Markinios displays improved performance for APOEL under coach Papadopoulos

Brazilian midfielder Markinios has shown a significant transformation in his performance for APOEL during the early stages of the 2026 season. His improvement became particularly evident during the team's dominant 6-0 victory against AEL, where he scored the opening goal and contributed significantly to the overall offensive play of the squad. This development follows a period where his form had been criticized during previous seasons.

APOEL coach Nikos Papadopoulos attributed the 29-year-old's resurgence to a change in management strategy. In a post-match interview with Cablenet on September 7, 2026, the Greek manager explained that his approach focused on showing the player trust and affection. Papadopoulos emphasized that after analyzing the player's talent and holding multiple private meetings, he aimed to build a supportive environment that allowed the athlete to reach his potential.

The improvement was noted as far back as the preseason friendlies, specifically in a match against AEK. While his consistency had been questioned in the past, the current technical staff at APOEL appears to have successfully integrated him into their system for the ongoing season.