One of Vancouver FC's most seasoned Canadian Premier League players, goaltender Niko Giantsopoulos, has announced he's retiring from pro soccer after a career that's spanned a decade and multiple continents.
Originally from Markham, Ont., Giantsopoulos, 30, only joined Vancouver FC in 2024, but he has played across Canada, the United States, and Australia.
"I've accomplished a lot," said Giantsopoulos. "I have no regrets. I have done it my way and my way only, and I'm very happy with how my playing career panned out."
Playing in local teams as a teenager launched Giantsopoulos to a college career in the U.S., where he played for Adrian College and Calvin College in Michigan. He helped lead the Calvin Knights to back-to-back Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships in 2014 and 2015.
After university, Giantsopoulos headed south 鈥� about as far south as you can go to play soccer.
He moved to Tasmania in Australia, and played for a number of teams in the National Premier Leagues (NPL) there, where he again helped his team secure a league championship and reach the NPL Final Series.
After returning to Canada in 2019, Giantsopoulos was part of the inaugural Canadian Premier League (CPL) season, starting with Cavalry FC before moving to his hometown York United from 2021 to 2023. He was also loaned out to the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2022, a first for a CPL goalkeeper.
"I believed in this project, and this club when I signed on with VFC and I still do," Giantsopoulos said in a statement announcing his retirement. "I look forward to continuing to support Vancouver in other ways in the future."
The club extended its heartfelt congratulations to Giantsopoulos, said Vancouver FC head coach Afshin Ghotbi.
"Niko's story is one of diligence and determination, and he is an example that hard work can make dreams come true," Ghotbi said.
Vancouver FC plays in 91原创 at the Willoughby Community Park stadium.
