6' 0"  12st.
b. Frankfurt (Germany) 22 October 1969
 

Debut 17 August 1996 (26y 299d) Final Game 22 April 1997 (27y 189d)
First Goal 21 September 1996 Final Goal 11 January 1997
CAREER: Doxa Nikopolis;Pavio Melas (Thessalonika);Panathanaikos'87;Athinaikos '88 (loan);Panargiakos Argos '89-Dec'90 (loan);Ioannina Dec'90-91 (loan);Blackburn Rovers Jun'96 (free); AEK Athens Jan'98 (free);Sheffield United Mar'99-May'99 (trial)[5+2-1];Huddersfield Town Jun'99-Jul'00 (£1,000,000)[10+10].
INTERNATIONALS  Greece 21 + 3 apps 5 gls
’92 v Mlt,Rom(s),Cyp(s) 1gl.’93 v Cyp 1gl,Ice,Lux.’95 v Rus,Lit,Fin.’96 v SaM 1gl,Yug,Rus,Far 1gl,Isr,Far.Svn, Geo.’97 v Bos,Den 1gl,Cro,Por,Bos,Cro.’98 v Cyp(s).
HONOURS Gre Ch (Panathanaikos) ’95.Gre Cp win (Panathanaikos) ’94,’95.Med Games gold (Greece) ’91.
SQUAD NUMBER  27  Aug’96.
 

PL          11 + 11 apps     2 gls     - 4 wdn                                  20 ns
FAC         0 +  1 app                                                                      1 ns
FLC         3 apps                            - 1 wdn
Total     14  + 12 apps    2 gls     - 5 wdn  + 180m -192m      21 ns  (1 gl as sub
 

Although born in Germany when his parents ran a bar in the city, Donis was brought up in Salonika among fellow Greeks who were descended from those born around Constantinople. Starting his football with a Salonika team he moved to another small club in Thessalonika but was spotted by a journalist and recommended to Panathanaikos. Although given an immediate debut in the Greek cup he served a typical apprenticeship, loaned out to several clubs. Even after gaining national honours he had not progressed beyond being third choice (behind the Pole Warzycha and Alexoudis) but injuries gave him opportunity and he participated fully in a championship victory and a European Cup campaign that ended at the semi-final stage. In this he demonstrated his qualities, fleet of foot, strong and able to cross with precision he also displayed a refreshing ability to beat his opponent on any side. Available on a Bosman free transfer he was persuaded to join the Rovers because he could see the value in acting as a supply line for Alan Shearer. Before he could pull on a blue and white shirt, Shearer was gone and little after so was the manager, Ray Harford. The caretaker manager, Tony Parkes, did not want a winger who was reluctant to track back in a relegation fight and the next manager, Roy Hodgson did not value the player. Released back to play in Greece he suffered again when the coach was changed. Persuaded by Steve Bruce to return to England, he followed the manager from Sheffield United to Huddersfield but trauma pursued him. He could not settle, was gazumped attempting to buy a home, was detained in Athens because of a national service commitment and eventually agreed with the club that his contract should be cancelled so that he could return to Greece. He became coach to AO Ilysiakos, Athina who played in the fourth level of the Greek league but then moved up to take over at Larissa who he coached to promotion to the top division. In 2007 he led the club to an improbable cup final victory, beating the giants Panathanaikos in the final, which ultimately brought him back to Ewood when his team played (and defeated) the Rovers in the UEFA Cup. In the close season his standing was further recognised when he was appointed coach to AEK (Athens). The appointment lasted only six months, and he was dismissed following an early exit from the UEFA League. Later he was appointed coach to Atromitos and then PAOK. Her then coached in Cyprus (Apoel), Saudi Arabia (Al-Hilal) who he coached to the championship and the United Arab Emirates (Al-Sharjah).