Efstathios Aloneftis


Efstathios "Stathis" Aloneftis is a Cypriot international footballer. He is a winger who tends to play on the left wing, highly regarded for his speed and technique.

Club career

Omonia Nicosia

Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, Aloneftis began his professional career playing for Omonia, making his first appearance for the senior squad during the 2000–01 season however his real talent became apparent during 2003–04. His successes with Omonia include one championship, one super cup and one cup in 2005.

Larissa

He then moved to the Greek club Larissa on 22 June 2005, for a transfer fee of CYP £136,000. The 2006–07 season was good for Aloneftis and in January 2007 he went on trial to Queens Park Rangers, but no move was materialised. At the end of the same season he played with his team in the Cup final, where he was in the starting lineup and his team beat 2–1 Panathinaikos and won the Cup.

Energie Cottbus

On 31 May 2007, German side Energie Cottbus announced the signing of Aloneftis on free transfer under the Bosman ruling, making him the first Cypriot to compete in the Bundesliga.

Return to Omonia

On 28 June 2008, he returned to Omonia and signed a five-year contract. He helped the club to win one championship, two cups and one super cup. He mutually terminated his contract with the club on 1 June 2012.

APOEL

On 8 June 2012, Aloneftis signed a three-year contract with APOEL. At the end of the season, he became a champion after helping APOEL to win the 2012–13 Cypriot First Division. During the 2013–14 season, he appeared in five 2013–14 UEFA Europa League group stage matches for APOEL and managed to win all the titles in Cyprus, the Cypriot League, the Cypriot Cup and the Cypriot Super Cup.
On 26 August 2014, Aloneftis came on as a 61st-minute substitute and three minutes later he scored the third goal in APOEL's 4–0 thiumph over Aalborg BK for the UEFA Champions League play-off round, helping his team reach to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Aloneftis appeared in five group stage matches in APOEL's 2014–15 UEFA Champions League campaign. In the 2014–15 season, he managed to add two more titles to his collection, as APOEL won again both the Cypriot championship and the cup.
On 2 March 2017, Aloneftis signed a one-year contract extension with APOEL, running until 31 May 2018.

International career

Aloneftis is a regular pick for the Cyprus national football team. He is capped 60 times and scored 10 goals. He made his national team debut on 30 March 2005 against Switzerland in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification match. He scored his first goal on 7 September 2005 against Switzerland in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
17 September 2005GSP Stadium, Nicosia1–11–32006 FIFA World Cup qualification
224 March 2007GSP Stadium, Nicosia1–01–3UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
312 September 2007GSP Stadium, Nicosia2–03–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
412 September 2007GSP Stadium, Nicosia3–03–0UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
56 February 2008GSP Stadium, Nicosia1–01–1Friendly
66 September 2008Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca1–11–22010 FIFA World Cup qualification
710 October 2009Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca4–14–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
83 September 2010Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães1–04–4UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
912 October 2012Ljudski vrt, Maribor1–21–22014 FIFA World Cup qualification
1016 October 2012Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca1–11–32014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

;Omonia
;Larissa
;APOEL