Greek goalkeeper Andreas Gianniotis delivered one of the most remarkable moments of the season in Turkey, scoring from deep inside his own half—an effort already being hailed as the “goal of the year”—to seal Kasimpasa’s 2-0 victory over Kayserispor.
His goal immediately became the defining image of the match, not only because goalkeeper goals are so rare but because of the extraordinary way it unfolded. From near his own area, Gianniotis launched the ball forward with power, sending it soaring upfield before it bounced and completely caught the opposing goalkeeper off guard.
The rival keeper could do nothing but watch as the ball skipped past him and into the net. It was a stunning finish from the most unexpected source, with Gianniotis scoring Kasimpasa’s second goal of the game and putting the result beyond doubt.
Süper Lig’de Kasımpaşa kalecisi Andreas Gianniotis, Kayserispor’a KALEDEN KALEYE gol attı.
— Denge+ (@dengeplus) April 4, 2026
A career built on patience and progress
Gianniotis has built his career through steady progression, resilience and a series of important moves across Greek and international football. Born in Serres on December 18, 1992, the Greek goalkeeper came through the youth ranks of Iraklis and Apollon Kalamarias before making his senior breakthrough with Ethnikos Gazorou, a Greek lower-division club.
His performances there earned him a transfer to Olympiacos in June 2012, a significant step that placed him within one of Greece’s biggest clubs and laid the foundation for the next phase of his development. In search of regular first-team football, he then spent several years out on loan, representing Fostiras, PAS Giannina and later Panionios, where he began to establish himself more firmly at senior level.
Greek goalkeeper Andreas Gianniotis’ career path from Greece to Israel and Turkey
His spell at Panionios proved especially valuable, giving him consistent minutes and helping raise his profile in Greek football. He later joined Atromitos, where he recorded eight consecutive clean sheets in league play, a run that placed him among the notable goalkeeping streaks in the history of the Greek top flight.
Gianniotis then returned to Olympiacos before moving abroad in 2019 to sign for Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he won the Israel Super Cup as the team’s starting goalkeeper. After another stint with Atromitos, he continued his career in Turkey with Kasimpasa, where he has become a regular presence in the Süper Lig.
As of early April 2026, he had made 92 league appearances for the Turkish club and, remarkably, had scored once, adding an unusual and memorable detail to an already well-traveled career.
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