Grigoris Ioannou and Christos Tsigaridas became PAOK handball players on Friday. The “two-headed” amateur announced respectively the acquisition of the 29-year-old right winger, formerly of CSM Bucharest, and the 24-year-old playmaker, formerly of Olympiakos, both for next year.
In detail, the announcement about Ioannou:
“PAOK and the men’s handball department announce the start of cooperation with the athlete, Grigoris Ioannou, for the 2024-2025 season.
Born on 15/04/1995, Grigoris Ioannou plays as a right winger and is 183cm tall.
He took his first professional steps in handball in 2012, playing in France with Pontault-Combault Handball. There, he stayed until 2018, having, in fact, in 2016-17 the individual distinction of the first five rookies of the league.
In the 2018-19 season, he played in the French Grenoble Saint-Martin d’Heres GUC, gaining more experience.
He then followed a three-year (2019-2022) in the French Angers SCO Handball, with which he celebrated in his first season the promotion of the team to the Second Division.
In the previous two seasons (2022-2024) he played in Romania and more specifically in CSM Bucuresti, with whom he had excellent seasons in the first division of the country.
He is international with all the age groups of the Greek National Team, but also with the Men’s National Team, with which he has participated in Euro qualifiers, as well as the World Championship.
Regarding the start of cooperation with PAOK, Grigoris Ioannou stated on the club’s official website, acpaok.gr: “I am very excited to become a member of the PAOK family. It’s a team I’ve always watched from afar. The players and coaching staff gave me a warm welcome from the first training session.
I knew some of the kids, but also the coaches, with whom I have a special relationship and I deeply appreciate. We have collaborated with Stelios Seirekidis in the past in the Nationals of the age divisions. Vassilis Skandalis and I have also known each other for many years, and he is the man who got me into the sport, so I owe him a lot. I can’t wait to start the games and to prove myself worthy of the expectations of the team. Finally, I wish we have a year without injuries and give unforgettable moments to the people of PAOK”.
In detail, the announcement about Tsigarida:
“PAOK and the men’s handball department announce the start of cooperation with the athlete, Christos Tsigaridas, for the 2024-2025 season.
Born on 13/09/2000, Christos Tsigaridas plays as a playmaker and is 182cm tall.
He took his first professional steps in handball from Diomedes Argos in 2018, staying with the ‘wolves’ until 2021. In these three years, he gained valuable experience from Handball Premier, standing out with his performances.
In the 2021-22 season, he played for ASE Doukas, having a highly productive season with 82 goals in 18 matches, a 4.5 goals average.
The following season (2022-23), he returned to Diomedes Argos, in which he emerged as the team’s top scorer in the Handball Premier, scoring 114 goals in 24 matches, i.e. 4.75 goals average.
In the previous season (2023-24) he competed with the shirt of OSFP/Xinis Club, making very good individual appearances.
Regarding the start of cooperation with PAOK, Christos Tsigaridas stated on the club’s official website, acpaok.gr: “I am very happy to be integrated into the PAOK family, a team with a history in the field of handball. A difficult year awaits us, with demands on Greece and Europe. I will do my best to live up to expectations. I wish you a good year without injuries.”
Welcome to PAOK, Christos.”
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