Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has the longest and one of the hardest names to say correctly in the A-League – but fans are quickly getting used to the pronunciation, after a blistering start to the season.
His flying start has seen six goals in six matches, for a team many believed would be challenging for the wooden spoon – the Newcastle Jets.
The Jets have proved already to be an early season surprise packet, on the back of the goalscoring exploits of the boy from North Adelaide.
Stamatelopoulos, who is affectionately known as “AP”, was trained by his father who was an ex-player for West Adelaide, before starting his football journey in the juniors with Adelaide Comets.
Comets always felt like a family to AP, especially under the watchful eye of his father who was involved with the club during his son’s teenage years.
AP also had stints with Adelaide City and the SASI program, before returning back to the Comets to play for the under 17s – it was that season that caught the eye of scouts and Adelaide United quickly pounced signing him for their NPL side.
After a strong preseason in 2017 training with United’s first team, AP was promoted on a scholarship contract with current Socceroo Ryan Strain and a player many believed was another star in the making, Kristin Konstandopoulos.
AP’s energiser bunny-like work rate quickly made him a favourite of the most chaotic coach in Adelaide United history, Marco Kurz.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Kurz’s 18 months in charge involved many training ground bust-ups with senior players, rough treatment of the teenagers and consistent arguing with the then board over finances and the development of youngsters.
AP, who was only 18 at the time, listened to Kurz and was rewarded for his hard work, coming off the bench and scoring in the dying minutes to earn United a hard-fought draw against Wanderers.
Four goals in 15 matches as a teenage Australian striker was a modest return in his first season as a professional – but once Kurz was sacked, AP fell out with the new coach and knew an exit was imminent.
His next move saw him become an inaugural squad member for Western United, but once again found game time limited due to a certain Besart Berisha being the established No.9.
There was then a quick stopover in his first spell at the Jets, before finally achieving his dream of playing in Europe – signing for Greek second division side Rodos.
As a country Greece has had a very chequered history with Australian players – from not being paid, boardroom politics and corruption – it can be a very hard country to settle in.
Being familiar with the country and fluent in the language, AP was expected to take Greece by storm – but like his football journey so far, things didn’t go as expected.
AP’s time at Rodos saw him get on the score sheet once every three games, before moving up to the Greek Super League with Giannina.
Giannina though narrowly avoided relegation and struggled for goals. Stamatelopoulostook took part in 17 matches, without breaking his duck in the Super League.
The Greece move was deemed as a failure and looking to rebuild his career, AP took a chance by signing for Newcastle Jets.
In six games with the Jets this season, he has already displayed all the traits that many saw during his teenage years.
AP has always been a penalty box striker; his movement often sees him in the right place to finish chances or be on the end of a ball bouncing around the box.
Then there is his underrated aerial ability – he is equally adept at scoring with his head as his feet.
Perhaps the best trait he has shown this season is the ability to convert chances from very minimal service of his teammates.
AP has taken 13 shots and seen six of them bulge the net with a great xG of 2.69 and an average of scoring a goal every 83 minutes.
If Stamatelopoulos keeps his hot streak up, a call-up for the Asian Cup with the Socceroos is not out of the equation.
chris1
Roar Rookie
I agree and it's time to move JMac on. I know you don't rate Arnie so I wont go there lol
Grem
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that in depth answer. He sounds a hard coach, but some of that, not all, sounded necessary for young players to develop and others to improve. I get the impression Ross Aloisi runs pretty tough training sessions as well, but he may be more personable.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i’ve spoken about my time working with kurz and people can say what they want about him, but he was consistent iresults wise in adelaide. that old school european approach did not bode well with australian players (as also seen by the falling out at melbourne). *constant arguments with the board *on going argument with the board that lasted over a year in relation to in his opinion that youth team players not being good enough to come up to the first team. *berating non football staff repeatedly (fitness team, media team etc) *constant yelling and swearing in both english and german at players. *training was a constant battle, where only the strong surived. *squared up to players in training (he would get involved constantly) – taylor reegan story is not even the tip of the iceberg. *fights were common place *worked the teenage players very hard (several could not cope) *his treatment of kristian konstandopoulos was borderline criminal – konstandopoulos was a player i rated to make it to europe, but he became disillusioned under kurz and is still lucky to be playing SA NPL (signed with my local club recently) – hes always going to be a what if player for me *media were advised not to ask certain questions, due to kurz being likely to blow up at them * recovery sessions were hated by the squad – because those types of european sessions arent good in australian temperatures. * training was very much like a german club – australian players werent used to that style. nothing against him as a coach or a person (his wife tammy is lovely as well), but i think its the cultural difference between europe and australian football that was his undoing the only disagreement i really had with kurz was over elvis kamsoba (who i wanted the club to bring back home to adelaide after gombeau didnt fancy the player much to my disgust lol) even after the victory debacle, kurz still had admirers in australia and interviewed for the brisbane roar job (he came across rather abrupt by all reports and brissy moved to a different target)
NickA
Roar Rookie
THis seems to be the best way for Aussies - often late bloomers
Grem
Roar Rookie
Without your knowledge and inside knowledge, I always rated Kurtz as a coach. He appeared stern and knowledgeable. Kurtz appeared to have that European approach, but had a realistic expectation of working within an A League budget. He got good results with Adelaide and appeared to give young players a go, but in a contained way and withheld praise so as not to raise expectations. I would have liked him at Sydney, but I think we had Arnold at that time.
