PAOK FC

Foundation and early years (1926–1945)

The notable footballer Christoforos Pantermalis started his career at Hermes Club of Istanbul (then Constantinople) and he also played at PAOK

PAOK FC is the oldest division of PAOK Sports Club, the successor of Hermes Athletic and Cultural Association (Greek: Ερμής), which was formed in 1875 by the Greek community of Pera, a district of Istanbul (then Constantinople).^[8]

The football club was founded in 1926.^[9] It was created by Constantinopolitans who fled to Thessaloniki after the Greek defeat in the Greco-Turkish War, although it was open to every citizen of Thessaloniki, leading to a minor rivalry with AEK Thessaloniki, the other Constantinopolitan team of the city, in which played only refugees. The original logo of PAOK was a horseshoe and a four-leaf clover.^[10]

PAOK played their first (informal) game on May 4, 1926, at the Thermaikos stadium, defeating Megas Alexandros Thessaloniki 2–1. The first coach of the club spent five years on the team's bench, and was unpaid, Kostas Andreadis.^[11] Their first captain was Michalis Ventourelis.^[12]

PAOK in 1926

The season 1926–27, PAOK participated in the 2nd division of Macedonia Football Clubs Association Championship, where was also AEK Thessaloniki. The first official match of their history was on December 12, 1926, where they defeated Nea Genea 3–1, for the same division. After winning the championship of the 2nd division, forced by the organizing authority (EPSMTH), to play with all club's from first division, and he had to win them to be promoted. Eventually they won all four teams, Thermaikos with 4–1, Aris with 2–1, Atlantas with 1–0 and Iraklis with 1–0, and was promoted. In 1927–28 they participated for the first time in 1st division EPSM.^[13]

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.^[14]

In early 1929, AEK Thessaloniki was absorbed by PAOK, who then changed their emblem, adopting the two-headed eagle. The eagle symbolizes the origins of the club in the former Byzantine capital, Constantinople, and the legacy of the Greek refugees from the Ottoman Empire.^[10]

The team of 1937

In 1930–31 they made their debut in the Pan-Hellenic Championship, playing their first match against Olympiacos, and ended the season in 5th place.^[13] The first foreign coach in the team's history was Austrian Rudolf Gasner, who served PAOK in 1931–32.^[11] On 5 June 1932, the Syntrivani Stadium was inaugurated with PAOK's 3–2 victory over Iraklis. Syntrivani was to be their home ground for 27 years.^[15]

In 1937, PAOK won their first title, the Macedonia (EPSM or Thessaloniki) Championship, and participated in the Pan-Hellenic 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, Zacapidas.^[16]

On May 28, 1939, PAOK competed for the first time in a Greek Cup final against AEK and was defeated 2–1 on the Apostolos Nikolaidis.^[17] In the same season they competed in the final of the 1939–40 Pan-Hellenic Championship, where they lost in double final from AEK. In 1940 they won the North Greece championship.^[18]

The team of 1939

• The beginning of the Greco-Italian War brought the general mobilization in Greece, and the end of every sport activity. PAOK's footballers were presented to Hellenic Army and two of them gave their lives to battle. Goalkeeper Nikos Sotiriadis and left defender Giorgos Vatikis. They are both among the four Greek footballers who have left their last breath on the front. The others was Spyros Kontoulis of AEK and Mimis Pierrakos of Panathinaikos.
• Giorgos Vatikis was the first Greek athlete to "fall" on the Greek-Italian front. As an Warrant Officer. He was 22 years old when he died in Battle of Morava–Ivan. Afterwards, Vatikis was promoted to a lieutenant, and he was awarded the Silver Cross of Valour and the Homeland of Gratitude.
• Nikos Sotiriadis played from 1932 until 1940 in the PAOK team, leaving his last breath on January 28, 1941, in Kleisura, fighting with the rank of Sergeant in the 50th Infantry regiment, in the Greco-Italian War. He was 33 years old.^[19]

EPSM Championships (1946–1958)

