Zisis Vryzas - Club Career

Club Career

Vryzas started his football career at the Thracian club Skoda Xanthi where his talent attracted the interest of stronger domestic as well as foreign Clubs. In 1996, Zisis Vryzas was signed by the most popular northern Greek Club PAOK FC and moved in the capital of Central Macedonia, Thessaloniki, where he enjoyed great popularity among PAOK fans for his power, determination and devotion with which they describe his game and for scoring a handful of very important goals. The most significant memory of his career with PAOK FC occurred in the 1st round 2nd leg of the 1997/98 UEFA Cup. It was the fantastic equaliser (1-1 on the night, 2-1 on aggregate) he scored in the 87th minute against Arsenal at Highbury, which resulted in a notable, historic qualification for PAOK against the English giants who managed to win the double in the Premier League that same season.

In 2000, while PAOK were struggling with endless financial problems due to the ineffective policy of debts and mismanagement of the main share-holder, consequently Vryzas was sold to the Italian Serie A relegation battlers A.C. Perugia. In Perugia, he once again gained popularity among the local fans for his work-rate and immediate adjustment to the new environment, which proved to be a key-factor for Perugia's constant presence in the Serie A, under the management of Serse Cosmi. His very positive performances with Perugia earned him a more lucrative contract at the once mighty Fiorentina in 2003, at that time struggling in Serie B; ironically, the Viola returned to Serie A at the expense of Perugia, through a two-legged playoff, as they had finished sixth in Serie B that season, while Perugia had finished at 15th place in Serie A.

In 2004, the Greek striker joined Celta Vigo in a loan deal from Fiorentina with an option for the deal to become permanent. The Greek striker eventually departed again to join another popular Club of northern Italy, Torino F.C. in January 2006, under a loan deal from Celta Vigo until the end of his contract with the Spanish Club.

In the summer of 2006 Zisis Vryzas returned to Greece and in particular to the club where he started his professional career, Skoda Xanthi. In June 2007, he finally decided to join the "club of his heart" and signed a two year contract with PAOK FC. There he found his old companion and team-mate, at both PAOK and the Greek National Team during the 1990s, Theodoros Zagorakis - who had only just taken the reins of the club. Vryzas stated upon his return that PAOK F.C. was an emotional choice for him, and the last stop in his career should only be in the club he loved and supported since childhood.