Taxiarchis Fountas

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Taxiarchis Fountas
Personal information
Full name Taxiarchis Fountas
Date of birth (1995-09-04) 4 September 1995 (age 26)
Place of birth Messolonghi, Greece
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Rapid Wien
Number 9
Youth career
2011 Acheloos Neochoriou
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 AEK Athens 35 (4)
2013–2016 Red Bull Salzburg 0 (0)
2013 → Liefering (loan) 6 (0)
2014 → Grödig (loan) 7 (0)
2014–2015 → Panionios (loan) 26 (4)
2015–2016 → Asteras Tripolis (loan) 16 (1)
2016–2017 Panionios 19 (2)
2017–2018 Sonnenhof Großaspach 14 (1)
2018–2019 St. Pölten 21 (4)
2019– Rapid Wien 68 (35)
National team‡
2011 Greece U17 4 (1)
2012–2014 Greece U19 11 (1)
2013 Greece U20 1 (0)
2015 Greece U21 3 (1)
2015– Greece 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:50, 12 December 2021 (UTC).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:23, 5 September 2021 (UTC).

Taxiarchis Fountas (Greek: Ταξιάρχης Φούντας, born 4 September 1995) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a forward for Austrian club Rapid Wien and the Greece national team.

Club career[]

AEK Athens[]

Taxiarchis Fountas was scouted by Toni Savevski, the head of AEK Athens' youth academy at the time. On 17 March 2012. Fountas made his senior debut for AEK Athens against Asteras Tripolis being the youngest player to play for AEK Athens in a Superleague game aged 16 years 6 months and 13 days old.[1] He played 31 minutes in this game. He made his first start for the club on 22 April on the final day of the 2011–12 regular season against Doxa Drama, completing the whole 90 minutes.

Fountas scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win against Platanias on 28 October 2012, thus becoming the youngest player to score for AEK at the age of 17 years and 54 days.[2] He scored another goal against Veria on 18 October 2012 and another one against PAS Giannina on 3 November 2012. He was also awarded the MVP award after this match. He scored his 4th goal again against Veria on 16 March 2013 with a fine left foot shoot. When the club was relegated, the player was released. He also scored a snipe against Everton in a friendly match in the summer of 2012.

Red Bull Salzburg[]

In June Fountas was linked with a move to Red Bull Salzburg. A potential transfer was complicated by the financial problems of Fountas' club AEK Athens which was on the verge of financial collapse.[3] In September 2013, he joined the club on a four-year contract.[4] After the signing of his contract, Fountas joined FC Liefering of the Austrian Football First League on a six-month loan.

In January 2014, Fountas moved on loan to SV Grödig until end of season.[5][6] He made his first appearance in the Austrian Bundesliga a week later.

At the beginning of the 2014–15 season, Fountas moved on loan to Panionios, returning to the Greek Superleague.[7]

After Fountas' exceptional season with Panionios, he was loaned to Asteras Tripolis.[8][9] On 2 January 2016, he scored his first goal with the club to a 4–0 home win against Panthrakikos.[10] On 5 January 2015, few days after his first goal with his club in the Greek Superleague, he scored a goal in a 3–0 away win against AEL for Greek Cup.[11]

Panionios[]

On 21 July 2016, Fountas, who had beenreleased from Asteras Tripolis, signed a one (plus one) year contract and officially returned to Panionios.[12] On 1 July 2017, under mutual agreement Panionios solved the player's contract.

Sonnenhof Großaspach[]

On 20 September 2017, as a free agent, Fountas signed a long season contract with German club SG Sonnenhof Großaspach.[13]

St. Pölten[]

On 14 July 2018, after a year in Germany, Fountas signed a long season contract, with Austrian club St. Pölten.[14]

Rapid Wien[]