After the Second World War, in the early 1950s, some important pages of PAOK's history began to be written. At that time, the PAOK academy was created by the Austrian coach, Wilhelm (Willi) Sefzik, and was known as the "chicos of Willi". From the newly founded academy sprang some great football players of the season, such as Leandros Symeonidis, Giannelos Margaritis and Giorgos Havanidis.^[20]

In 1948 PAOK won the Macedonia Championship for the second time in history, and then participated in the final phase of the Pan-Hellenic Championship where it was ranked 3rd. PAOK's footballers dedicated the title to the memory of team captain, Thrasyvoulos Panidis, who had lost his life (18 February 1948) in the civil war a few days before the club won it. Panidis played in PAOK since 1930 and had 122 appearances.^[21] In 1950 he emerged once again champion of Macedonia,^[22] while the next year (1950–51) participated for the second time in the final of the Greek Cup, but lost to Olympiacos.

In 1953 it marked the beginning of successful period for PAOK. During the summer transfers in the team came the Kouiroukidis, Petrides, Progios, Geroudis, Kemanidis, Chassiotis and Angelides.The acquirement of Lambis Kouiroukidis from Doxa Dramas was the major move for club's board, as with Lefteris Papadakis and Christophor Yentzis, created the famous aggressive triple of that age.^[10]

For four consecutive seasons (1954, 1955, 1956, 1957) PAOK won the Macedonian championship and participated in the Pan-Hellenic Championship with Yientzis being the first scorer in the season 1953–54 and Kouiroukidis in the season 1955–56.

Under the coach Nikos Pangalos won the Championship in 1954 with 9 wins and only 1 draw. A similar run for the next championship in 1955 with the same coach, with 8 wins and 2 draws. Also, in 1955 PAOK participated for the third time in a final cup and was defeated by Panathinaikos, at Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium. Ιn 1956, under Hungarian coach Erman Hoffman they won the third consecutive unbeaten championship, with 9 wins and 1 draw. That year first scorer was Kouiroukidis, with 14 goals.^[23] The "golden" four years ended in 1957 championship, coached by the Austrian Walter Pfeiffer.^[24] This was the 7th title, and last Macedonia Championship in their history, before the establishment of national championship, Alpha Ethniki.

PAOK Stadium (1959–1967)

Syntrivani Stadium

The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki purchased a two-acre piece of land in the area of Syntrivani Stadium in order to construct new schools. PAOK had to relocate and an area owned by the Ministry of National Defence at Toumba was chosen as the adequate location.

Wing-commander Georgios Themelis, then Minister of National Defence, granted the 7.5 acres to the club and also became the chairman of the committee overseeing the construction of the new stadium. The purchase cost was set at 1.5 million drachmas and was paid by PAOK's administration in 20 six-month instalments of 75,000 drachmas each. On 7 February 1958, a committee of Third Army Corps officers delivered the land to "Double-Headed Eagle's" representatives.

There were still barracks on the premises, housing victims of the Greek Civil War and the 1953 Ionian earthquake. Relocating all these people cost PAOK 70,000 drachmas. The total cost of the stadium's construction amounted to 6 million drachmas, with just 1.1 million coming from the General Secretariat of Sports as subvention. Earthworks started in spring of 1958 and then construction work followed, based on the plans of architect Minas Trempelas and political engineer Antonis Triglianos.

In an attempt to collect the necessary funds, the club issued the "Lottery for the construction of PAOK's new stadium" in April 1958 at a cost of 20 drachmas each. Since 1956, the administration was withholding 15% of the gate income in order to fund the construction of the new stadium. The "Double-Headed Eagle's" fans, apart from money, also contributed to construction by volunteering to work as builders.

The construction of the stadium was completed at a record time of one year. The inauguration event was scheduled for Sunday 6 September 1959 with a friendly encounter against AEK (PAOK prevailed 1–0 with a goal by Kostas Kiourtzis). Prime minister Konstantinos Karamanlis's attendance was cancelled at the last minute. However, several ministers of his government were there for the occasion. As for the ball for the first kick-off, it fell at 17:30 off an airplane of Sedes Military Air Base. On inauguration day, 15,000 PAOK supporters packed Toumba, as that was the stadium's capacity back then. It would increase to 20,000 seats in the following months until it reached a 45,000-seat capacity in the mid-'70s through extensive expansion work.

