Manolis Papasterianos (; born 15 August 1987) is a Greek professional association football player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Gamma Ethniki club Thermaikos Thermi.
Papasterianos started his career in the team of his hometown Akanthos Ierissos at a young age. His impressive performances caught the eye of Iraklis scouts and he joined their youth squad in the summer of 2005.
Papasterianos got promoted in Iraklis' professional squad for the 2006-2007 season. He debuted for the club in a 3âÂÂ0 loss against AEK Athens, coming in as a substitute in the 63rd minute. Two minutes after his entrance in the match, he got the first yellow card in his professional career. Papasterianos also made his European debut in that season. It was in the 0âÂÂ1 away win against Wisà Âa Kraków for the first leg of the 2006âÂÂ07 UEFA Cup, as he came in, as a substitute. In the second half of the season Papasterianos made 13 appearances for the club, 10 of them as a starter. In the 2008âÂÂ09 season Papasterianos established himself as a starter. He made 26 appearances, 15 as a starter, and scored 2 goals. His first goal was scored in an away match against Panathinaikos, helping Iraklis to grab a 2âÂÂ2 away draw. His second goal was a bicycle kick scored against Ergotelis, to help the team secure a 0âÂÂ1 away win. That goal was voted as Best Goal of the 2008-2009 season, in the official competition organised by the Super League. It was as well voted as Best Goal of the 21st matchday of the 2008âÂÂ09 Super League season. In the 2009âÂÂ10 season he was almost an automatic first team choice, appearing in 22 of the first 23 matches of the club, 15 of them as a starter. But due to an injury in the abdominal muscles area he had to undergo surgery in Germany. As a result, he was forced to stay out for the remainder of the season. In the 2010âÂÂ11 season he once again scored a goal that was voted as Best Goal of the matchday. It was a screamer from well outside the area, scored in a 2âÂÂ0 victory of Iraklis against AEK for the 15th matchday. The prize was handed to him by former Iraklis striker Fanis Tountziaris.
In 2011 summer, Papasterianos joined Aris, getting the number 5. He made 9 league appearances in the first season making his debut with the club on 27 August 2011 in an away draw against PAS Giannina, but his performances weren't so good. Nevertheless, he succeeded to become an important member of the club and especially in the season 2012âÂÂ13 was on the key players that helped Aris to avoid relegation. At the end of the season he didn't manage to reach an agreement with the new president of Aris and in the summer of 2013 he signed a 1-year contract with the Romanian club Concordia Chiajna.
Papasterianos' adaptation to a new environment for the first time in his career was not easy. He debuted with the club on 30 September 2013 in a lost away game against CeahlÃÂul Piatra Neamà £.
After a year in Romania, Papasterianos returned to Greek Super League playing for Skoda Xanthi. After two years with the club, he solved his contract having 57 appearances (4 goals, 2 assists) in all competitions.
On 20 August 2016, Papasterianos signed a two years' contract with Veria for an undisclosed fee.
On 5 January 2017, Xanthi officially announced on Thursday the signing of experienced defensive midfielder Manolis Papasterianos, who was recently released from Veria.
On 25 August 2017, Papasterianos signed a year contract with Football League club OFI for an undisclosed fee.
Papasterianos has been capped twice at U21 level for Greece. He made his debut in a friendly match against Ethnikos Asteras, coming in as a substitute in the 39th minute for Sotiris Balafas. His second match was played in Neapoli Stadium against Albania U-21. Papasterianos was replaced at half-time with the score being 2âÂÂ0 for Greece. The final score of the match was 3âÂÂ1. During a match against Skoda Xanthi Papasterianos was watched by Zisis Vryzas, the Greek senior team's assistant manager.
Papasterianos' younger brother, Angelos, played for Iraklis as a centre-back.
<div id="notes gs1"></div><sup>1</sup><small>Includes Greek Super League playoffs.</small>