Mike Thalassitis

Michael Thalassitis (Μάικ Θαλασσίτης; 19 January 1993 – 16 March 2019) was an English-Cypriot footballer and television personality.

He was known for his appearances on the third series of ITV2 reality series Love Island and the fourth series of E4 dating series Celebs Go Dating.

Thalassitis joined Stevenage's youth system ahead of the 2010–11 season.

He scored 17 goals in 26 games for the club's U18 side in his first season with the club.

Thalassitis signed a professional two-year contract with Stevenage in May 2011, having joined the club's Centre of Excellence ahead of the 2010–11 season, just after Stevenage's promotion to the Football League.

He made his first-team debut in August 2011.

As a result of his fine form during the season, he was handed a two-year professional contract with the club on 18 May 2011.

This meant that Thalassitis was the first player to sign a professional deal with the club from the Centre of Excellence that was "hastily formed" following the club's promotion to the Football League.

Thalassitis made his competitive debut for Stevenage in the club's 1–0 away defeat to Milton Keynes Dons on 27 August 2011, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute in the match.

During the game, he produced a "strong run forcing goalkeeper David Martin to tip his effort from the edge of the box onto the bar", as well as missing a chance to restore parity in injury-time.

Thalassitis joined Conference South side Boreham Wood on a one-month loan deal in October 2011.

He made his debut for the club a day after signing, scoring after 17 minutes in a 3–1 home victory against Dartford.

During his initial one-month loan spell, Thalassitis made five league appearances for the club, in which Boreham Wood recorded five straight victories — propelling them from twentieth place to eighth in the Conference South standings.

His loan spell was subsequently extended for a further month on 9 November 2011.

Three days later, on 12 November, Thalassitis scored a hat-trick in Boreham Wood's sixth consecutive league victory, a 4–2 home win against Dover Athletic.

Two months later, he joined Conference South side Boreham Wood on loan, returning to his parent club in January 2012.

He was loaned out once again a month later, signing for Hayes & Yeading United on a one-month loan deal.

During the 2012–13 season, he was briefly loaned out to Cambridge United in September 2012, before joining Bishop's Stortford on loan two months later.

He then spent the remainder of the season on loan at Boreham Wood, his second loan spell at the club.

After scoring five times in twelve games for Boreham Wood, Thalassitis returned to his parent club on 4 January 2012.

He was loaned out for a second time during the season, joining Conference National side Hayes & Yeading United on a one-month loan deal on 17 February 2012.

He made his debut for the club a day later, scoring a consolation goal in injury-time in a 4–1 defeat to promotion chasing Wrexham.

Thalassitis scored the only goal of the game in his next match three days later, netting with a header from goalkeeper Steve Arnold's long clearance in a 1–0 away victory at Bath City.

He scored once more during his time at Hayes & Yeading, scoring in a 3–1 away win at Forest Green Rovers, and played five games during his one-month loan spell.

He was recalled by Stevenage on 22 March, and went on to make two further substitute appearances for the club during the latter stages of the season.

Thalassitis made his first appearance of the 2012–13 season in Stevenage's first game of the season, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 home win over AFC Wimbledon in the League Cup.

He scored his first goal for Stevenage in the following round of the competition, scoring a consolation strike in injury-time as the club lost 4–1 to Premier League side Southampton on 28 August 2012.

A month later, Stevenage announced that Thalassitis had signed a three-year contract extension, and would also be going out on a one-month loan deal to Conference National side Cambridge United.

During the brief loan spell, Thalassitis made just two appearances, both of which were as a late substitute.

He was loaned out once again in November 2012, the fourth loan spell of his career, joining Conference South side Bishop's Stortford on a one-month loan agreement.

Thalassitis was loaned out almost immediately following his return from Stortford, joining Boreham Wood on loan for the remainder of the 2012–13 campaign.

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, he joined Ebbsfleet United on a season-long loan.

The loan was later extended until January 2013, with Thalassitis making eight appearances in all competitions during his two-month spell.

He began his second spell at the club by scoring the first goal in a 3–0 victory over Hayes & Yeading on 28 January 2013.

Thalassitis went on to score seven times in 19 appearances during his second loan spell with Boreham Wood, returning to Stevenage at the end of the season.

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Thalassitis was loaned out to Conference South side Ebbsfleet United on a season-long loan deal.

On 17 May 2014, Thalassitis was released by Stevenage.

In 2017, Thalassitis appeared on the ITV2 reality series Love Island and retired from football in December that year.

In March 2019, he was found dead at the age of 26 at a park in London.

His cause of death was suicide by hanging.