About 24 minutes (net time) before Daniel Mancini’s wonderful goal that broke the “Gordian tie” for Panathinaikos and made them the “boss” (also in the score) in the game against Kifisia in Kesariani, he took the lead by one in the 34th minute Key phase for the entire game:

Yuri Lodingin’s amazing intervention in Pritsa’s execution from 5-6 meters and the great “stop” made by the Greek-Russian goalkeeper in the only big phase that Yannis Anastasiou’s team managed in the game.

A phase that began with the improbable run of Tetei, who got past Jedvai, Mladenovic and Ruben before turning the ball into the penalty area (confirming the balance problem that Panathinaikos’ defensive change still has as the only injury in his game) and with Lodingin rising and immediately covering his own corner after the first save, seeing the ball hit the outside of the post and go wide.

After all, this is the life and work of goalkeepers in big teams. This “one phase”. And that’s where the quality and experience stand out and how great the goalkeeper is, who has the responsibility under the goal of the big team.

Panathinaikos have rarely felt insecure under their goalposts in the past and have always had a strong reference point as No. 1 in every era. With great Greek and foreign goalkeepers. This is not subjective, it can also be seen in the numbers that bear the name of a Panathinaikos goalkeeper in all major goalkeeping records from the First National/Stoiximan Super League era.

With the culmination of the 1,088 minutes of untouchable fire that remains to this day in the… gloves of the giant Takis Oikonomopoulos.

On the other hand, it is extremely rare – even for Panathinaikos – to have two top goalkeepers in the squad at the same time for this big moment.

That is, what happens in the “green” squad from the summer of 2022, when Panathinaikos expanded its potential – after Alberto Brignoli – and Yuri Lodingin.

The top duo in the country

Without exaggeration, Panathinaikos has the best goalkeeper duo in the Stoiximan Super League, who feel confident under their net. And Lodingin is probably Panathinaikos’ biggest safety valve in the fight for this year’s title. It’s not about “first” or “second”.

For the Greens, for Ivan Jovanovic and for the team’s goalkeeping coach, Giorgos Mountakis, it has never been like this.

It was mainly about internal competition, the improvement and further development of the team and the goalkeeper position. And the presence of the quiet, super-hardworking and always out of the public eye Lodingin ensures that.

This is no coincidence, because for those who have forgotten: Panathinaikos had the luxury of having a (theoretical) backup goalkeeper, with 44 appearances in the Champions League and Europa League, five titles in Russia with Zenit, as a (theoretical) Substitute goalkeeper. In use for a year and a half. 11 appearances with the Russian national team and participation in the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 European Championship.

With great experience and performance at the highest level. A luxury of quality because if you think about it, Lodingin could currently be in the starting XI of any other major Stoiximan Super League team.

The joint presence of Brignoli and Lodingin did not seem easy at first glance. In the sense that there is always the ego of every athlete that wants to play and always be at the top. Especially when he has a great past and countless appearances behind him.

The sense of justice

And yet the entire work schedule in the daily life of the team in Koropi was characterized by patience, healthy competition and a sense of justice that both goalkeepers and the younger ones (Margono, Lilo), but also Vassilis feel now in Panathinaikos.

Above all, he had absolute respect and honesty towards Lodingin from the coaching team. And that’s why he had a conversation with Jovanovic last summer in which it was made clear to him that he would play a much more active role in the team’s rotation and games (since he would be starting a season with over 50 games in all competitions). ). ), dispelled the 33-year-old goalkeeper from the idea of ​​going somewhere else to play more.

That’s why, on October 23 last year, he consciously and without hesitation extended his contract with Panathinaikos by two years and tied his future with the team until the summer of 2026.

Because he feels this justice (which has already brought him into the starting eleven four times this year), he feels comfortable in his role in the team and feels part of a football project that is constantly “growing”.

And at a very mature stage in his career, it offers him the opportunity to regularly win titles and take part in European Cups.

And that motivates him enormously to give 101% in every game and to be part of the team that can bring Panathinaikos back to the top.

In every game, every Sunday. I’m struggling to make a difference in this “one phase.”