P.A.O.K.

P.A.O.K.
Full nameΠανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινοπολιτών
Panthessaloníkeios Athlitikós Ómilos Konstantinopolitón
(Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans)
NicknameDikefalos Aetos (Double-Headed Eagle)
Asprόmavri (White-Blacks)
Founded1926
Colours    Black, White
ChairmanAlkiviadis Isaiadis
TitlesEuropean Titles: 2
Balkan Titles: 1
Websiteacpaok.gr
Active departments of P.A.O.K.
Football
(Men's)		 Football B
(Men's)		 Football
(Women's)
Basketball
(Men's)		 Basketball
(Women's)		 Volleyball
(Men's)
Volleyball
(Women's)		 Handball
(Men's)		 Handball
(Women's)
Water Polo
(Men's)		 Water Polo
(Women's)		 Boxing
Taekwondo Cycling Athletics
Ice hockey Futsal (Men's) Wrestling
Weightlifting Swimming Judo
Esports Chess

PAOK (Greek: ΠΑΟΚ, Πανθεσσαλονίκειος Αθλητικός Όμιλος Κωνσταντινοπολιτών, Panthessalonikeios Athlitikós Ómilos Constantinopoliton, lit. 'Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans'),[1] commonly known as A.C. PAOK (Greek: Α.Σ. Π.Α.Ο.Κ.), is a major multi-sports club based in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. The club has several departments, including football, basketball, volleyball, handball, water polo, swimming, wrestling, ice hockey, and weightlifting. P.A.O.K was founded in April 1926. Because of its crest, it is also known as the "Double-Headed Eagle of the North", in contrast with AEK, the "Double-Headed Eagle of the South". They are one of the most popular Greek sports-clubs with many fans all over the country (mostly, but not exclusively, in Northern Greece), and also among the Greek diaspora.

History

See also: History of PAOK FC

PAOK is closely linked with Hermes Sports Club (Greek: Ερμής), which was formed in 1875 by the Greek community of Pera, a district of Constantinople (Istanbul). The club was founded in April 1926 by Constantinopolitans who fled to Thessaloniki after the Greek defeat in the Greco-Turkish War (see Rum Millet).[2][3][4]

The club's first memorandum of association signed on 30 March 1926 at Enosis Konstantinoupoliton Thessalonikis office, and was approved on 20 April 1926 by a decision of the Thessaloniki Court of First Instance (No. 822). The founding members were A. Angelopoulos, A. Athanasiadis, K. Anagnostidis, M. Ventourellis, F. Vyzantinos, V.Karapiperis, A. Dimitriadis, D. Dimitriadis, N. Zoumboulidis, M. Theodosiadis, T. Ioakimopoulos, P. Kalpaktsoglou, T. Kartsambekis, D. Koemtzopoulos, K. Koemtzopoulos, P. Kontopoulos, K. Kritikos, M. Konstantinidis, P. Maleskas, I. Nikolaidis, L. Papadopoulos, F. Samantzopoulos, T. Tsoulkas, M. Tsoulkas, S. Triantafyllidis and T. Triantafyllidis (who was also its first Chairman).[2]

P.A.O.K.'s first Board of Directors, serving between 1926 and 1927, consisted of:

  • T. Triantafyllidis (President)
  • P. Kalpaktsoglou (1st vice-president)
  • K. Kritikos (General Secretary)
  • M. Tsoulkas (Special Secretary)
  • T. Ioakimopoulos (Treasurer)
  • A. Angelopoulos (Director of Football)
  • A. Dimitriadis (Director of Sports)
  • P. Maleskas (Consultant)
  • K. Koemtzopoulos (Consultant)
  • M. Theodosiadis (Consultant)

The club's policy was to be open to every citizen of Thessaloniki, leading to a minor rivalry with AEK Thessaloniki, the other Constantinopolitan team of the city, in which only refugees were allowed to play. The original logo of PAOK was a horseshoe and a four-leaf clover. The leaves were green and above them were the initials of the word PAOK. Kostas Koemtzopoulos, one of PAOK's founding members, came up with this idea, inspired by his favourite brand of cigarettes.[5]

The football club played their first game (friendly) on 4 May 1926, at Thermaikos stadium, defeating Megas Alexandros Thessaloniki 2–1. The first coach of the club was Kostas Andreadis, who spent five years on the bench without demanding any payment.[6] Their first captain was Michalis Ventourelis.

