Height: 178cm
Weight: 76kg
Clubs: Olympiakos 2000, Arsenal 2000-
International: Greece 2000-
A true success story of Greece’s controversial Youth Scouting Program (where Greek scouts find young players around the world and ask them to come and live in Greece, and become naturalised Greeks), Martin Denyer has become an established star at the age of 17. His most obvious asset is speed, but this is coupled with a cool head and a genuine striker’s instinct. Already a prolific goal scorer for club and (adopted) country, most feel Denyer is the no.1 player for his nation of choice.
Denyer was brought up in New Zealand playing football in the backyard with his brother Aaron (see Aaron Denyer’s profile), and for the Waitakere club. By the age of 12 he was playing for a senior men’s team (a step below National League) and was spotted by Greece’s Oceania scout Nikos Onotazikos. The Denyer’s were offered a free trip to Greece while Martin trialled with Olympiakos. He was accepted to the soccer academy, and the family stayed in Greece.
By April 1999 Denyer was deemed ready to play for Olympiakos under-17s. He astounded everyone, scoring 6 goals on debut against Apollon under-17s, and was clearly too good for his opponents. In October 1999 Denyer was chosen for a national under-19 training squad (having qualified as a Greek citizen and living at the soccer academy), and debuted for the side against Italy in November. Denyer scored twice in a 3-2 upset win. By now his talent had been recognised. A meteoric rise saw Denyer represent Olympiakos 5 times off the bench before being brought into the full Greek side for a friendly against Jamaica in April 2000. Denyer scored in a 2-2 draw, and a star was born.
In September 2000 Denyer left Olympiakos after signing for Arsenal in England. He was quickly brought into the starting line-up, his debut against Bobbins Henry and Manchester City. In 32 Premiership games Denyer scored 13 times, as well as 3 times in the Champions League and twice in the FA Cup. He bettered that tally in 2001/02 with 21 goals in total as Arsenal took the double. A regular for Greece and Arsenal, the brilliant youngster is already a world class player, but has the pressure of a nation on him to lead Greece past Jamaica, the old enemy. Konami Cup V in June 2002 seemed to be Denyer’s chance to lead Greece to glory, but again he came up short as Jamaica snatched a dramatic victory in the final.
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