Giorgos Giakoumakis’ first real opportunity to endear himself to the Celtic supporters came from the penalty spot against Livingston last October. It was a last-gasp chance to turn an arduous grind into three precious points, but the forward’s stuttering run-up and tentative strike led to despondency at full-time.
Ange Postecoglou signed Giakoumakis last summer for a fee of around £2.5 million after protracted discussions. The Greek’s reputation had soared after finishing the previous campaign as the top goalscorer in the Eredivisie - despite playing for relegation-threatened VVV-Venlo.
Snapping up a prolific forward from a struggling team in a decent league looked like intelligent business, yet lingering doubts remained. Before a goal rush in the Netherlands, Giakoumakis had drifted from club to club without making a significant impact. It didn’t work for him at AEK Athens, and the goals didn’t flow either at OFI Crete or Gornik Zabrze.
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There was little in the backstory of the then 26-year-old to suggest he’d make a meaningful contribution in Glasgow - and the distinct possibility of him being a ‘one-season wonder’ likely narrowed the pool of interested clubs. Celtic were not discouraged by his previous unfruitfulness, and their calculated gamble brought reward.
Giakoumakis ended the Scottish Premiership campaign last season as the joint-top goalscorer alongside Regan Charles-Cook. His predatory instincts proved invaluable as Celtic regained the title, ensuring Champions League participation. An 86th-minute winner against Dundee in February - to complete his treble - sent the Hoops three points clear and swayed momentum firmly in their favour.
The well-travelled Greek has not started a match this season, yet he’s still managed to hit the net on two occasions. In fact, since his arrival, he has managed to accumulate more goals than starting appearances. He is behind Kyogo Furuhashi in the pecking order, but the Japanese livewire will have to be managed carefully as the season gathers speed before the World Cup.
Giakoumakis offers his manager something different, an alternative option. Celtic are intricate, fluid and dynamic in the final third, but the powerful Greek is preoccupied with making his contribution in the box. He comes alive between the widths of the posts and has an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Celtic regularly face opposition implementing a low-block, meaning space in the final third is at a premium. Having an old-fashioned centre forward, one that can turn an average cross into something meaningful, capitalise on a ricochet or prod home a rebound, is essential in the fraught and tense matches that punctuate a season.
Giakoumakis is not purely just a finisher; he is a throwback to a previous era. Strikers were once judged purely on goal return, but the trend towards a single frontman has altered the perception of the requirement from a number nine. Youth Academies no longer produce copious amounts of old-style poachers, leading to a shortage of instinctive forwards in the modern game.
Celtic and Rangers generally require a more rounded central striker for the European arena. Domestically, though, there should always be a space in the squad for an out-and-out finisher.
Giakoumakis has become an established member of the Greek national team since trading the Netherlands for Scotland. His progress was hindered by a cruciate ligament injury seven years ago, but he has successfully turned around a career that once appeared to be heading for the rocks.
Journeyman status beckoned before his 26 goals for VVV-Venlo in the 20/21 campaign - and he is now just days away from challenging Real Madrid in the Champions League. It has taken him longer than most to mature on the pitch, but his perseverance has finally earned him the recognition he deserves.
*18+ | BeGambleAware
