Panathinaikos A.O.

Full Name	Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos Παναθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Όμιλος
Official Emblem	Panathinaikos Athletic Club emblem
Founded	1908
Nicknames	Prasinoi (The Greens) Trifilli (The Shamrock)
Titles	493
Anthem	listen (helpinfo)
Club colours	Green and White
Ground	Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium
Chairman	Thanasis Giannakopoulos
Websites	Panathinaikos F.C. Official Website Panathinaikos B.C. Official Website Panathinaikos V.C. Official Website

Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos (Greek: Παναθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Όμιλος, listen (helpinfo)), widely known both as Panathinaikos or PAO, is a Greek multisport club based in Athens, Greece. Panathinaikos has been largely successful throughout its history, as its teams and individual athletes have won a total of 493 officially acknowledged titles (as of June 2007) in both national and international competitions. Furthermore, it is also one of the largest sport clubs in Greece and also on an international scale, as measured by the number of different sports departments it maintains [1]. In English the club's name would be Pan-Athenian Athletic Club. According to the official history of the club, Panathinaikos was founded by George Kalafatis in 1908, when he and forty other athletes decided to break away from Panellinios Gymnastikos Syllogos following the club's refusal to form a football team.

Today, three professional teams use the Panathinaikos name — the football team, P.A.E. Panathinaikos; the basketball team, K.A.E. Panathinaikos; and the volleyball team, T.A.P. Panathinaikos. These three teams operate independently.

The club also features an amateur section whose chairman and board members are elected on a regular basis by members of the club. The current chairman is Thanasis Giannakopoulos. During its history the club has established teams in 24 different sports. In the past the club has also included teams in Field hockey, Handball, Waterskiing and Judo. Among the more recent additions has been a Synchronized swimming team, established in 1992.

In 2006, the club reached a final agreement with the Municipality of Athens and the Greek Government, to build a new comprehensive sports complex to house all of the clubs sports teams. This is intended as a replacement for the Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium. Votanikos Arena is temporarily the name of this new stadium as it will be built in Votanikos area, about 3km west of Athens city centre. Even though detailed plans and timetables have not yet been unveiled, construction is expected to start by the end of 2007. While it was originally expected for the complex to be ready by the end of 2008, in time to host celebrations for the club's 100th birthday, Panathinaikos officials stated their intention to host the centennial celebration at the Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium, team's historical home venue.

Football

Main article: Panathinaikos FC

Football in Greece, made its appearance in about 1890 but there was no official championship since it was considered as a sport for lower classes. There were some people, though, who had predicted that this sport would eventually become the most popular in Greece. Giorgos Kalafatis, was the one who really believed in football and in December of 1908 at the age of 18, he founded the team that is today called Panathinaikos FC. The president of the team was Alexandros Kalafatis, Yorgos's brother. Yorgos Kalafatis is now considered as the Greek soccer "Father". The name of the club was by then P.O.A. (Podosfairikos Omilos Athinon - Football Club of Athens). The club changed its name twice during the time period of 1910 - 1918.With

In 1918 there were two more historical decisions were taken. First of all, it was decided that the official color of the team would be the green, as in most of the matches the players were not using the same outfit. The other decision was about the club's symbol. Panathinaikos until then didn't have any official symbol and it was decided that the "triffili" would be the one. The man who had the idea for it was, Michalis Papazoglou, a great athlete from Constantinople who played for the team of Chalkidona, which had the same symbol. This idea was accepted by the Panathinaikos's Council. Panathinaikos got its final name in May 15, 1924. It was turned to P.A.O. (Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos - Panathinaikos Athletic Club).

Panathinaikos became popular almost immediately and soon it's superiority was acknowledged. Greek Authorities for the previously mentioned reasons didn't want football to be played in Greece, but they realized that the fans of that sport were rapidly increasing. Finally they were forced to officially recognize football and the Panathinaikos team. It was one more triumph of George Kalafatis and Panathinaikos. The Nickname Shamrock, has come from the crest being a shamrock but also the owner being Irish, Glen Bower of Galway, bought the club in 1945 has gone on from there.

In September 2001, IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics) voted Panathinaikos FC as World's Club Team of the Month [2]

Panathinaikos was also one of the first clubs that formed a womens' team in 1980.This department is currently inactive.

(Honours: 41 titles)

• Greek Championships: 19
• 1930, 1949, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2004
• Panhellenic (SEGAS) Championship: 1
• 1911
• Greek Cup: 16
• 1940, 1948, 1955, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2004
• Greek Super Cup: 4
• 1970, 1988, 1993, 1994
• Balkan Cup: 1
• 1978
• Doubles: 7
• 1969, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1995, 2004
• European Cup Runners-Up
• 1971
• Intercontinental Cup Runners-Up:
• 1971

Basketball

Main article: Panathinaikos BC

The basketball department is called Panathinaikos Basketball Club (Greek name, transliterated into English: K.A.E. Panathinaikos A.O.), currently owned by pharmaceutical magnates Pavlos & Thanassis Giannakopoulos. It was founded in 1922 and has developed into the most successful basketball team in Greece and among the best in Europe. They have won 28 national championships, 10 Greek Cups, 4 European Championships and 1 Inter-continental Cup.

