Former Champions League star who ‘changed club’s world image’ with goal vs Barcelona now playing in non-league at 33

A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE hero has left elite football to return to his roots for a non-league club in Greece.

The famous defender stood out in Serie A playing for Roma and Napoli as well as Salernitana most recently.

Kostas Manolas has left elite football for non-league club PannaxiakosGetty - Contributor

Manolas is remembered for his legendary goal for Roma that eliminated BarcelonaGetty

The ex-Greece international’s performances in Italy attracted the interest of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in 2018 and 2019.

Reports at the time suggested the Premier League trio was willing to splash over £30million before the centre-back joined Napoli in 2019 and embarked on a three-year stint in Naples.

That is none other than Kostas Manolas, who made headlines around the world in the Champions League six years ago when his late header led Roma to a famous 3-0 win over Barcelona at the Olimpico.

It was thanks to the Greek star that the Giallorossi qualified for the semi-finals where they faced Liverpool, who moved on to the final.

Manolas is now 33 years old and it looks like top-level football is over for him as he surprised the world with his decision to play for his local club Pannaxiakos in the Cyclades’ First Division until June.

The Olympiacos legend returns to his place of birth in the isle of Naxos where he and his family have now settled to play in the fourth division, with his new team now hoping for promotion to the third division.

The ex-AEK Athens star decided to help the team after a few training sessions with Giorgos Mostratos’ side.

Pannaxiakos announced: “The President, the members of the Board of Directors and Pannaxiakos FC’s great family announce the arrival of Kostas Manolas to the men’s team with great joy, emotion and pride.

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“The player who wore the shirt of AEK, Olympiacos, Roma, Napoli, the player who honored the shirt of Greece’s Youth and Men’s National Team, the Greek central defender who has been admired by Europe, the Naxos native who has chosen his place of birth to reside with his family, will strengthen Pannaxiakos’ effort in this year’s championship. Welcome Kostas!”

Manolas joined Roma in 2014 following two stunning years at Olympiacos in the Champions League and went on to amass a total of eight goals in 206 appearances before joining Napoli.

However, none of his goals are more famous than the one against Lionel Messi and co, which he claimed “changed Roma’s image in the world”.

The ex-Greece star, who stood out in the 2014 World Cup and helped his country make it to the knockouts for the first time ever, claimed the Italian giants could have even made it to the Champions League final if VAR was available.

Manolas said two years ago: “It changed Roma’s image in the world.

“Yes, it was important. Not only because it was a 3-0 scoreline to qualify for a Champions League semi-final.

“But because the whole world understood that Roma are a great team. Before, Roma had another image in Europe, another story.

“But we too could have reached the final of that Champions League, if there had been VAR.

“They didn’t give us a penalty on [Edin] Dzeko for an offside that wasn’t there.

“They didn’t see a handball by [Trent] Alexander-Arnold which would have been a penalty and red card. A goal would have been enough to beat Liverpool.”