The first professional contract was signed by the club on 5 September 1928. The contract stipulated that the French footballer Raymond Etienne  – of Jewish descent from Pera Club – would be paid 4,000 drachmas per month. The contract was signed by Dr. Meletiou, the PAOK chairman, and Mr. Sakellaropoulos, the Hon. Secretary.[7]

In early 1929, AEK Thessaloniki was virtually dissolved and absorbed by PAOK. PAOK thereupon changed their emblem, adopting the double-headed eagle, as a symbol of the club's Byzantine/Constantinopolitan heritage. PAOK also got possession of AEK's facilities located around Syntrivani (i.e. Fountain) Square.

In 1937, PAOK won his first title, the Macedonia (EPSM or Thessaloniki) Championship, and participated in the Panhellenic Championship, finishing second. The 1937 team included: Sotiriadis, Vatikis, Goulios, Kontopoulos, Bostantzoglou, Panidis, Glaros, Kritas, Ioannidis, Kalogiannis, Koukoulas, Kosmidis, Apostolou, Vafiadis, Vasiliadis, Anastasiadis, Moschidis, Tzakatzoglou, Zakapidas.

The first Greek championship for the basketball team was achieved in 1958–59 season. The first Greek championship for the football team was achieved in 1975–76 season.

In the 90s, the basketball team won another Greek championship and two European cups, the 1990–91 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup and the 1993–94 FIBA Korać Cup.

Crest and Colours

The original logo of PAOK was a horseshoe and a four-leaf clover. The current symbol since 1929 is the double-headed eagle. The eagle symbolizes the origins of the club in the former Byzantine capital, Constantinople, and the legacy of the Greek refugees from Asia Minor, Eastern Thrace, Pontus and Caucasus. In 2013, a golden outline was added to the football team's crest, as a symbol of the club's Byzantine heritage.[8]

The club's traditional colours are black, as sadness for the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922 and the end of the Greek presence in Anatolia, and white as hope for recovery.[9]

Supporters

P.A.O.K. is the most widely supported sports-club in Northern Greece and one of the 4 most popular in the country (along with the big-three of capital Athens and Piraeus). PAOK's traditional fanbase comes from the city of Thessaloniki, where the club is based, as well as from the rest of Macedonia region and Northern Greece. They also have fans all over the country and in the Greek Diaspora (Germany, Australia, USA, etc.).

Rivalries

Main articles: Olympiacos and PAOK rivalry, Aris and PAOK rivalry, Double-headed eagles derby, and Panathinaikos-PAOK rivalry

P.A.O.K.'s main rivals are Olympiacos, Aris (local rivals), Panathinaikos, AEK, Iraklis.

Football kit evolution

[10][11][12]

First

1926–27
1936–37
1962–63
1966–67
1967–68
1970–71
1971–72
1975–76
1984–85
1990–91
2002–03
2004–05
2008–09
2015–16
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19

Alternative

2000–01
2001–02
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19

P.A.O.K. Departments – Honours

Football

Men's Football

Source:[13]

Women's Football

Basketball

Men's Basketball

Source:[14]

Volleyball

Men's Volleyball

Women's Volleyball

Handball

Men's Handball

Women's Handball

Weightlifting

  • 7 Greek men's Championships: 2006, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025

Wrestling

  • 9 Greek men's Championships Greco-Roman: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Judo

  • 2 Greek men's Championships: 2019, 2021
  • 2 Greek women's Championships: 2019, 2022
  • 1 Greek mixed team Championships: 2023

Athletics

  • 3 Greek women's Open Athletics Championships: 1976, 1977, 1982
  • 2 Greek women's Cross Country Championships: 1968, 1974

Swimming

  • 1 Greek OPEN Championship: 1987

Cycling

  • 1 Greek men's Championship Mountain Bike: 2002

Boxing

  • 2 Greek men's Championships: 2003, 2007

Roller hockey

  • 1 Greek men's Championship: 2008
  • 1 Balkan Cup: 2007

European honours

Season Men's Football Men's basketball Women's volleyball Men's ice hockey
1973–74 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
Quarter-finals
1989–90 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup
Semi-finals
1990–91 FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup
Winners
1991–92 FIBA European Cup
Final
1992–93 FIBA European League
3rd place
1993–94 FIBA Korać Cup
Winners
1995–96 FIBA European Cup
Final
2006–07 Balkan Amateur Hockey League
Winners
2021–22 UEFA Conference League
Quarter-finals
2023–24 UEFA Conference League
Quarter-finals
2024-25 BVA Cup
Final
2024-25 FIBA Europe Cup
Final

