Quick Facts
Biography
Denis Epstein (born 2 July 1986 in Cologne) is a German footballer who currently plays for PAE Kerkyra.
Career
Youth clubs
Epstein played for three youth clubs, ranging from 1995 to 2005, including the youth teams of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Fortuna Köln, and 1. FC Köln. In the 1998–99 season, he made a rivalry switch from Bayer Leverkusen to 1. FC Köln. He was picked up as a senior team member for 1. FC Köln II in 2005, playing 31 games for the third division reserve team and scoring three goals.
1. FC Köln
Epstein made his senior debut for 1. FC Köln, in Köln's 2005–06 Bundesliga squad, against Hannover 96, Köln losing the match 1–4. He scored his first Bundesliga goal after he was substituted in for Dimitrios Grammozis against VfL Wolfsburg. He ended a seven-game losing streak for the relegation-threatened club. After that, he rarely started a match for Köln, scoring only one goal in the 2006–07 season.
Rot-Weiss Essen
Epstein was loaned out to Rot-Weiss Essen on 20 January 2007 until the end of the 2. Bundesliga season by Köln coach Christoph Daum, to gain more match experience.
Greece
On 24 June 2008, he signed a contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki. Epstein appeared in 24 matches with Iraklis shirt during the 2008–09 season. Based on his speed, he managed to score very important goals for the team in the Greek Superleague. He was the top scorer of the team. After another equally successful season (with four goals in 26 appearances), his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 18 June 2010. At the summer of 2011, Epstein, became the first of the 'unwanted list' of Ernesto Valverde that is leaving the club, after a successful year loan to Kerkyra. The player had solved his contract by consensus collaboration and now looks for a new start in his career. Atromitos has approached the player and both sides seem positive to work together. On 18 July 2011, Epstein signed a three years' contract with Atromitos for an undisclosed fee.On 9 April 2013, he solved his contract wity the club.
FSV Frankfurt
Οn summer of 2013, he signed a three years' contract with FSV Frankfurt.
Return to Greece
On 20 June 2016, Epstein is currently at Kerkyra island, to speak with the administration of the newly promoted to Super League club about a possible return. Eventually, two days later, Epstein signed a two years' contract with Kerkyra.