the youngest player to have won this award. The 2008–09 season began well for Ninis. New manager Henk ten Cate featured Ninis regularly in Panathinaikos' pre-season training. He repaid this faith through his performances against teams such as R. Charleroi S.C. Having entered the pitch at half-time, Ninis assisted three goals and scored one, aiding Panathiniakos to a 5–1 victory against the Belgian club. On 11 August 2008, it was revealed that ten Cate had selected Ninis to be one of the new captains of Panathinaikos, along with fellow players Dimitris Salpingidis and Gilberto Silva. Ninis is the youngest ever player to be chosen as captain of Panathinaikos, at the age of 18 years and 125 days. On 23 September 2008, Ninis extended his contract with Panathiniakos for an additional four years to 2012, with a €10m buy-out clause into the agreement for any foreign team wanting to buy him, rising to €17m for a Greek side. In February 2010, Ninis made his best appearances with Panathinaikos and generally in his personal career so far in the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League against AS Roma. That days, Roma was in great form and was second in Serie A. Having played well in the first match, in OAKA, he helped his team win 3–2. However, in Stadio Olimpico in Roma, he did better, than any other time before. He won a penalty, which Djibril Cissé converted to equalizer for Panathinaikos, then the Greek young attacking midfielder scored from 28 meters and in the stoppage time of the first half he made a great pass to Djibril Cissé, who didn't have a problem to score. In September 2011, Ninis suffered an injury and did not make his return until March. On 20 May 2012, he played his last match with Panathinaikos in the 2011–12 Superleague Greece playoffs final against AEK and was replaced by substitute Giorgos Karagounis in the 70th minute. In total, Ninis made 137 appearances for Panathinaikos, scoring 15 goals. Parma In March 2012, Parma president Tommaso Ghirardi announced he had signed the Greek midfielder for the summer. After a disappointing 2012–13 season in which he only made 14 appearances for Parma, Ninis returned to his homeland on-loan to PAOK Salonika. His contract was terminated by mutual consent in August 2014. Return to Panathinaikos On 6 November 2014, Ninis signed a new contract with Panathinaikos for two-and-a-half years.