Anthony Koutoufides Testimonial: Sunday August 19 @ Crown
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Anthony Koutoufides announced today that he has been forced to retire as a player due to a degenerative hip injury.
Koutoufides has been one of the finest players of his era and one of the greatest to represent the Carlton Football Club, playing 278 games since making his debut in round 13, 1992.
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“I was unsure about my playing future after this year however the hip injury has not only made the decision about playing on easy it has also ended my career five games earlier than I had planned. It would have been great to play one final game in front of the Carlton supporters but unfortunately it will not be possible,” Koutoufides said today.
“It has been a very emotional 24 hours for me as I have been at Carlton since I was a 14 year old playing in the Under 15s, the Carlton Football Club has been a second home to me for most of my life. I want to thank the Club, the players and all the Carlton people for the wonderful support they have given me during my career, I have been very lucky to have been a part of this great Club,” Koutoufides added.
Koutoufides made his shock announcement to the players and football staff prior to a media conference this afternoon.
“There is no doubting Anthony’s standing at the Carlton Football Club and indeed in the AFL, he is one of the finest players of his era, he played some of the most outstanding individual games of football I have ever seen when he was at the peak of his game. As well as being a great Carlton player he is also a wonderful ambassador for the game and for the Carlton Football Club,” said Carlton Vice-President and former team-mate, Stephen Kernahan.
Koutoufides will be honoured prior to Saturday’s home game against Collingwood at the MCG with a lap of honour to give Carlton supporters the chance to farewell the former Club Captain.
Carlton CEO Greg Swann said the entire club was disappointed that the career of such a great player had ended this way. “I have had the pleasure of working with Anthony this year and he is an outstanding person. Like everyone involved in football I have known how good a player he has been for many years and we can only imagine how his career may have been if he had not been cruelly cut down by injuries when he was in his prime.”
Anthony Koutoufides was recruited from Lalor via East Thomastown and he progressed though the Carlton Under age teams and reserves during the 1980s. In addition to his 278 senior matches for Carlton Koutoufides played 50 reserves matches and 35 Under 19 grade matches for the Carlton Football Club.
He made his debut in round 13, 1992 against Adelaide at Princes Park and his final game was in round 17, 2007 against St Kilda at the Dome.
The Club announced that the number 43 guernsey will be retired for the 2008 season.
Anthony Koutoufides
Games Played – 278 (AFL record in guernsey number 43)
Goals - 226
Premiership Player in 1995
All Australian in 1995 and 2000
AFLPA Most Valuable Player in 2000
Pre-season premiership player in 1997, 2005 and 2007
Dual Carlton Best & Fairest Winner – 2001 and 2005
Runner Up in 1999 and 2003 and third in 2000
Carlton leading goal kicker in 1997
Captain of the Carlton Football Club – 2004 to 2006
Life Member of the Carlton Football Club
The 985th player to represent Carlton in the AFL
What is your defining Kouta moment? What have been some of your favourite memories of Anthony Koutoufides in his time at Carlton, and what are the features of his game that you will most remember? What is your favourite story? Post your tribute to Kouta on his retirement.
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