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
A similar journey to Mooy perhaps? Early move abroad, didn’t bear fruit, return to the A League, stamp your authority, return to Europe mid 20s.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
there comes a time in your life when you mature as a player (im not saying he was a hellraiser in his teens in adelaide - quite the opposite actually) or his early 20's. But now hes in his mid 20s, settled down and is newly married and playing in a side where he is guaranteed minutes with a coach who believes in his ability to finish chances + hes not the sort of player to toot his own horn (very grounded and level headed) cant keep flying under the radar with those stats currently.
NickA
Roar Rookie
It would take a brave coach to not pick MacLaren and pick AP instead though, given their respective records over the last few years at club level. In saying that I personally wouldn't care if MacLaren wasn't picked. Duke is a walk up starter and firmly believe he's the best striker we have - maybe not the best goalscorer, but the best otherwise.
NickA
Roar Rookie
I share that suspicion too. But if he keeps scoring he won’t be ignored for much longer. I dont think Syd/Vic/WSW/City would have ever signed him – I don’t think they/fans would think that was aspirational enough – and if he went, I reckon he would’ve played second fiddle anyway. Maybe that changes now.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i've purposely been holding off on a write up (not because hes one of my finds and i know the family) - just because i thought AP would be a name on many football fans lips currently. i have a sneaky feeling that he's not mentioned much because of the side he plays for - you put him in a sydney, victory, wanderers etc and this conversation changes. theres a bit in the article that no one has really picked up on either - his (as well as many other young adelaide boys) trials and tribulations under marco kurz
NickA
Roar Rookie
I think he'll want to go. If he get get significant matches in the Greek League, I think he is definitely good enough - even if he didn't find the net there. He's good enough and with a better support team around him he will thrive more (although young Clayton Taylor has looked really good this season)
NickA
Roar Rookie
Was wondering whether AP was the player you were going to do a piece on, SS. I’m glad it’s not just me who’s not surprised at how well he is doing – when he signed for the Jets a lot of fans didn’t think he’d have it in him to lead the line. Criminally underrated. He’s a natural finisher and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Like you say, good in the air, knows where the goal is. Jovanovic reminds me of him as well. I think the Asian Cup comes a little too soon for him – players like him & Botic need to be a bit more consistent before getting a call up for a major tournament. You could probably put Yengi in that conversation as well. Although our striking stocks are so low, I guess rewarding a (so far) one-off hot streak of form is not out of the question? Who knows.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Adamson? Antonsson you mean? Not sure Milanovic is a 9 though is he - although he has been impressive
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
The article we needed. Good write up SS. Whether Stamo is selected or not, he’s made a case for himself for future reference and that should be celebrated by A League fans. Strong body in the box, good positioning, battles hard for the finish. Will a move back to Europe eventuate for him SS?
Redcap
Roar Guru
I've been very impressed by big AP. I hadn't gone as far as thinking he might get a call-up, but I must admit I'm struggling to think of a better option at CF, with the possible exception of Bruno. Thanks again, Scout.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Stametopoulos his strengths are a solid technique both with the feet and head, decent strength and height. The two headers he has scored have both been harder ones, one was similiar to Fornarolis last header. One goal was a tap in off a rebound the other two he received the ball free in the area, and finished well. He is good at holding onto the ball, when he receives the ball with defenders on him its basically turn his back to the goal and pass it back. What he lacks is speed, movement, workrate, and creativity. Buhagiar on the other hand makes all the runs, goes wide and also gets the one on ones only to miss them. The stats look good but its not like he tries to take a lot of shots its the opposite. He would be a solid option for the Asia cup and of course against asian defenders being just above six foot its easier than in Europe. I would look at Milanovic , Adamson is a penalty area hog so MIlanovic doesn't get pole position like Stametopoulos has. The way he scored that goal turning with defenders on him, Stametopoulos would just passed the ball back.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
its one of the many reasons he cannot be taken seriously as an international coach - you pick players who are playing weekly and in current form (not ones who previously had it and arent playing) the fact australia relies on jmac who is not good enough at this level & a soon to be 33 year old who just runs around alot is an alarming indictment of the coach more so than the apparent lack of australian strikers
chris1
Roar Rookie
Coaches make the big mistake of saying "I will only be picking players who are playing week in week out". Arnie made that mistake early on in his role and he hasn't said it since because he realised that it will come back to bite you. I haven't seen enough of AP to say he should be selected or not. Arnie will go with Duke (and rightly so) and then it's a toss up who else he picks as the backup striker.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
the #1 critieria for international selection should be playing each week and performing - with the exception of fornaroli, there is not an australian striker in the world currently with his conversion rate. if he scores a goal a game in the next 3, then he 100% should be selected in the asian cup squad -AP is criminally going under the radar at the moment and i cant seem to figure out why. perhaps he is deemed too similar to Jmac (but he is much better in the air and has a stronger conversion rate this season) he's not getting the credit he deserves especially playing in a very average side
Grem
Roar Rookie
Thanks SS - I look forward to looking at him more closely when I watch Newcastle play. His strike rate overall is pretty good, except for that one season in the Greek Super League. We do need young strikers so hopefully your assessment/outlook is spot on.