Born in Thessaloniki, Kavakas began playing football as a defender for local side Apollon Kalamarias F.C.
In January 2010, he was appointed manager of third-tier Veria, which he guided to promotion to the second-tier Football League.
There he managed to make a stunning first round course that led to the promotion of the Cretan club in the Super League for the first time in its history.
The second half of the season 2011–12 finds him in Kerkyra FC, who by that time was struggling to remain in the top league.
The financial problems and the failure to promote the team in the Super League, led to his withdrawal in June 2013.