Odysseus Velanas

Odysseus Velanas
2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-06-05) 5 June 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Samos, Greece
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 PEC Zwolle
Number 18
Youth career
VV Jonathan
2013–2016 Utrecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2021 Jong Utrecht 113 (17)
2017–2021 Utrecht 4 (0)
2019 → Helmond Sport (loan) 6 (0)
2021–2023 NAC Breda 60 (24)
2023– PEC Zwolle 26 (4)
International career‡
2015 Netherlands U17 1 (0)
2015–2016 Netherlands U18 4 (0)
2016–2017 Netherlands U19 7 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 June 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2017

Odysseus Velanas (Greek: Ὀδυσσεύς Βελανάς; born 5 June 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle. Born in Greece, he has represented the Netherlands at youth level.

Club career

Born in Samos, Greece, Velanas subsequently joined the youth system of VV Jonathan after moving to the Netherlands at a young age, before he was later picked up by Utrecht in July 2013. Velanas made his professional debut in the second-tier Eerste Divisie for Jong FC Utrecht on 5 August 2016 in a game against NAC Breda.[1] He played two matches for the first team in the 2017–18 season and otherwise played for Jong Utrecht.

After having had not played for the professional team in the first half of the 2018–19 season, he was sent on a six-month loan to second-tier Helmond Sport at the end of January 2019.[2][3] Velanas suffered a thigh injury in his fourth league appearance in February 2019 and was sidelined for large parts of the spring. By the end of the season he made six appearances. On 1 July 2019, Utrecht announced their intention to extend his contract, an agreement which ran until the summer of 2022.

On 22 July 2021, he signed contract with NAC Breda for one year with an option for the second year.[4]

On 7 July 2023, Velanas moved to PEC Zwolle on a three-year contract.[5]

International career

Holding both Dutch and Greek citizenship, Velanas has played for the Netherlands at under-17, under-18, and under-19 level.

References

  1. ^ "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 5 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Verhuur: Odysseus Velanas naar Helmond Sport". FC Utrecht (in Dutch). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Helmond Sport huurt Odysseas Velanas van FC Utrecht". Helmond Sport (in Dutch). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. ^ "NAC STRIKT TALENTVOLLE ODYSSEUS VELANAS" (in Dutch). NAC Breda. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Ody Velanas tekent in Zwolle" (in Dutch). PEC Zwolle. 7 July 2023.


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