The attendance mark of 20,000 was broken on 28 April 1963 for the 1–1 draw with Panathinaikos (20,131 spectators), while the 30,000 mark was first surpassed in the 2–0 victory over Olympiacos on 19 March 1967 (31,504 spectators, to be exact). The attendance record remains at 45,252 tickets and was registered on 19 December 1976 in the goalless draw with AEK Athens.^[25]

First titles and Europe (1967–1995)

The Greek Cup draw procedures were kind to PAOK, as they didn't need to move from Thessaloniki and ended up playing all their Cup matches leading up to the final in their town. In the last 16 stage and in the semi-finals, the "Double-Headed Eagle" were paired with lower tier clubs. In the quarter-finals, they took their revenge from Aris, eliminating them at Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium with a 2–1 victory. Due to incidents during that match, the referee had to blow the final whistle ahead of time. As a consequence, Aris players Spyridon and Sidiropoulos were heavily punished at first instance (13 months' and 5 months' incarceration, respectively), but their bans were overturned on appeal. PAOK eliminated Pierikos, Aias Salamina, Aris and progressed to the final with their semi-final victory over PAS Lamia 1964.

Since the previous season, PAOK had insisted on the appointment of a neutral ground to host the final, as the 1970–71 Greek Cup showdown against Olympiacos had been held at Karaiskakis Stadium. PAOK would face Panathinaikos this time around—the Greens had prevailed over Panionios in the semis, but the final was played once again in Athens, at the "neutral" ground of Karaiskakis and not at Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium. So PAOK returned to the familiar yet inhospitable surroundings of Karaiskakis, far more experienced and readier to claim the 1971–72 Greek Cup title. The players had 10,000 fans on their side and they vowed that it was about time to return with the trophy at Thessaloniki.

It was the fifth final for the "Double-Headed Eagle" and the fourth time that they travelled to Athens for the trophy match. Giorgos Koudas paved the way with his early opener (2') and he also got to seal the deal with his direct free kick in the 89th minute. Papadimitriou got on the scorers’ sheet during stoppage time, reducing distances for Panathinaikos, but to no avail.

Monument of Thessaloniki used as a title festive

Panathinaikos head coach Ferenc Puskás spoke highly of PAOK's mature game and the fans of the "Double-Headed Eagle" started celebrations in Thessaloniki. As described in a newspaper report, "PAOK's triumph was wildly celebrated. Fans took to the streets, would jump with their clothes in the sea and the White Tower of Thessaloniki fountains, the city was all lit, church bells were ringing, there were chants, songs, tears, embraces, car horns, PAOK banners, all pieces of the triumph puzzle. Right after the final whistle, everyone who was watching the match headed towards the centre of Thessaloniki, using any means available: motorcycles, tricycles, trucks, buses and mainly small cars, all causing traffic congestion and big noise with their horns, trying to make their way to the White Tower. The younger fans would sing “here-there, here-there, we brought the Cup to the White Tower”.

On Thursday 6 July 1972, despite the heat wave in Thessaloniki, at least 2,500 cars headed to the Thessaloniki Airport "Makedonia" to welcome the players of PAOK who were bringing back the trophy. At exactly 16:35 it was announced by the airport loudspeakers that the flight had landed and the first cheers of the public were so loud that the players inside the aircraft heard them. A few minutes later, the door opened and Koulis Apostolidis was the first to appear holding the trophy. Giorgos Koudas and Les Shannon had remained in Athens, to catch a flight to England. The PAOK player would undergo a scheduled operation to deal with a chronic shoulder blade injury.

After their arrival, the players boarded their bus and the motorcade headed towards PAOK's headquarters in the city centre. There, fans and team would celebrate once again the Greek Cup triumph, with the trophy providing the backdrop. The employees of the club had put it on the ledge of a window at PAOK offices.^[26]

The 1973–74 Greek Cup final was held at Nea Filadelfia on Sunday 16 June (while the 1974 World Cup was on in Germany) and was the first ever to feature a pre-match ceremony. Les Shannon, due to his English football culture, had acquired special kits for his players to wear in the final—also a first-time experience in Greek football.

