Denis Epstein

Denis Epstein (born 2 July 1986) is a German professional footballer who plays for TSG Balingen.[1]

Denis Epstein

Epstein with FSV Frankfurt in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth	(1986-07-02) 2 July 1986
Place of birth	Cologne, West Germany
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s)	Left Midfielder, left winger
Club information
Current team	TSG Balingen
Number	26
Youth career
	Bayer Leverkusen
	1. FC Köln
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2007	1. FC Köln	23	(2)
2007	→ Rot-Weiss Essen (loan)	5	(1)
2007–2008	Kickers Offenbach	21	(0)
2008–2010	Iraklis	50	(8)
2010–2011	Olympiacos	0	(0)
2010–2011	→ Kerkyra (loan)	27	(9)
2011–2013	Atromitos	56	(2)
2013–2016	FSV Frankfurt	63	(6)
2016–2018	Kerkyra	51	(10)
2018–2019	Lamia	24	(2)
2019–	TSG Balingen	18	(2)
National team
2006	Germany U-20	4	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:23, 14 April 2020 (UTC)

Career

Youth clubs

Epstein played for three youth clubs, ranging from 1995 to 2005, including the youth teams of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Fortuna Köln, and 1. FC Köln. In the 1998–99 season, he made a rivalry switch from Bayer Leverkusen to 1. FC Köln. He was picked up as a senior team member for 1. FC Köln II in 2005, playing 31 games for the third division reserve team and scoring three goals.

1. FC Köln

Epstein made his senior debut for 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga in a 4–1 loss against Hannover 96. He scored his first Bundesliga goal against VfL Wolfsburg after he being substituted on for Dimitrios Grammozis. He ended a seven-game losing streak for the relegation-threatened club. After that, he rarely started a match for Köln, scoring only one goal in the 2006–07 season.

Rot-Weiss Essen

Epstein was loaned out to Rot-Weiss Essen on 20 January 2007 until the end of the 2. Bundesliga season by Köln coach Christoph Daum, to gain more match experience.

Greece

On 24 June 2008, Epstein signed a contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki. He appeared in 24 matches for Iraklis during the 2008–09 season.[2] After another equally successful season (with four goals in 26 appearances), his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 18 June 2010.

In summer 2011, Epstein became the first of Ernesto Valverde's 'unwanted list' at Olympiacos to leave the club, after a year-long loan to Kerkyra. On 18 July 2011, Epstein signed a three-year contract with Atromitos for an undisclosed fee.[3] For the Athenian club, he made 64 appearances scoring 4 goals across all competitions.[4] On 9 April 2013, he terminated his contract with the club.[5]

FSV Frankfurt

In summer 2013, Epstein returned to Germany signing a three-year contract with FSV Frankfurt, returning to the 2. Bundesliga.[4]

Return to Greece

In June 2016, Epstein returned to former PAE Kerkyra having agreed a two-year contract.[6]

On 6 June 2018, after having been released by Kerkyra, he signed a contract with Lamia until the summer of 2020.[7] On 24 September 2018, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 away draw against Panetolikos.[8] On 12 October 2018, he opened the score in an eventual 2–1 away loss against AEK Athens for the Greek Cup.[9] On 20 October 2018, he scored against AEL, completing his team's comeback and helping to a 2–1 away win.[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of 6 May 2019

Club	Season	League		Cup		Continental^[A]		Others^[B]		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1. FC Köln	2005–06	11	2	0	0	–	–	–	–	11	2
	2006–07	12	0	2	0	–	–	–	–	14	0
	Total	23	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	25	2
Rot-Weiss Essen (loan)	2006–07	5	1	0	0	–	–	–	–	5	1
Kickers Offenbach	2007–08	21	0	2	0	–	–	–	–	23	0
Iraklis	2008–09	24	5	2	0	–	–	–	–	26	5
	2009–10	26	4	1	0	–	–	–	–	27	4
	Total	50	9	3	0	0	0	0	0	53	9
Kerkyra (loan)	2010–11	27	9	4	0	–	–	–	–	31	9
Atromitos	2011–12	33	2	4	0	–	–	–	–	37	2
	2012–13	23	0	2	1	2	1	–	–	27	2
	Total	56	2	6	1	2	1	0	0	64	4
FSV Frankfurt	2013–14	32	6	2	0	–	–	–	–	34	6
	2014–15	9	0	1	0	–	–	–	–	10	0
	2015–16	22	0	1	0	–	–	–	–	23	0
	Total	63	6	4	0	0	0	0	0	67	6
Kerkyra	2016–17	26	4	2	1	–	–	–	–	28	5
	2017–18	25	6	0	0	–	–	–	–	25	6
	Total	51	10	2	1	0	0	0	0	53	11
Lamia	2018–19	24	2	6	1	–	–	–	–	30	3
Career total		320	41	29	3	2	1	0	0	351	45

References

1. "Epstein, Denis". kicker (in German). November 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
2. "Interview". ehrensenf.de. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
3. Κάτοικος Περιστερίου ο Επστάιν (in Greek). 18 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
4. Hanau, Jörg (22 May 2013). "FSV Frankfurt verpflichtet Denis Epstein" [FSV Frankfurt signs Denis Epstein]. Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
5. Τέλος Επστάιν και Μάντζιος από τον Ατρόμητο (in Greek). 9 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
6. Samolis, Dimitris (22 June 2016). Υπέγραψε για 2 χρόνια στην Κέρκυρα ο Επστάιν [Epstein signs 2-year contract with Kerkyra] (in Greek). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
7. Ανακοίνωση για απόκτηση ποδοσφαιριστή (in Greek). Lamia F.C. 6 June 2018.
8. "Παναιτωλικός - Λαμία 2-2: Πρώτος βαθμός στο 90'+9' για τους Φθιώτες". sport24.gr. 24 September 2018.
9. "ΑΕΚ - Λαμία 2-1: Έβαλε Μπογέ, έκανε την ανατροπή". sport24.gr. 12 October 2018.
10. "ΑΕΛ - Λαμία 1-2: Ιστορική ανατροπή για την ομάδα της Φθιώτιδας". sport24.gr. 20 October 2018.

External links

• Denis Epstein at fussballdaten.de (in German)