Chatting to Melbourne-born Haris Stamboulidis is like interviewing a CEO or an academic.

He’s super-smart, considered and focused.

When you’ve just graduated from New York’s respected Columbia University with an economics degree and you have been recognised as a Dean’s List student, little wonder.

But more than that, the midfielder can speak French and Greek.

He even has a perfect pronunciation and grasp of Spanish after six months in Uruguay as a child in 2005/06 - where he trained at the Diego Forlan Academy.

Which is timely given he’s just signed for a Spanish club, Segunda Division out Extremadura UD.

Stamboulidis joined last week from Aris Thessaloniki in the Greek Super League.

Stamboulidis during his season last year with Aris Thessaloniki

And when he does finally finish his football career, the Melburnian ponders how he may partner with fellow Columbia University alumni and his industry contacts in New York to explore startup ideas in the fin-tech sector.

It’s hard to believe he’s just 23 years old.

Meet the engaging, talented and very likable Haris Stamboulidis, a player with an eminently bright future, wherever it takes him.

Though his has been an unorthodox journey to one of Europe's most technical leagues.

Starting in Melbourne, with the Victorian junior rep and state teams, progressing to NPL outfit Heidelberg United, then Melbourne City’s youth team.

He then went overseas.

However, not to Europe: his move was to college football at the highly respected Columbia University in New York.

There he spent three years studying while playing with Columbia University’s Lions in the NCAA.

Stamboulidis played 40 matches, including during their title season, their first in 27 years.

Another Aussie and friend of Stamboulidis, Spiros Stamoulis, also played for Columbia University in 2018.

Stamboulidis’ one year at Aris last season came after he left New York in 2018.

And now this unique talent has progressed to Spain’s highly rated Segunda Division at Extremadura (located in western Spain close to the border of Portugal comprising the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz).

All this while balancing a taxing study schedule.

Training last week with Extremadura

So, how does he do it?

“I think setting out clear objectives, sacrifice and time management. Those are three keys in balancing all your commitments and duties.

“It’s difficult but it all comes to how much you want it and how much you’re willing to give up to achieve your goals,” he tells FTBL from Almendralejo as his new team prepared for their second game of the season against Fuenlabrada.

The Aussie wasn’t included in the match-day squad as he continues to train and become more match-fit after just 10 days with the club. 

“I always had the ambition to do both: study at the highest level at Columbia and play at the highest level," he adds. "And it’s been an unorthodox and at times a difficult journey.

“From day one my parents were there to help me balance every aspect of my life."

And far from being pushy parents, Stamboulidis says his father Professor Greg Stamboulidis was and is "his inspiration”.

It was his parents’ idea, for instance, to go to Uruguay as a family 14 years ago (“my parents wanted my siblings and I to experience a completely different culture, language, and environment.”)

Stamboulidis has hardly been home in three years as he’s put in the time to build a career in football and academia.

“Time flies when you’re working to achieve your goals and putting in the necessary time to do so,” he says.

He’s keen to stress football is his focus as he looks ahead to the season in Spain. 

“The objective is to play as many games as possible with Extremadura, and find a rhythm that will allow me to grow and develop from there.”

Stamboulidis has set his goals for this season at Extremadura UD

It’s understood four or five other clubs - including one from La Liga - that showed interest in the 186cm central midfielder. 

Of course, there will be speculation about his national team of choice, given he’s already played for the Greek U19s and has Greek citizenship.

What’s more, the Greece national team is now coached by former Melbourne City boss, Dutchman John van’ t Schip with former South Melbourne and Adelaide United defender Michael Valkanis as one of his assistants.

Stamboulidis, however, isn’t focusing on international football as his prime focus is getting minutes on the park, though he adds he is Australian-born and feels “he’s Australian”.

Graham Arnold, Socceroos boss, take note.

As for astronomy, Stamboulidis says that field of study doesn’t get any bigger, as it answers some of the more fundamental questions of our existence.

“I guess I find it fascinating learning about our universe and how certain laws and proofs can be used as evidence to explain the mechanics of everyday life,” he explains.

“And also how we can progress as human beings and society.”

The journey has reached Spain for Stamboulidis.

It’ll a fascinating to see how this engaging footballer’s career unfolds.

The Spanish Segunda division is available free on YouTube via the LaLiga SmartBank YouTube channel.