Taxiarchis Fountas: A Career Unpacked

Taxiarchis Fountas, born on 4 September 1995, is a professional Greek footballer renowned for his role as a forward. His career has seen him traverse various leagues across Europe and even make a significant impact in North America, representing clubs in Greece, Austria, Germany, and the United States, alongside his commitments to the Greece national team. Fountas's journey in professional football has been marked by periods of exceptional goal-scoring prowess, significant transfers, and, at times, notable controversies, painting a picture of a player with undeniable talent and a complex trajectory.

The Genesis: AEK Athens and Early Records

Fountas's professional path began at the illustrious AEK Athens, a club where he was spotted by Toni Savevski, then head of the youth academy. His debut for the senior team on 17 March 2012, against Asteras Tripolis, was historic; at just 16 years, 6 months, and 13 days old, he became the youngest player to feature for AEK Athens in a Super League game. He played 31 minutes in that match, showcasing the early faith placed in his potential. His first start came shortly after, on 22 April, against Doxa Drama, where he completed the entire 90 minutes, demonstrating his burgeoning stamina and commitment.

His scoring touch soon followed, further cementing his place in AEK's history books. On 28 October 2012, Fountas netted his first goal for the club in a crucial 1-0 victory over Platanias, making him the youngest player to score for AEK at 17 years and 54 days. This was not an isolated incident; he continued to find the back of the net, scoring against Veria on 18 October 2012, and then against PAS Giannina on 3 November 2012, a performance that also earned him the Most Valuable Player award for that match. His fourth goal came against Veria again on 16 March 2013, a fine left-footed strike. A notable highlight from this early period was also a goal scored in a friendly match against English side Everton in the summer of 2012. Unfortunately, his time at AEK concluded when the club faced relegation, leading to his release.

Navigating New Horizons: Red Bull Salzburg and Loan Spells

Following his departure from AEK, Fountas's career took an international turn. In June 2013, he was linked with a move to Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg. This potential transfer was complicated by AEK Athens' severe financial difficulties, which saw the club on the brink of collapse. Despite these hurdles, Fountas successfully joined Red Bull Salzburg in September 2013 on a four-year contract. Upon signing, he was immediately loaned to FC Liefering, a feeder club in the Austrian Football First League, for a six-month period, allowing him to adapt to Austrian football.

In January 2014, his journey continued with another loan move, this time to SV Grödig until the end of the season, where he made his first appearance in the Austrian Bundesliga a week later. These loan spells were crucial for his development, providing him with consistent game time and exposure to different tactical approaches.

The 2014–15 season saw Fountas return to his homeland, as he was loaned to Panionios in the Greek Super League. This move proved beneficial, as he enjoyed an exceptional season, prompting another loan to Asteras Tripolis. On 2 January 2016, he scored his first goal for Asteras in a commanding 4-0 home win against Panthrakikos. Just a few days later, on 5 January 2015, he continued his scoring run in the Greek Cup, netting in a 3-0 away victory against AEL, demonstrating his versatility across competitions.

A Brief Return and Further European Ventures

After being released by Asteras Tripolis, Fountas re-signed with Panionios on 21 July 2016, securing a one-year contract with an option for an additional year. However, this second stint was relatively brief, as his contract was mutually terminated on 1 July 2017.

His career then led him to Germany. On 20 September 2017, as a free agent, Fountas joined SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, a club in the 3. Liga, facilitated by their Greek sporting director, Yiannis Koukoutrigas. This provided him with a new cultural and footballing experience, albeit for just a year.

Following his time in Germany, Fountas returned to Austria, signing a long-season contract with St. Pölten on 14 July 2018. He spent one season there, scoring four goals in 21 appearances, which set the stage for his most prolific period yet.

The Rapid Wien Era: A Goal-Scoring Machine

On 9 May 2019, Fountas made a significant move to Rapid Wien, signing a deal through the summer of 2022 as his St. Pölten contract was nearing its expiry. This transfer marked a turning point in his career, as he truly found his stride as a top-tier forward.

His impact was immediate. On 4 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 away draw against his former club, St. Pölten. A week later, he netted a brace against SC Rheindorf Altach, contributing significantly to Rapid Wien's first win of the season. His goal-scoring form continued unabated; on 29 September, he scored another brace in a thrilling 3-3 home draw against TSV Hartberg. By 15 December, he had secured his third brace of the season, sealing a 3-0 away win against Admira Wacker, earning him a spot in the Austrian Bundesliga's Team of the Week for matchday 18. By this point, Fountas was leading the club's scoring charts with an impressive 11 goals from just 15 matches.

His exceptional performances did not go unnoticed by the fans. On 3 February 2020, Rapid Wien's supporters voted Fountas as their best player of 2019, a testament to his impact. He continued his scoring spree, netting in his fifth consecutive game on 1 July, in a 3-1 home win against LASK. Fountas concluded the 2019–20 Austrian Football Bundesliga campaign with a remarkable 19 goals, playing a pivotal role in securing his club a berth in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. He finished as the third-highest scorer in the league, behind only Patson Daka (24 goals for RB Salzburg) and Shon Weissman (30 goals for Wolfsberger).