Filotas Pellios, defender and member of the 1975-76 champions team

It was a scintillating contest and kept fans on the edge of their seats until its dying seconds. Olympiacos took the lead after 20 minutes of play through Yves Triantafyllos. Konstantinos Iosifidis saw his thunderous belter crash against the crossbar. Dimitris Paridis eventually got the equalizer in the 51st minute, set up by Koudas. In the 66th minute, Gounaris’ handed the ball in PAOK's area and the referee pointed towards the spot kick. Giannis Stefas denied Karavitis at that crucial moment. Seven minutes later, at the opposite side of the pitch, Paridis charged into Olympiacos’ area and was brought down by Viera. Achilleas Aslanidis took the resulting penalty and fired the "Double-Headed Eagle" into the lead. Kritikopoulos turned in his header to make it 2–2 in the 82nd minute, forcing extra time. Nothing of significance happened in the next 30 minutes and a penalty shoot-out would determine the winner. Olympiacos’ Poupakis and Persidis missed their chances, as did PAOK's Koudas. Koulis Apostolidis showed his character with a nerveless spot-kick, the last of the procedure, and celebrated wildly PAOK's second Greek Cup title.^[27]

Kyriakos Alexandridis member of the 1984-85 champions team

On Friday 12 March 1976, after series of deliberations and two assemblies of the Directors’ Board, PAOK announced that Gyula Lóránt would remain at the helm. Kalafatis and Petridis would also remain on board, but under the condition that nobody would interfere any more with the coach's job, as expressly stated in his contract. Three consecutive victories kept the distance from AEK intact, before it increased on 4 April after the 2–2 draw at Kastoria. The tide would turn around in less than a week though, as PAOK won their postponed game against Panetolikos and then went on to defeat Panionios 4–0 on 11 April. They climbed at the top of the standings for the first time that season, level on points with AEK who lost 1–0 to Panathinaikos.

On matchday 25, AEK were defeated 1–0 by Aris in Thessaloniki and PAOK, winners 3–0 over Panachaiki, were alone at the top of the standings. The league title would be decided in two consecutive high-profile encounters at Toumba Stadium. PAOK prevailed 3–1 over Olympiacos and then Neto Guerino scored the only goal of the match against AEK in the 89th minute, giving the "Double-Headed Eagle" a four-point cushion with three matches to go until the end. The league title was all but guaranteed on the following matchday, when AEK were held to a goalless draw at Serres and PAOK defeated Iraklis at Kaftantzoglio (3–1). The 2–1 loss to Atromitos had nothing but statistical value, as it put a stop to PAOK's undefeated home record. The 1975–76 Alpha Ethniki was sealed with a 4–0 victory over Ethnikos at "Karaiskakis".^[28]

The "Double-Headed Eagle" sealed the 1984–85 Alpha Ethniki title with their 2–1 win over Larissa at "Alcazar Stadium", extending their lead to three points, as Panathinaikos and Olympiacos played a 1–1 draw. PAOK continued their winning ways and another draw (AEK–Panathinaikos 1–1) allowed Iraklis to climb in second place, three points behind Walter Skocik’s troops, while Panathinaikos and Olympiacos were at a 4-point distance from top spot.

PAOK v AEK Athens 1986–87

The venue of the encounter between Iraklis and PAOK on matchday 24 became an issue of controversy, but nevertheless a goal by Giorgos Skartados in the opening minute put the match to rest. The "Double-Headed Eagle" built a five-point distance from Panathinaikos and AEK. Consecutive away draws against Pierikos and Doxa Dramas added some spice to the league and "reminded" Panathinaikos to file a complaint regarding the venue of their loss to Ethnikos back on matchday 21. However, PAOK were on a roll. They defeated OFI 3–0 for the league and then handed Panathinaikos a 4–0 beating in the Greek Cup quarter-finals. On 9 June 1985, PAOK mathematically secured the league title with a goalless draw at Nea Smyrni against Panionios, as Panathinaikos were held to a 2–2 draw by Pierikos. It was the only away point the outfit of Katerini earned that season.