On 9 May 2019, Fountas signed a deal with Austrian club Rapid Wien through the summer of 2022. The past season with SKN St. Pölten, Fountas made 22 total appearances and notched four goals in what was a successful campaign for the former international. His contract with St Polten was due to expire at the end of the season and Rapid Wien were quick to snap up the attacking player.[15] On 4 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 away draw against former club St. Pölten and a week later he scored a brace against SC Rheindorf Altach,[16] contributing to his team's first win of the season. On 29 September, in a 3–3 home draw against TSV Hartberg, he scored another brace.[17] On 20 October, he scored again in a 1–1 home draw game against Wolfsberger AC.[18] On 15 December, he scored his third brace of the season, sealing a 3–0 away win against Admira Wacker, which included him in the Team of the Week in the Austrian Bundesliga for matchday 18. Fountas continued his breakout season throughout the fall, and he led Rapid Wien in scoring with 11 goals from 15 matches.[19] [20]

On 3 February 2020, Rapid Wien's fans named Fountas as the best player of 2019 thanks to his excellent performances with the Austrian club.[21] On 16 February, his twelfth goal of the season came after a mistake by opponent player Thanos Petsos in a 2–0 home win game against WSG Swarovski Tirol.[22] On 1 March, Fountas converted a pass from Christoph Knasmüllner to score the second goal in a 3–1 home win game against SV Mattersburg.[23] He would score again on 7 March, benefiting from a serious mistake by Nemanja Rnić and finishing after winning the ball for his 14th goal of the season, in a 2–2 away draw against Wolfsberger AC.[24] On 7 June, after the COVID-19 pandemic had suspended the league, he scored again in a 4–0 win game over SK Sturm Graz.[25] Three days later, he scored the vital goal in a 1–0 away win against LASK Linz.[26] A week later he scored again, sealing another 1–0 away win against TSV Hartberg.[27] On 24 June, he scored a late goal after Ercan Kara's assist, in a disaster 2–7 home loss to league champions Red Bull Salzburg.[28] On 1 July, he scored in his fifth game in a row sealing a vital 3–1 home win game against LASK.[29] Fountas maintained his prolific form with Rapid Vienna until the end of the 2019–20 Austrian Football Bundesliga campaign, registering an haul of 19 goals to help his club earn a berth in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. Furthermore, Fountas ended the season as the third highest scorer of the Bundesliga in Austria, trailing only Patson Daka (24 goals, RB Salzburg) and Shon Weissman (30 goals, Wolfsberger).

On 30 August 2020, in his first official game for the 2020–21 season, he scored a hat trick in a 5–0 Austrian Cup win against TSV St. Johann. On 11 September 2020, Fountas helped his club to win Admira by scoring a brace at the 2020–21 Austrian Football Bundesliga opener.[30] On 26 September, he scored with a left-footed shot in a 2–1 away win against SKN St. Pölten.[31] On 4 October, he scored with a left-footed shot after a rebound and gave an assist in a triumphic 3–0 home win game against LASK.[32] He scored again during a 2–1 defeat to Arsenal in the Europa League Group stage on 22 October, capitalising on an error by goalkeeper Bernd Leno to put the ball in the net.[33] [34]

On 18 January 2021, Fountas spat at Lukas Malicsek in the friendly match between his club and Admira, with the Austrian Bundesliga punishing him for four games. [35] On 4 April 2021, he scored a hat-trick in his team's 8–1 away win against Wolfsberger AC. [36] On 28 April 2021, substitute Fountas made the final score with the most remarkable goal of the evening, as the Greek international hit from the edge of the penalty area with a powerful shot helping his club to gain a 3–2 away win against FC Swarovski Tirol.[37] On 22 May 2021, he opened the score in a 3–0 home win game against LASK.[38]

On 31 July 2021, he opened the score in a 1–1 away draw against LASK after an assist from Ercan Kara.[39] He also scored after an assist from Kelvin Arase in a thriumphic 3–0 home UEFA Europa League win game against Anorthosis Famagusta FC. On 8 August 2021, Fountas scored in the first half and with two quickfire second half goals he sealed a hammering 3–0 home win game against Wolfsberger AC.[40] On 19 August 2021, he opened the score after an assist from Srđan Grahovac, in a triumphic 3–0 home win 2021–22 UEFA Europa League playoffs 1st round game against FC Zorya Luhansk.[41] On 26 August 2021, he scored after ab assist from Ercan Kara sealing an away 3–2 win game against FC Zorya Luhansk, helping his club to be promoted to the UEFA Europa League group stage.[42] On 16 October 2021, Fountas scored his 5th goal in the Austrian Football Bundesliga with a shot from outside the area that he countered and to an opponent, deceiving the goalkeeper of the home team, but Rapid equalized to 1–1 in the end by Austria Klagenfurt.[43] On 24 October 2021, the Greek striker opened the scoring in the away match against TSV Hartberg, but Rapid equalized in the last minute of the delays.[44] On 12 December 2021, he opened the score after an assist from Robert Ljubičić and also give the assist for the winning goal, being the main protagonist in a 2-1 away win against Admira Wacker. [45]