The 2020–21 season started just as strongly. On 30 August 2020, in his first official game of the season, he bagged a hat-trick in a dominant 5-0 Austrian Cup win against TSV St. Johann. He followed this up with a brace against Admira in the 2020–21 Austrian Football Bundesliga opener on 11 September 2020. Fountas also made his mark in European competition, scoring during a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Europa League Group stage on 22 October, capitalising on an error by goalkeeper Bernd Leno. However, this period was also marred by an unfortunate controversy; on 18 January 2021, Fountas was disciplined by the Austrian Bundesliga with a four-game ban for spitting at Lukas Malicsek in a friendly match against Admira. Despite this, he returned to form, scoring a hat-trick in an emphatic 8-1 away win against Wolfsberger AC on 4 April.

His final season at Rapid Wien, 2021–22, saw him continue to contribute. On 8 August 2021, he scored in the first half and added two quickfire goals in the second half of a 3-0 home win against Wolfsberger AC. Later that month, he netted in both legs of a 2021–22 UEFA Europa League playoffs tie against FC Zorya Luhansk, contributing to a resounding 6-2 aggregate victory over the Ukrainian side.

The American Chapter: D.C. United and Subsequent Challenges

On 25 January 2022, a significant international move was reported: Fountas agreed to a three-year contract with MLS club D.C. United, with reports suggesting he would become their highest-paid player, on a contract worth a total of $7 million. Initially, he was expected to join in the summer of 2022 upon the expiry of his Rapid Wien contract, but on 21 March, it was announced he would join ahead of schedule.

He made his debut for D.C. United on 16 April in a 2-3 loss against Austin FC. His second game and first start proved to be impactful, as he scored two goals and assisted another in a thrilling 3-2 win over the New England Revolution. On 4 July, he continued his impressive start by scoring a hat-trick in a 5-3 away victory at Orlando City SC, quickly establishing himself as a key player for the Washington-based club.

However, his time in MLS was overshadowed by significant controversy. During a match between D.C. United and Inter Miami on 18 September 2022, Fountas was accused of racially abusing defender Damion Lowe. He was subsequently substituted, and MLS launched an official investigation into the incident. Fountas denied the allegation. The league's ultimate decision stated that while the accusation by a Miami player who claimed to have heard Fountas saying something to Lowe (who reportedly did not hear the comment himself) was deemed "credible," it could not be definitively verified.

Further challenges arose on 21 July 2023, when D.C. United announced the suspension of Fountas along with teammate Nigel Robertha for "possible violations of league policy." Reports from The Athletic indicated that Fountas had used a racial slur towards Robertha during a training session, leading to Robertha physically attacking Fountas. Subsequent reporting detailed that Robertha attacked Fountas with a foam roller in the locker room after their July 15 away game against the New England Revolution, with Robertha claiming Fountas had used the "n-word" during an on-field argument before being separated by Christian Benteke. Amidst an ongoing investigation, the club and Fountas mutually agreed to terminate his contract, bringing an abrupt end to his MLS tenure.

The Journey Continues: Trabzonspor and OFI Crete

Following his departure from D.C. United, Fountas returned to Europe. He joined Trabzonspor Kulübü in 2023, embarking on a new chapter in Turkey. Most recently, in 2024, Fountas returned to Greece, signing a two-year contract with Super League club OFI, continuing his extensive journey through various footballing landscapes.

International Career: Representing Greece

Taxiarchis Fountas made his senior international debut for Greece on 13 June 2015, in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier away to the Faroe Islands. He came on as a substitute for Panagiotis Kone in the 81st minute of the 2-0 loss. After this initial appearance, Fountas went uncapped for almost exactly five years, from September 2015 to 2020. He eventually scored his first international goal on 17 November 2022, coming on for Dimitrios Pelkas and securing an equaliser in added time at the end of a 2-2 draw away to Malta, showcasing his enduring talent and resilience.

International Career Statistics

As of 20 March 2025

Honours

No specific team or individual honours were detailed in the provided information for these categories.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Taxiarchis Fountas?

Taxiarchis Fountas is a Greek professional footballer born in 1995. He primarily plays as a forward and has represented various clubs across Greece, Austria, Germany, Turkey, and the United States, as well as playing for the Greece national team.

What position does Taxiarchis Fountas play?

Fountas plays as a forward, often leading the attack for his teams.

Which notable clubs has Taxiarchis Fountas played for?

Throughout his career, Fountas has played for prominent clubs such as AEK Athens, Red Bull Salzburg, Panionios, Asteras Tripolis, Rapid Wien, D.C. United, Trabzonspor, and currently OFI Crete.

What controversies has Fountas been involved in during his career?

Fountas has been involved in a spitting incident during a friendly match while at Rapid Wien, which led to a four-game ban. More significantly, during his time at D.C. United, he was accused of racial abuse on two separate occasions, leading to MLS investigations and ultimately a mutual termination of his contract with the club.

When did Taxiarchis Fountas make his international debut for Greece?

He made his senior international debut for Greece on 13 June 2015, in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Has Fountas scored for the Greek national team?

Yes, Fountas scored his first international goal for Greece on 17 November 2022, in a friendly match against Malta, securing a late equaliser.

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