Panathinaikos A.O.

Panathinaikos A.O.
Name	Panathinaikos A.O.
Founded	03 February 1908
Ground	Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium
Capacity	15,000
Chairman	Giannis Alafouzos
Manager	Fatih Terim
League	Super League Greece
Current	2023–24 Panathinaikos A.O. season

Panathinaikos A.O. is a major multi-sport club based in Athens, Greece, renowned globally for its historic football department. Founded in 1908 as "Podosferikos Omilos Athinon" by Giorgos Kalafatis, it is one of the oldest and most successful sports organizations in the country. The club, identified by its iconic shamrock emblem and green-and-white colors, competes across numerous sports, with its football team being a dominant force in Greek football.

History

The club was established in 1908 by Giorgos Kalafatis, a student who brought the sport of football to Athens after being inspired during studies in England. Initially named "Podosferikos Omilos Athinon," it was renamed to its current form in 1924, symbolizing its pan-Athenian identity. The football team quickly rose to prominence, winning its first Panhellenic Championship in 1930 under the guidance of Hungarian coach József Künsztler. A golden era arrived in the 1960s and 1970s under legendary manager Ferenc Puskás, culminating in the club's greatest achievement: reaching the 1971 European Cup Final at Wembley Stadium against Ajax. Throughout the late 20th century, fierce battles with Olympiacos and AEK Athens defined the domestic scene, with Panathinaikos securing numerous Super League Greece titles. The 21st century has seen periods of both success, including a domestic double in 2010, and significant financial challenges, with the club undergoing a transformative era under the presidency of Giannis Alafouzos.

Club departments

Panathinaikos operates one of the most extensive multi-sport frameworks in Greece, encompassing numerous professional and amateur sections. Beyond the flagship football department, the club is celebrated for its historically successful basketball team, Panathinaikos B.C., a multiple EuroLeague champion. Other major departments include volleyball (Panathinaikos V.C.), water polo, and athletics, with the latter being among the club's original founding sports. The club also maintains active sections in swimming, boxing, fencing, and table tennis, among others, competing at the highest national and international levels, including the Olympic Games.

Stadiums and facilities

The club's historic home is the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in the Ambelokipi district, a venue it has used since 1922 and which is renowned for its intense atmosphere. For major European matches and larger domestic fixtures, the football team often utilizes the larger Olympic Stadium in Marousi, built for the 2004 Summer Olympics. The basketball department plays its home games at the modern O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall. The club's primary training complex is the "Giannis Pathiakakis" training center in Paiania, which features state-of-the-art facilities for football and other sports.

Supporters and rivalries

The club's supporters, known as "Prasini" (The Greens), constitute one of the largest and most passionate fanbases in Greece, with organized groups like "Gate 13" leading the support. The club's most intense and historic rivalry is with Piraeus-based Olympiacos, a confrontation known as the "Derby of the eternal enemies," which divides Athens and is among football's most heated. A major rivalry also exists with AEK Athens, another of the capital's big three clubs. These derbies are central to the culture of Greek football, with matches often having decisive implications for the Super League Greece title.

Honours

Panathinaikos is one of the most decorated clubs in Greek football history. Domestically, the club has won the Super League Greece championship 20 times and the Greek Football Cup on 19 occasions, achieving the domestic double in 1979, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1995, 2004, and 2010. In European competition, its crowning achievement was finishing as runner-up in the 1971 European Cup Final. The club also won the Balkans Cup in 1977. The basketball department has an even more illustrious continental record, with multiple EuroLeague and Intercontinental Cup titles to its name.

Players and personnel

Throughout its history, the club has been home to legendary Greek players such as Mimis Domazos, Antonis Antoniadis, Krzysztof Warzycha, and Giorgos Karagounis. Iconic foreign stars have also graced the team, including Juan Ramón Verón, Velimir Zajec, and more recently, Sebastián Leto. The dugout has been occupied by renowned managers like Ferenc Puskás, Juan Ramón Rocha, and Jesús Gil y Gil. The club's current football manager is the experienced Turkish coach Fatih Terim, while the presidency is held by media magnate Giannis Alafouzos. The club's youth academy, known for producing talents like Sotiris Ninis, remains a cornerstone of its philosophy.

Category:Panathinaikos A.O. Category:Sport in Athens Category:Multi-sport clubs in Greece