International career[]

Fountas made his international debut for Greece on 13 June 2015, against Faroe Islands where in one of the worst nights of Greek international football, Faroe Islands beat Greece for the second time for the preliminary round of UEFA Euro 2016. He came in the match on 81 minute replacing Panagiotis Kone.[46]

Career statistics[]

Club[]

As of 20:50, 12 December 2021. (UTC).
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AEK Athens 2011–12 Superleague Greece 8 0 0 0 — — 8 0
2012–13 27 4 0 0 — — 27 4
Total 35 4 0 0 — — 35 4
Red Bull Salzburg 2013–14 Austrian Bundesliga 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
FC Liefering 2013–14 2. Liga 6 0 1 0 — — 6 0
Grödig (loan) 2013–14 Austrian Bundesliga 7 0 0 0 — — 7 0
Panionios (loan) 2014–15 Superleague Greece 26 4 7 0 — — 33 4
Asteras Tripolis (loan) 2015–16 Superleague Greece 16 1 4 3 4 0 — 24 4
Panionios (loan) 2016–17 Superleague Greece 19 2 1 0 — — 20 2
Sonnenhof Großaspach 2017–18 3. Liga 14 1 2 0 — — 16 1
St. Pölten 2018–19 Austrian Bundesliga 21 4 1 0 — — 22 4
Rapid Wien 2019–20 Austrian Bundesliga 27 19 2 1 — — 29 20
2020–21 24 9 2 4 5 1 — 31 14
2021–22 17 7 3 1 9 3 — 29 11
Total 68 35 7 6 14 4 — 89 45
Career total 212 52 23 9 18 4 0 0 253 65

Honours[]

Club[]

Red Bull Salzburg

Individual[]

  • Rapid Wien Best Player Award: 2019

References[]

