Kouta = Perfect Modern Day Footballer

He was a big finals player, and at his best would of beaten any player in any position!

My best Kouta moment was the 95 Grand Final...where he set up the game for us in the first quarter. From that day I knew he would be one of the GREATS of Carlton

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

I know I've posted on this thread a few times but I just can't help coming back. Such a sad day. Such a great guy too. Can't remember a blemish both onfield and off-field. Great role model for our up and coming youngsters. Kouta hope you hang around the club doing anything it doesn't matter what. Dick give this man a job NOW!!

Listening to the press conference and the way he talked about the club with so much passion like he was talking about his family...makes you think that maybe Ratts is the man for the job. I think we need a Carlton man thru and thru who loves this club like he does his own family. Willing it to succeed no matter what it takes and no matter what sacrifices need to be made.

These type of clubmen are very hard to find so you really need to hang onto them and their passion as long as you can. The club is all the better for it.

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" Koutoufides has taken the last quarter by the scruff of the neck..." Commentary Drew Morphett Last Qtr '99 Prelim. Pure Gold.

Thanks for the memories Kouta. You are and always will be a True Blue Carlton Legend. #43.

Someone said that Kouta has already passed on his number to Aisake. Is this true?

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"I'll tell you what I didn't do;
I never injected anyone."
AD 3/3/14

Kouta,

Thanks for the memories and the pleasure you gave to us all. A gentleman who represented the club with great pride and distinction.

A player and captain who sacrificed a lot for the club and will be remembered as a great of the club.

Not quite...the 43 will be retired for 2008. But Kouta did mention at the press conference that Aisake had said he would like it.......so who knows in 2009?

Thanks. I hope he gets it.
THE prototype footballer of last decade to his successor. The tallest midfielder ever!!
GO BLUES

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"I'll tell you what I didn't do;
I never injected anyone."
AD 3/3/14

KOUTA KOUTA KOUTA

As a 4th generation supporter I consider it a honor and a privilege to see a player of your caliber conquer and dominate the AFL. YOU will be revered and honored as some men before you. KOUTA you are the new BIG NICK, Jezza and the dominator.

Good luck now and in the future and hope to see your valuable input into Carlton’s youth and the heritage of our great club.


grr did i read right he finishes his career on 249?? or the site hasnt been updated?

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Can smell the gf its there for the taking we are the form side

farewell Kouta, thanks for the memories.

even in our darkest times you were a shinning light.

It is a day that I knew had to come.

Because in order to embrace the future, we have to let go of the past.

But that doesnt make it any easier. So sad, it will take time to get used to no Kouta at Carlton.

Tis the passing of an era and the beginning of another.

Thankyou Kouta - you were and still are an absolute champion and always a gentleman.

For me, the most positive thing I can say, is something that few others will believe.

That is that I do have faith that this will be one of the shortest periods in our history in which there are no premiership players in a Carlton team.

So an old legend has to leave the stage - but new legends are soon to come.

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My Blue Heaven

Just heard this news, been at work all day, im shattered.....

Thanks for the memories Kouta

vs St kilda - Waverly 1996

Harry madden taps the ball into space

A pack of players descend on the ball

Kouta sticks his hand into the pack and plucks the ball out single handedly, waves it over an opponents head takes three bounces and kicks a goal -

That was the first time I saw Kouta's signature move - the one handed keepings off baulk

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That Kouta DVD!....................oh the hours put into that thing! All gone..............in the blink of an eye!

Cheers for thinking of me mate....................it really hasn't sunk in quite yet. I always knew he would one day, but i guess i never really prepared myself for it well enough.

Am truly gonna miss him and what he has brought to the game, the club, it's players and more importantly...............the supporters.

Regardless of injury or medals or trophy's, he will always be a true champion in my eyes.......................... and a humble one at that!

I'm trying to find a Sports Bar in New Orleans (where i will be this coming weekend) so that i can at least watch Kouta doing a lap of honour with young Jamie sitting along side him.

Gonna miss him...................gonna miss him lots.

So yeah, i would really love Kouta to hang around the club in some way shape or form. Despite the fact that he is the 'quiet and shy' type, i still think he can offer so much in the form of a coaching role......ESPECIALLY in a devlopment type position.

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit"
- Aristotle

The Departure of Kouta has officially opened the Door for a new era at Carlton and a new Generation..... Who will be the next Kouta??


i am afraid to say there will never be one like kouta....not in the near Future....


Thank u for all these years.... Who can ever forget the one handed pick ups and the endless domination of games!!!!!


The year 2000 was your Year.... a Legend of the game.......


kouta was so humble and shy that he evetually wasnt good at being a Captin or a leader becuase he wouldnt know how to give it to the young ones but his footy did all the talking whilst we did the screaming....


GOODBYE Legend, its time now to reunite with your old Buddy christou at the retirnment village.....

As so many people have already said -- thanks for the memories Kouta.

In over 45 of enjoying watching our great game I don't believe I saw a more complete player than Kouta in his prime.

Two opposition coaches (Malthouse and Roos) described two of his games as the most dominant they had ever witnessed. I wonder how many other players of this or past eras have received that sort of accolade from opposition coaches.

Thanks again Kouta

Gary Crane would still get a game but Kouta definately outranks Trevor Keogh.

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"You can't polish a James Hird"

What a champion, and a gentleman.
We will miss him around the club.
Unfortunately his later years were hampered by injury. One of carltons best of all time.

The one handed pickup was a first.
Still remember when he ran down the wing and picked up the ball in one hand, and continued running.
We couldnt believe we had seem it.

Here is a sample.



.

Garbage.

Apart from Gibbs and Murphy, Kouta is still a better footballer than any of the kids we have coming through and deserved another contract. You can't send out a team of kids there week in, week out when they have young bodies and are developing.

Anthony is no Ackland who is only getting a game because he's the only fit ruckman on our list.

No disrespect to Bentick and Russell, but Kouta would still be picked ahead of them each week if his body hadn't reached it's use by date. Kouta was in good form until he broke his thumb in the pre-season and would have played every game if his body had stayed together.

The average age of our list will be 20 next year.

And that would include Fev.

Adonis falls to hip and shoulder

He'll need a knee and hip replacement in 30 years.

Doesn't Kouta have a son and a daughter?

A video - Kouta: In his own words

AFL dumps motorcade for retiring stars - Caroline Wilson.

Champion player and champion bloke. You will be missed Kouta - all the best in the future for you and your family mate.

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Wisdom tells me I am nothing
Love tells me I am everything
Between the two my life flows

Thanks for giving me so much joy Kouta. I can still remember the scum supporters lining up for grand final tickets BEFORE the 99 Prelim final and thinking to myself how on earth are we going to beat these guys? Well I got my answer later that afternoon. I dont think I will ever forget that performance and the way I felt at the end of that game, just incredible.

One thing for me that has made Kouta stand above so many other gifted footballers and athletes in general is his humility and the way in which he always handled himself on and off the field. A class act in every sense. Thanks for the memories.