Legends of world basketball have played with the club (Dominique Wilkins, Byron Scott, Dino Radja, Dejan Bodiroga, Nikos Galis, Panagiotis Giannakis, Stojan Vrankovic, Fanis Christodoulou, Antonio Davis, Zeljko Rebraca among others). Those players, along with the successful management of Pavlos and Thanassis Giannakopoulos, have made Panathinaikos one of the most successful and well-known teams in the continent, having won four Euroleague titles.

On April 1996 in Paris final-four (F4), Panathinaikos was the first Greek team to win the European Championships (now Euroleague), beating FC Barcelona in a unique final tournament, by 67-66. In September of the same year the team also won the Inter-continental cup, prevailing by 2-1 wins over Olympia of Argentina (83-89, 83-78, 101-76). In 2000 in Thessaloniki F4, Panathinaikos were the Champions of Europe for the second time, beating Maccabi 73-67 in the final. In 2002 in Bologna F4, Panathinaikos brought to Athens the most prestigious European trophy for the third time, beating hosts Kinder Bologna 89-83 in the final. In 2007 in Athens F4, Panathinaikos were crowned Champions of Europe for the fourth time, beating CSKA Moscow 93-91 in probably, the best Euroleague final ever.

Panathinaikos participated in the F4 of the Euroleague another four times: Tel Aviv in 1994 (3rd), Zaragoza in 1995 (3rd), Paris in 2001 (2nd) and Moscow in 2005 (3rd). Other significant successes are: the two participations in the semifinals of the Cup Winners Cup (1969, 1998), the course up to the semi-finals of the Champions Cup for the season 1971-72 (eliminated by Ignis Varese (78-70, 55-69). In the season of 1981-82, Panathinaikos participated in the finals of the Cup Champions Cup of that time, eliminating consecutively CSKA Moscow and Levski Sofia teams.

(Honours: 47 titles)

Men

• Greek Championships: 28
• 1946, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Greek Cups: 10
• 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
• European Championships - Euroleague: 4
• 1996, 2000, 2002, 2007
• Intercontinental Cup: 1
• 1996
• Doubles: 5
• 1982, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Triple Crown: 1
• 2007

Women

• Greek Championships: 3
• 1998, 2000, 2005
• Greek Cup: 1
• 2000
• Double: 1
• 2000

Volleyball

Main article: Panathinaikos VC

Since the year of its foundation in 1908, Panathinaikos has been one of the first athletic associations that created a volleyball club in Greece. The first dynamic presence of the team is dated in the years 1927 – 29 with many popular players of the time such as the historical member of the board Apostolos Nikolaidis as well as players such as Aravositas, Gkoumas, Arg. Nikolaidis, Papageorgiou and Papastefanou. In the following years the interest for volleyball became less until before the 2nd Word War when Panathinaikos presented a powerful team with leader players such as Labrou, Vallidis, Momferatos, Tzoumanis, Proselentis, Lykouris, Kakridis k.a.

In the recent history, the volleyball club has demonstrated many titles and honors due to the fact that the team roster has always included some of the leading volleyball players. The first and most popular generation of players of 60’s was Andreas and Nikos Bergeles, as well as Iliopoulos, Leloudas, Chasapis, Emmanouil, Perros and Fotiou who opened the road for the next generations. The most important achievement of the team was the participation in the final of the CEV Top Teams Cup in 1980 with players such as Georgantis, Agrapidakis (current team manager), Koliopoulos, Iliopoulos, Papadopoulos, Malousaris, Gkountakos, Astras and Kokkinaras. The following years Panathinaikos team has continued to dominate the Greek championship with players such as Kazazis, Tentzeris, Gontikas, Galakos, Dimitriadis, Margaronis, Karamaroudis and Andreopoulos.

One of the most successful periods were also the seasons 1994-95 and 1995-96 where Panathinaikos won two championships in a raw with Stelios Prosalikas as head coach and Andreopoulos, Triantafillidis, Filippof, Spanos, Hatziantoniou, Oyzounof, A. Kovatsef, P. Kovatsef, Karamaroudis, Mavrakis, Konstantinidis, Zakynthinos, Koutouleas, Tonef as players.

Today, after a difficult period for the team, Panathinaikos reached the top again. The administration, the coaching team, players, fans and supporters acted as the biggest guarantee for the cause but most important the long-lasting history which «condemns» our club to be an eternal leader. A look at club's trophies would be enough...

