This is a guest report written by Dimitra Zisarou
Georgios Kosidis is an 18-year-old versatile defender who plays as a right-back for PAOK B, PAOK’s second team, in Greece’s Super League 2 and as a centre-back when competing in the U19 groups for both PAOK and Greece.
Kosidis stands at around 1,83m. He possesses high speed and is able to accelerate fast and maintain his speed over long distances. This allows him to make runs up the right flank to support the attack and be able to transition to defence quickly in case of losing possession. He is strong and uses his body well to shield the ball and hold attackers off, and very often manages to draw offensive fouls. In the air, he is challenging and does alright in timing his jumps. His work rate is not eye-catching, but his efforts are strictly efficient due to his ability to read the game.
Out of possession, Kosidis displays great defensive awareness and anticipation. He does a good job at positioning himself inside the box to intercept crosses or through balls by scanning effectively and closing the gaps. Outside the box, he is great at closing out the opponent winger by leading them wide and minimising threat. What makes Kosidis stand out the most is how solid he is at 1v1s. He has great body positioning and precise timing in his tackles. His marking, however, can sometimes be characterised as aggressive, and it has already earned him 6 yellow cards this season.
In possession, Kosidis positions himself close to the right sideline, providing width for his team to build up with. On the ball, he displays great technique alongside a good first touch. His passing ability is impressive, in both short and long distances. When passing short, he is equally capable of playing with both feet, while for longer distributions, he opts for using his right foot. Kosidis contributes significantly to his team’s attacks, mainly by making good movements to receive the ball, while inviting pressure on himself to create spaces for his teammates. Under pressure, he is quick to react and, again due to his great scanning, manages to make good decisions on how to progress the ball. Against opponents with a low block, he tends to move higher up the pitch and find good forward passes between the lines. On attacking set-pieces, Kosidis often poses an aerial threat in the opponent’s box, but his headers are mostly off-target.
Overall, Kosidis is a talented and intelligent player who displays incredible skill. Having just signed a contract extension with PAOK until 2027, I believe it will not be long before we see him feature for Razvan Lusescu’s first team.
Target Scouting 