Marius[1] "Marios" Vrousai (Greek: Μάριος Βρουσάι; Albanian: Marius Vrushaj; born 2 July 1998) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a winger or right-back for Primeira Liga club Rio Ave. Born in Albania, he represents the Greece national team.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marios Vrousai | ||
| Date of birth | 2 July 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Berat, Albania | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, right-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rio Ave | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2015 | Nafpaktiakos Asteras | ||
| 2015–2018 | Olympiacos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2024 | Olympiacos | 56 | (4) |
| 2019–2020 | → Willem II (loan) | 37 | (6) |
| 2023 | Olympiacos B | 3 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Rio Ave (loan) | 14 | (1) |
| 2024– | Rio Ave | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016–2017 | Greece U19 | 10 | (3) |
| 2017–2020 | Greece U21 | 10 | (2) |
| 2019– | Greece | 5 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 July 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 November 2021 | |||
Club career
editOlympiacos
editVrousai made his Greek Super League debut for Olympiacos on 16 April 2018 in a home game against Kerkyra.[3] Vrousai entered the court of Karaiskakis Stadium in the 78th minute of the game, as the third substitute of Olympiacos' interim coach Christos Kontis, taking the place of Belgian international Kevin Mirallas. Nine minutes later, he scored the first goal of his professional career, after receiving an assist by team's striker Karim Ansarifard. Vrousai made three more Super League caps until the end of the season and was considered as one of the most talented players from the youth academy of the Greek club.
On 9 August 2018, he made his debut in the European competitions during the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round against FC Luzern. Olympiacos got a 4–0 victory versus the Swiss team at Karaiskakis Stadium for the first leg of the round and Vrousai played as a late substitute for the last 12 minutes of the match. Portuguese manager Pedro Martins replaced Lazaros Christodoulopoulos with the 20-year-old Vrousai and gave him the chance for his first ever European appearance. On 19 December 2019, he scored an amazing long shot goal, the first of Olympiacos in the 1–2 road victory versus Aris Avato at Xanthi Ground for the last matchday of the Group Stage of the 2018–19 Greek Football Cup.
Loan to Willem II
editOn 16 January 2019, Vrousai hasn't been counted on by Pedro Martins, and he has been allowed to join Dutch club Willem II on loan, for the remainder of the season. In accordance with the agreement between Olympiacos and Willem II, Vrousai is set to stay on loan with the Dutch club until the completion of the 2019–20 season. If Willem II wish to sign Vrousai on a permanent basis, the release clause amounts to €1 million, while in the event Olympiacos wanted to end his loan prematurely this summer, they would have to pay the Eredivisie team a fee. A lot also depends on the player's personal wishes. Olympiacos would be able to re-sign Vrousai for €2 million in the future if Willem II activated the release clause of one million.[4]
On 20 January 2019, Marios Vrousai scored in his debut with Willem's jersey, sealing a 2–0 home win game against Breda after Vangelis Pavlidis assist.[5] On 2 February 2019, he scored after an assist from Daniel Crowley in a frustrating 1–2 home loss against FC Groningen.[6] On 24 February 2019, he opened the score with a header in a 2–1 home win game against AZ Alkmaar.[7]
On 18 August 2019, in the third game of the 2019–20 Eredivisie Vrousai scored with a good header, in a 2–3 away win against Fortuna Sittard. It was his first goal for the season.[8] On 19 October 2019, he successfully connected with a floating cross from the right wing, planting a firm header beyond Twente goalkeeper Joel Drommel, after an assist from Freek Heerkens, sealing a vital 1–0 away win against FC Twente.[9] On 27 October 2019, Vrousai will be out of action for 4–6 weeks after being hit in the ankle during Willem's training.[10] On 23 November 2019, he returned to the squad, playing as a substitute in a vital away 3–3 draw against ADO Den Haag.[11]
Return to Olympiakos
editOn 12 February 2021, Vrousai signed a new contract with Olympiakos. The new contract of the 22-year-old midfielder will be completed in the summer of 2024. The young striker has been in the first team of Olympiakos since 2018 and during the 2020–21 season, he has managed to become an important part of them, after his return from Willem, having 21 appearances and 3 goals.
Loan to Rio Ave
editIn January 2024, Vrousai joined Portuguese Primeira Liga club Rio Ave on loan for the remainder of the season.[12]
International career
editOn 29 August 2019, Vrousai was called up to the Greek senior team by coach John van 't Schip for the forthcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Finland and Liechtenstein.[13]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of 2 March 2023
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Olympiacos | 2017–18 | Super League Greece | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | |
| 2018–19 | Super League Greece | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2020–21 | Super League Greece | 14 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 3 | |
| 2021–22 | Super League Greece | 18 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2022–23 | Super League Greece | 19 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Super League Greece | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 56 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 100 | 6 | ||
| Willem II (loan) | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 | 4 | |
| 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 2 | ||
| Total | 37 | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | 41 | 6 | |||
| Rio Ave (loan) | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |
| Career total | 98 | 10 | 25 | 2 | 23 | 0 | 146 | 12 | ||
- ^ Includes Greek Football Cup, KNVB Cup
Honours
editOlympiacos
References
edit- ^ Μάριους Βρουσάι slgr.gr
- ^ Marios Vrousai at WorldFootball.net
- ^ "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Willem II haalt Griekse aanvaller Marios Vrousai naar Tilburg". www.bd.nl. 16 January 2019.
- ^ "Γκολ στο ντεμπούτο του ο Βρουσάι!". www.novasports.gr. 20 January 2019.
- ^ "Willem vs Groningen 1-2". www.msn.com. 2 February 2019.
- ^ "Willem II vs AZ 2-1". www.nu.nl. 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Willem II trekt aan langste eind in waterballet tegen Fortuna Sittard". www.voetbalzone.nl. 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Dolend FC Twente blijft in vrije val na opnieuw pijnlijke avond". www.voetbalzone.nl. 19 October 2019.
- ^ "Τραυματίστηκε ο Βρουσάι – Χάνει Φινλανδία και Αρμενία". www.sport-fm.gr. 27 October 2019.
- ^ "ADO Den Haag vs Willem II 3-3". 23 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Rio Ave FC reforça-se com Maríous Vrousai" [Rio Ave FC strengthens with Maríous Vrousai] (in Portuguese). Rio Ave F.C. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ "PAVLIDIS AND VROUSAI BOTH INCLUDED IN GREECE SQUAD". www.agonasport.com. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
External links
edit- Marios Vrousai at Soccerway