(Honours: 45 titles)

Men

• Greek Championships: 18
• 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2006
• Greek Cups: 4
• 1982, 1984, 1985, 2007
• Super Cup: 1
• 2006
• Doubles: 3
• 1982, 1984, 1985
• Cup Winners Cup Runners-Up
• 1980

Women

• Greek Championships: 20
• 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Greek Cups: 2
• 2005, 2006
• Doubles: 2
• 2005, 2006
• Cup Winners Cup Runners-Up
• 2000

Amateur Sports Sections

Table Tennis

The Table Tennis department was founded in 1924

(Honours: 112 titles)

• Greek Championship Men Single: 30

1930, 1931, 1940, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1959 [Mantzaroglou], 1961, 1964, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1973 [A Category], 1974, 1974 [A Category], 1975, 1975 [A Category], 1975 [Mantzaroglou], 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1986 [A Category], 1987, 1988

• Greek Championship Women Single: 18

1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1958, 1959 [Mantzaroglou], 1959 [Spring], 1972, 1972 [A Category], 1973, 1973 [A Category], 1974, 1974 [A Category], 1976, 1976 [A Category], 1976 [Mantzaroglou]

• Greek Championship Men Double: 21

1940, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

• Greek Championship Women Double: 6

1953, 1954, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975

• Greek Championship Men-Women Double: 14

1955, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986

• Greek Club's Championship - Overall Standings: 7

1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1961, 1962

• Greek Club's Championship Men: 6

1959, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968, 1974

• '''Greek Club's Championship Women

1972, 1973, 1974

• Greek Cup Men: 6

1966, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1992

• Greek Cup Women: 1

1969

Athletics

The Athletics department was founded in 1919

(Honours: 58 titles)

• Greek Championship: 23

1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1989, 1990

• Greek Indoor Championship: 4

1986, 1989, 1990, 1994

• Greek Cross Country Championship: 24

1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998

• Greek Championship (Damen): 2

1949, 1950

• Greek Cross Country Championshipn (Damen): 5

1949, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

Cycling

The Cycling department was founded in 1928

(Honours: 51 titles)

• Greek Championship: 7

1956, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1973

• Greek Championship (Street): 29

1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1997

• Greek Championship (Velodrom): 15

1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990

Boxing

The Boxing department was founded in 1946

(Honours: 27 titles)

• Greek Championship: 26

1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997

• Greek Cup: 1

1988

Fencing

The Fencing department was founded in 1960

(Honours: 27 titles)

• Greek Team Championship: 11

1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974

• Greek Championship: 16

1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980

Diving

The Diving department was founded in 1947

(Honours: 26 titles)

• Greek Championship (Men, 5m. board): 19

1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981

• Greek Championship (Men, 3m. board): 6

1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976

• Greek Championship (Men, Total Standings): 1

1965

Archery

The Archery department was founded in 1981

(Honours: 15 titles)

• Greek Championship (Men and Women): 5

1992, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

• Greek Championship: 5

1992, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

• Greek Championship Standard Bow: 1

1993

• Greek Championship Women: 4

1992, 1983, 1985, 1986

Swimming

The Swimming department was founded in 1930

(Honours: 13 titles)

• Greek Championship: 13

1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968

Shooting

The Shooting department was founded in 1928

(Honours: 9 titles)

• Greek Team - Championship: 8

1960, 1964, 1992, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991

• Greek Military Championship: 1

1948

Chess

The Chess department was founded in 1959

(Honours: 8 titles)

• Greek Championship: 7

1964, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976

• Greek Cup: 1

1972

Weightlifting

The Weightlifting department was founded in 1959

(Honours: 6 titles)

• Greek Championship: 6

1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

Pentathlon

The Pentathlon department was founded in 1978

(Honours: 2 titles)

• Greek Championship: 2

1980, 1987

Wrestling

The Wrestling department was founded in 1965

(Honours: 2 titles)

• Greek Championship: 2

1982, 1984

Gymnastics

The Gymnastics department was founded in 1962

(Honours: 1 title)

• Greek Championship: 1

1972

Water Ski

The Water Ski department was founded in 1963. It is currently inactive.

(Honours: 1 title)

• Greek Championship: 1

1968

Futsal

The Futsal department was founded in 1990. It is currently inactive.

(Honours: 1 title)

• Greek Championship: 1

1991

Water Polo

The Water Polo department was founded in 1930

(Honours: None)

Handball

The Handball department was founded in 1930. It is currently inactive.

(Honours: None)

Field Hockey

The Field Hokey department was founded in 1928. It is currently inactive.

(Honours: None)

Judo

The Judo department was founded in 1980. It is currently inactive.

(Honours: None)

Synchronized Swimming

The Synchronized Swimming department was founded in 1992. It is currently inactive.

(Honours: None)

References

• Panathinaikos 1908-1998 from Panos Fiamengos
• Mia zoi Panathinaikos IDEV S.A. Publications, Athens 1985
• Hellenic General Secretariat for Sports

External links

• Panathinaikos FC - Official website (in Greek & English)
• Panathinaikos BC - Official website (in Greek & English)
• Panathinaikos VC - Official website (in Greek & English)
• Panathinaikos Youth Academy Official Website (in Greek)
• Panathinaikos Official Online Superstore (in Greek & English)

Well Known fansites

• Panathinaikos Fan Site (in Greek)
• Panathinaikos Gate 13 Fan Site (in Greek & English)
• Panathinaikos Fan Site & Forum (in Greek & English)
• GreenCyberFans site & forum
• PAO Mesogeia Club Gate 13 (in Greek)
• PAO-13.com Fan Site (in Greek)
• Panathinaikos Ultras Gate 13

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