PAOK adds Choutos to growing collection

By: Peter Katsiris | February 3rd, 2009

PAOK has made yet another high-profile move in the winter transfer window, as Lambros Choutos has been made the third to arrive in Thessaloniki this January. The controversial striker revealed last week he was leaving Panionios after several conflicting scenarios between the former Greece international and management. It took less than a week for Choutos to find a new club, as the former Olympiacos CFP and Inter Milan striker was quickly pursued by PAOK president Thodoris Zagorakis.

Returning to the Super League during last year’s winter transfer window, Lambros Choutos played large part in Panionios’ surge into the Super League playoffs. The new season was not as rewarding, as the 29-year-old was demoted to the youth ranks of Panionios after a conflict with then manager Ewald Linen.

Though Choutos was a major bargaining chip in Panionios’ transfer monopoly to snare Fabian Estoyanoff and Alvaro Recoba as free agents in the summer, Choutos conviction didn’t translate into his teamwork.

Following the hiring of Takis Lemonis, Panionios was expected to rewrite their wrong-doings, and turn the season around; however, Lemonis didn’t last long as Panionios manager, resigning from his post just weeks after taking over at Nea Smyrni.

With the appointment of Panagiotis Stamatopoulos as caretaker manager, Choutos made his way back to the first team, but appearances were hard to come by.

Two weeks ago he was named to the pre-weekend roster which would travel to the OAKA Spyros Louis to face AEK Athens. Choutos then resigned from the squad soon after he was told he would be starting the match on the sidelines. It will be interesting to see if Choutos will remain coolheaded while at PAOK.