Notable former athletes

PAOK Presidents

Since its foundation on April 20, 1926, the Panthessalonikeios Athletic Club of Constantinople was founded as multi-sport club PAOK. the corresponding President of AS PAOK was responsible for all the departments of the club and the football team of PAOK FC. until 1979 when the Football department became professional, Autonomous with its own President and Administration

Chairmen PAOK FC

From the organization of the Alpha Ethniki 1979-80 Greek Football became professional, as based on a bill submitted on January 19, 1979 (Law 879/1979) the football department of the club PAOK was converted into a Football Anonyme Company A.E

Period Name
1979–1984 Giorgos Pantelakis
1984–1986 Petros Kalafatis
1986–1988 Charis Savvidis
1988–1989 Ioannis Dedeoglou
1989–1990 Thomas Voulinos
1990 Apostolos Alexopoulos
1990–1996 Thomas Voulinos
1996 Georgios Kalyvas
1996–1998 Georgios Batatoudis
1998 Petros Kalafatis
1998–2001 Georgios Batatoudis
2001–2003 Petros Kalafatis
2003–2004 Ioannis Goumenos
2004 Vasilios Pagonis
2004-2006 Ioannis Goumenos
2006–2007 Nikos Vezyrtzis
2007–2010 Theodoros Zagorakis
2010–2014 Zisis Vryzas
2014–2016 Iakovos Aggelidis
2016 Ľuboš Micheľ
2016– Ivan Savvidis

Chatmen PAOK BC

Since 1928, the respective President of A.C. PAOK was responsible for the management of the Basketball team PAOK. In 1992 the basketball department became professional, with its own President.

Notable supporters

References

  1. ^ "Myths, heroes and legends: PAOK in focus". UEFA. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Ιστορία". acpaok.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 3 October 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  3. ^ "History". paokfc.gr. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  4. ^ "PAOK FC". footballhistory.org. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Milestones". paokfc.gr. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  6. ^ "90 χρόνια ΠΑΟΚ!90 χρόνια προπονητές!". paokvoice.com (in Greek). Archived from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Ο άγνωστος Ραϊμόν Ετιέν..." [The unknown first foreign player of PAOK Raymond Ettienne]. paokmania.gr (in Greek). 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Η ιστορία του σήματος του ΠΑΟΚ" [PAOK logo history]. oldfootball.gr (in Greek). 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Η ιστορία του ΠΑΟΚ – History of PAOK". sansimera.gr. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Όλες οι 117 φανέλες ΠΑΟΚ!". inpaok.com (in Greek). 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  11. ^ "PHOTOSTORY: Οι εμφανίσεις του ΠΑΟΚ στην Α' Εθνική". contra.gr (in Greek). 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Retro stories: Οι φανέλες του ΠΑΟΚ!". gazzetta.gr (in Greek). 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  13. ^ "Honours". paokfc.gr. Archived from the original on 31 May 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Trophies". paokbc.gr. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Αυτιάς: "Είμαι ΠΑΟΚάρα, αλλά μακάρι να πάρει το πρωτάθλημα ο Παναθηναϊκός" (vid) | SDNA". Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Γιάννης Αγγελάκας: ΠΑΟΚ είμαι, τί άλλο;". thestival.gr. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Άννα Κορακάκη: "Θέλω να πάρει το πρωτάθλημα ο ΠΑΟΚ"". in.gr. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Ο Βασίλης Καρράς ψηφίζει... ΠΑΟΚ!" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Lucescu: PAOK is the club of my heart". metrosport.gr (in Greek). 19 September 2023. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Ο Γιάννης Πάριος θυμάται". tovima.gr. Λένα Παπαδημητρίου. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Ναι ρε Πάολα! Η εκρηκτική λαϊκή diva είναι ΠΑΟΚ και ακούει Metallica! Τελικά... ήρθε η συντέλεια" (in Greek). Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Σαββόπουλος: "Ο Τσίπρας είναι long play αυταπατώμενος"". tovima.gr. Δημήτρης Θεοδωρόπουλος. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Τσακαλώτος: Τραγoυδάει το σύνθημα του ΠΑΟΚ για τον… Μάικλ Τζάκσον (βίντεο)". Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Διάσημοι Έλληνες στις κερκίδες για τις ομάδες τους - In2life". Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
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