Members News: Former Sky Blue Shotstopper Is 45 Today – ‘Happy Birthday’, ‘Dimi’!!

Dimi in the Sky Blue yellow

Back in June 2022 we announced that we had newly recruited Greek former Sky Blue shot-stopper defender Dimi (trios) Konstantopoulos to the Association! Now there is an additional reason to celebrate as Dimi, born in Thessaloniki, Greece on 29th November 1978 is celebrating his 45th birthday today! Congrats Dimi!!

For season 2021-22 the 6’7″ tall former Sky Blue shotstopper became goalkeeping coach at Hartlepool United, a club where he had a couple of previous goalkeeping spells (2003-07 & 2019-20). Before rejoining the ‘Pool this time, after a season at non league Thornaby, Dimi had made an F.A.Trophy appearance for them aged 41 years and 15 days old, becoming their oldest player ever to turn out! Last season he did the ‘keeper coaching role at Greek side Panetolikos (also helping out as Assistant ‘gaffer’).

This June (2023) Dimi has moved back to the UK becoming first team coach (and gk coach) at Scottish club Ayr United.

Dimi with CCFPA tie & badge

Hartlepool had been Dimi’s first UK port of call in 2003 after playing his football in his homeland and Portugal. Signing for the Sky Blues in 2007 Dimi played 28 CCFC games (plus six outings each on loan at Swansea City and Cardiff City) before returning to play in Greece at the end of the 2009-10 season. He also had six seasons with Middlesbrough from 2013-19 before rejoining Hartlepool.

Also a Greek U21 international (he got a single full cap in 2011) at the time we signed him he sent us back a selfie proudly holding the CCFPA tie and badge (left).

Happy Birthday Dimi! It will be a pleasure to meet you back in Coventry again, when and if work commitments allow, perhaps even this current season at a Sky Blue game and/or Association function?