From Peristeri to Vila do Conde: Athanasiou and Rio Ave’s new Greek era | OneFootball

Guided by a coach with European triumphs in both the Youth League and the Conference League, the wing-back finds himself in a unique position to showcase his talent

Nikos Athanasiou is one of the fresh faces at Rio Ave for 2025/26, joining on loan from Olympiakos in July. A product of Atromitos – a club based on the outskirts of Athens and far removed from the traditional powerhouse academies in Thessaloniki and the capital – the left-sided wing-back broke into the first team and caught the eye with promising performances in the Greek Super League. His displays earned him a move to Olympiakos in 2024/25, although he was immediately loaned back to Atromitos before heading to Vila do Conde.

He was the first signing announced to strengthen the squad under fellow Greek Sotiris Silaidopoulos, Rio Ave’s new coach. This is Silaidopoulos’s first job in senior football, following spells across all youth levels at Panathinaikos before switching to rivals Olympiakos to take charge of the U19s. In 2024/25 he served as assistant to José Luis Mendilibar at Olympiakos, playing his part in the club’s historic triumph in the UEFA Conference League.

Silaidopoulos’ impressive CV

During his time leading the Olympiakos U19s, Silaidopoulos made history by becoming the first Greek coach to guide a Greek team to victory in a UEFA competition – the UEFA Youth League. His preferred system was a 3-4-2-1, solid enough to guarantee defensive organisation but flexible enough to shift into a 5-2-3 when out of possession. Pressing was coordinated around clear triggers, with the aim of keeping the team compact and controlled while still allowing creativity in the final third. In this setup, the two attacking midfielders regularly occupied the half-spaces, while the wing-backs pushed high to provide width and depth.

That run included eye-catching wins over some of Europe’s elite academies, such as Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and AC Milan – the latter defeated 3-0 in the final.

His passage through different levels of youth football has cemented an identity built on a certain level of positional play: disciplined and structured, yet fluid enough to give each player clarity of role while constantly striving for balance between defence and attack.

For Athanasiou, moving to a new country and a new league would always present an additional challenge, especially in terms of cultural and competitive adaptation. In this case, that process is naturally eased by the presence of a Greek coach who shares the same language, cultural references and interpretation of the game, creating a more comfortable environment and accelerating integration within the squad. Furthermore, Rio Ave’s roster includes several compatriots with a similar footballing background:

This strong Greek presence not only helps Athanasiou adapt, but also creates a social and competitive nucleus that could accelerate cohesion and understanding within the squad.

On an individual level, Athanasiou shows a particularly intriguing profile. He is a versatile left-back, comfortable as a full-back in a back four or operating as a wing-back in a system with three centre-backs, covering the entire left flank with width and depth.

Physically, he is a player of notable stamina, capable of maintaining high intensity throughout the full 90 minutes, covering large distances up and down the flank and contributing in both defensive and attacking phases. Quick and powerful, he has the ability to beat opponents in space and shield the ball effectively. His competitive mindset and healthy aggressiveness in duels allow him not only to limit his direct rival but also to recover ground when caught out of position. He also shows willingness to tuck inside defensively, a quality increasingly valued in modern systems where wing-backs are asked to provide balance and cover central areas when midfielders are exposed. This tactical awareness and sense of responsibility make him a reliable presence in defensive organisation.

Strong attacking threat

Offensively, however, is where his qualities shine most. His ability to carry the ball forward at pace allows him to break opposition lines with sustained runs down the flank. He couples this with the capacity to deliver accurate crosses – both from the byline and from deeper areas on the left – consistently supplying dangerous balls into the box. He actively participates in attacking dynamics, offering width, making overlapping runs and occasionally cutting inside to drag markers and open up space for wingers.

He plays with his head up, showing vision and composure in finding teammates thanks to strong technical skills, both in first touch and in the use of either foot. His ability to adjust his body shape to the situation makes him unpredictable in distribution and effective in linking play.

Athanasiou inevitably recalls memories of Nuno Santos, another left-sided wingback who impressed at Rio Ave before making the step up to Sporting, where he has since won three league titles. Both share a tendency to stretch play wide, constantly providing width and creating interior space for midfielders and forwards. In the final third, they are defined by their variety of delivery: driven crosses into dangerous areas, long diagonal switches, and above all incisive through balls that exploit depth and unsettle defensive lines.

The season ahead will be the real test of whether Nikos Athanasiou can turn potential into immediate impact. Benefiting from a familiar cultural environment, the support of compatriots, and the trust of a coach who knows Greek football inside out, the left-back appears well placed to emerge as one of Rio Ave’s breakthrough players in 2025/26.