tajikistan on 24 March 2016. He assisted Massimo Luongo for Australia's first goal of the match, and won two penalties for Australia, which were converted by Mile Jedinak and Mark Milligan for Australia's second and third goals.
