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Fullname: Georgios Samaras
Born: 21 Feb 1985
Birthplace: Heraklion, Greece
Height: 6.04
Position: Striker
Signed: Jan 2008
Internationals: Greece
International Caps: 25 (June 2009)
International Goals: 4
Signed: 15 July 09
Squad No.: 9

KDS Honours
MOTM Winners 2007-08
27-Feb-08	Celtic 2 v 1 ICT	SPL
MOTM Winners 2008-09
13-Sep-08	Motherwell 2-4 Celtic	SPL
17-Sep-08	Celtic 0-0 Aalborg	Champions League
21-Sep-08	Killie 1-3 Celtic	SPL
24-Sep-08	Celtic 4-0 Livingston	CIS League Cup
Sep-08	Sep-08 Player of the Month
04-Apr-09	Celtic 4-0 Hamilton	SPL
MOTM Winners 2009-10
05-Dec-09	Celtic 3-0 Aberdeen	SPL

Biog

Georgios Samaras began his playing career in Holland with Heerenveen, one of several top class players to make their breakthrough with the Friesland club - following in the footsteps of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jon Dahl Tomasson.

Samaras played 59 games in all competitions for the Dutch club, scoring 33 goals over the space of 3 seasons. In January 2006, he moved to Manchester City in a deal worth £5.25m where he scored 8 goals in 28 games, mainly as a substitute. When Stuart Pearce, the manager who signed Samaras, was replaced with Sven-Goran Eriksson, Samaras found first-team opportunities at a premium despite scoring both goals in the Carling Cup win against Norwich City.

Following speculation about his future, Samaras signed for Celtic in January 2008 on a 6-month loan, with Celtic having the option to make the deal permanent. Samaras cited the chance to play first team football and try to win his place back in the Greek national squad for the European Championships in 2008 as the main driving factors behind his move.

Samaras made his debut in the Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Kilmarnock, coming on as a substitute to score the fifth and final goal in a 5-1 rout. Collecting the ball on the right touchline, Samaras beat two players as he cut inside and bent a neat left-footed finish beyond Combe. His first goal at Celtic Park came in the 2-1 win against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, heading Aiden McGeady's cross firmly past Caley keeper Michael Fraser.

He would make a noteworthy contribution to Celtic's last gasp SPL championship triumph and in July 2008 Samaras made the switch to Glasgow permanent when he signed a three-year contract.

The 2008 campaign saw the striker start the season challenging for a starting spot with Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. However as the season progressed he would struggle with form and confidence as Celtic surrendered their grasp on the title. With a lack of firepower cited by many as a key reason behind the Bhoys poor league campaign their was now a question mark over the forward's Parkhead future.

With the departure of Gordon Strachan from the managers chair in May 2009 fresh doubt was cast on Sammy's chances at Celtic as new boss Tony Mowbray quickly splashed the cash to bring in forward Marc-Antoine Fortune. But with Mowbray promising to give all players a chance to prove their worth the Greek international may yet remain a Bhoy.

Misc

Samaras comes from a family with a lot of footballing heritage; his grandfather helped found Australian club South Melbourne, and his father had a successful career in Greece with Panathinaikos. Interestingly, Samaras also qualifies for Australia through his father, who was born and raised in the country before he moved to Greece as a 13 year old.

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Factfile

Samaras was sold on move by Celtic cuddle

16 July 2008 Provided by: The Daily Express

PARKHEAD 'FAMILY' PERSUADED GREEK ACE TO MAKE DEAL PERMANENT AFTER CITY SNUB GEORGIOS SAMARAS knew he would be a happy Bhoy at Parkhead after receiving such a warm welcome on his arrival on loan in January. That convinced the Greek striker he was a wanted man again after being frozen out at Manchester City.

"Gorgeous George", as Celtic's adoring female fans labelled the long-haired attacker during last term's loan spell, revealed he felt right at home from day one. "The atmosphere here at Celtic is really like a family, " said Samaras. "From the first minute I arrived all the coaching staff, my team-mates and the people working around the club put their arms around me with one really big hug.

"That was really important for me, feeling that support. "At that time I needed a club to support me and respect me and Celtic did that. I appreciated what they did. "I didn't feel I got that in my last six months with City. "There was a small problem with the negotiations with City.

"There were too many discussions and not enough decisions, but I never felt I would not sign for Celtic.

"I had the full support from the gaffer, Gordon Strachan, and the board and I was sure everything would end up fine."

He added: "The gaffer stayed in touch with me. "When you see a club really wants you it makes a difference. You feel they are on your side. When you feel you have that support it's enough.

"The new manager, Mark Hughes, arriving at City didn't affect me. "My decision was always to leave City. If Sven-Goran Eriksson was the manager or someone else, I really didn't care. I wanted to leave the club." Samaras is keen to play as often as possible for Celtic after rarely getting a chance at City under Eriksson.

"It was not exactly that they did not want me. I just didn't play the games I wanted to play, " said the 23-year-old.

"I was part of the team at City, but I wanted more games – and that's the reason I left.

"You must work hard because if you say 'they don't want me so I quit' then your career will suffer. And that's no good."

The striker is now relishing the challenge of trying to take a top-team jersey from last season's first-pick pairing of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald. Samaras said: "They had a great season and scored a lot of goals, but I am also here now and I will try to make things harder for them. "It will be good for all of us if it's competitive because you push yourself to be better and better.

"It's not the best thing to go to a club in January, as you have only four months and must show really quickly what you can do. You need to learn about your coach, your team-mates and also the club while settling in the city. "I was a little unsure because I was on loan, but now I'm really excited to have signed." Samaras insisted he will never reach for the panic button, as he simply doesn't play the strain game. "This might sound weird, but I don't feel pressure. I don't suffer from stress, " he said.

"The only thing I need is to go out there and enjoy the games and try and play attacking football, that's it. It's a game. My character is like this, but some other players may have another character and can't handle stress. "I know Barry Robson said something else and, of course, there is pressure at a massive club because you always have to win and play attacking football, or you have problems with the supporters and media.

"But some people can handle it differently from others.

"The pressure is there for everyone, but for me panic goes around my head. My only love is to play football."

Samaras has already proved he is a winner by striking crucial goals on Celtic's march to last season's SPL title. "I never give up. I always believe in myself and the team, " he said.

"A lot of people gave up on us after we lost at home to Motherwell and said we had lost the league.

"But we showed great spirit and heart. You never know what will happen in football, what to expect.

"You get spirit and heart if you have some personalities in the dressing room who give you character.

"Maybe other teams don't have that, but we do – and that's the reason we finished so well last year."

(c) 2008 Express Newspapers The Daily Express