  1. ^ "Φούντας, ο νεότερος ποδοσφαιριστής στην ιστορία της ΑΕΚ". 18 March 2012.
  2. ^ "ΑΕΚ: Νεότερος σκόρερ στην ιστορία της ΑΕΚ ο Φούντας!". 28 October 2012.
  3. ^ Blumenschein, Stephan (27 June 2013). "Fountas-Transfer zu Salzburg zieht sich hin". kurier.at. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Grieche Fountas ab sofort für Salzburg spielberechtigt". 2 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Grödig holte Fountas leihweise von Red Bull Salzburg". 31 January 2014.
  6. ^ "SV Grödig leiht sich Fountas von Red Bull Salzburg". 1 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Ανακοίνωσε Ιμπαγάσα και Φούντα ο Πανιώνιος". 20 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Διετής ο δανεισμός του Φούντα στον Αστέρα". 30 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Φούντας... διετίας στον Αστέρα Τρίπολης". 30 May 2015.
  10. ^ Comfortable win for Asteras Tripolis Retrieved 2 January 2016
  11. ^ Asteras Tripolis leave Larisa victorious Retrieved 5 January 2016
  12. ^ Ξανά στον Πανιώνιο ο Φούντας! Retrieved 21 July 2016
  13. ^ Στη Ζόνενχοφ ο Φούντας Retrieved 20 September 2017
  14. ^ Στην Ζανκτ Πέλτεν ο Φούντας Retrieved 14 July 2018
  15. ^ Medien: Taxiarchis Fountas wechselt vom SKN St. Pölten zu Rapid Wien Retrieved 9 May 2019
  16. ^ Zittersieg: Fountas bescherte Rapid den ersten Saisonerfolg Retrieved 10 August 2019
  17. ^ Rapid Wien vs TSV Hartberg 3-3 Retrieved 29 September 2019
  18. ^ Rapid Wien vs Wolfsberger 1-1 Retrieved 21 October 2019
  19. ^ Rapid nach 3:0 gegen Admira zumindest einen Tag Dritter Retrieved 16 December 2019
  20. ^ FOUNTAS, AVLONITIS INCLUDED IN MATCHDAY 18 BEST XI IN AUSTRIA Retrieved 20 December 2019
  21. ^ Ταξιάρχης Φούντας: Παίκτης της χρονιάς για τη Ραπίντ Βιέννης Retrieved 3 February 2020
  22. ^ Rapid verabschiedet Marek mit glanzlosem Heimsieg gegen Wattens Retrieved 16 February 2020
  23. ^ SK Rapid Wien - SV Mattersburg 3:1: Hütteldorfer sichern Platz drei ab Retrieved 1 March 2020
  24. ^ Weissman-Doppelpack für den WAC beim 2:2 gegen Rapid Retrieved 7 March 2020
  25. ^ 4:0! Rapid feiert deutlichen Heimsieg gegen behäbige Grazer! Retrieved 7 June 2020
  26. ^ LASK vs RAPID WIEN 0-1 Retrieved 10 June 2020
  27. ^ TSV HARTBERG vs RAPID WIEN 0-1 Retrieved 17 June 2020
  28. ^ 7:2 – Salzburg führt Rapid vor und ist praktisch Meister Retrieved 24 June 2020
  29. ^ SK Rapid Wien - LASK 3:1: Glücklicher SCR ist Vizemeister und fixiert Champions-League-Quali Retrieved 1 July 2020
  30. ^ Rapid zum Auftakt mit 4:1-Sieg gegen die Admira Retrieved 11 September 2020
  31. ^ Rapid nach 2:1 in St. Pölten neuer Liga-Zweiter Retrieved 27 September 2020
  32. ^ Rapid in Hochform - 3:0 im Spitzenspiel gegen den LASK Retrieved 4 October 2020
  33. ^ "Arsenal comes back, beats Rapid Vienna". sports.yahoo.com.
  34. ^ "Highlights: Rapid Wien 1-2 Arsenal - UEFA Europa League". UEFA.com.
  35. ^ Ιαν 2021 23:01, Επιμέλεια: Κώστας Αυγουστάκης Δημοσίευση: 18. "Ο Φούντας τιμωρήθηκε με τέσσερις αγωνιστικές γιατί έφτυσε αντίπαλό του". www.sport24.gr.
  36. ^ "Übersicht Wolfsberger AC - Rapid Wien 1:8 (Bundesliga 2020/2021 Meistergruppe, 23. Spieltag)". sport.de.
  37. ^ "Schlagabtausch in Tirol: Fountas schießt Rapid zum 3:2-Erfolg". kurier.at.
  38. ^ "Rapid macht sich mit 3:0 gegen den LASK zum Vizemeister". www.derstandard.at.
  39. ^ "Referee stahl dem LASK beim 1:1 gegen Rapid die Siegchance". www.nachrichten.at.
  40. ^ "Χατ τρικ μέσα σε 31 λεπτά ο Ταξιάρχης Φούντας!". www.to10.gr.
  41. ^ "Rapid Wien - Zorya Luhansk 3-0". www.footballcritic.com.
  42. ^ "Ο Φούντας έστειλε τη Ραπίντ στους ομίλους του Europa League". www.sport24.gr.
  43. ^ "Ο Φούντας σκόραρε έπειτα από δύο μήνες αλλά η Ραπίντ έμεινε στην ισοπαλία". www.sport24.gr.
  44. ^ "Βρήκε για 9η φορά φέτος δίχτυα ο Ταξιάρχης Φούντας". sportsroom.gr.
  45. ^ "Admira - SK Rapid Wien 1-2". www.sofascore.com.
  46. ^ "Faroe Islands defeat Greece again". 13 June 2015.

External links[]

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