As the Greek League authorities had yet to reach a final verdict on Panathinaikos’ complaint for their match against Ethnikos, there was no decision yet on the time and place of the trophy ceremony. Finally, two days before their home match against Panathinaikos corresponding to the last matchday, PAOK were given the green light. They were presented with the league trophy and had their celebratory lap, Kostas Iosifidis holding the much-coveted silverware.^[29]

At the European level, the club made its best ever performance after reaching the quarter-finals of the European Cup in 1973–74 European Cup Winners' Cup where they were knocked out by Milan. PAOK also made a memorable appearance against German giants Bayern Munich in the 1983–84 UEFA Cup, where it was knocked out on penalties after two goalless draws.^[30][31]

In 1992, they lost in the Greek Cup to Olympiacos.^[32]

Return to the titles (1996–2006)

Angelos Anastasiadis Greek Cup winner as a coach at 2002–03

Zisis Vryzas one of the most popular PAOK players

In 1996, Thomas Voulinos handed over the reins of the club to Giorgos Batatoudis. Numerous transfers of well-known players such as Percy Olivares, Zisis Vryzas, Spiros Marangos and Kostas Frantzeskos took place under the new administration. In 1997, having served its five-year ban, PAOK qualified for the UEFA Cup under coach Angelos Anastasiadis. The club's reappearance at European level was marked by a victory and qualification over Arsenal.^[33] In 2001 they won the Greek Cup final defeating Olympiacos 4–2.^[32] In 2003, they won the Greek Cup final again, defeating Aris 1–0.^[32]

The 2003–04 season was an unexpected success. Batatoudis was no longer the major shareholder, and under the management of Anastasiadis, PAOK managed to finish third in the league and to secure participation in the qualifying rounds of the following year's UEFA Champions League. The first match in Toumba finished 2–1 to Maccabi Tel Aviv but was awarded 3–0 against PAOK for fielding a suspended player. The club fielded Liasos Louka, a Cypriot player who was still serving a two-match ban in UEFA competitions (for his sending-off in a UEFA Intertoto Cup tie while playing for Nea Salamis on 8 July 2000).^[34] Unfortunately, the team failed to qualify for the group stages, as they were knocked out by Maccabi Tel Aviv in the third qualifying round.^[35]

Rolf Fringer was appointed as new coach in September 2004, replacing Angelos Anastasiadis, but after a few games, Fringer was replaced by Nikos Karageorgiou, who led the club to a fifth-place finish in May 2005 and a subsequent 2005–06 UEFA Cup qualification.^[36]

By the end of May 2006, the club's dramatic situation started to emerge, with players openly declaring they have been unpaid for months, plus a shocking decision by UEFA to ban the club from participating in the upcoming UEFA Cup,^[37] brought the club one step from complete ruin, with the organized fanbase launching an all-out war against Giannis Goumenos during the summer of 2006,^[38] going as far as to occupy the club's offices in Toumba stadium for a handful of days. The situation was ever worsening for Goumenos, after many failed deals with possible investors,^[39] constant allegations of embezzlement,^[40] and especially his decision to sell star player Dimitris Salpingidis to Panathinaikos.^[41]

The club appointed Momčilo Vukotić as coach in October 2006, replacing Dumitrescu, who had earlier resigned.^[42]

The Zagorakis years (2007–2010)

Theodoros Zagorakis Former president of PAOK FC

In the summer of 2007, Theodoros Zagorakis assumed presidency of the club, replacing the Nikos Vezyrtzis and Apostolos Oikonomidis administration and thus ushered in a new era.^[43]

The plan's first season saw the club eliminated from the Greek Cup by second division club Thrasyvoulos. The early replacement of coach Georgios Paraschos by the well-known established manager Fernando Santos did little to prevent a ninth-place finish in the league.^[44]

Fernando Santos

The club's finances, however, gradually improved, and—thanks to the continuing massive support from fans in the form of season tickets,^[45] as well as many new sponsorship deals—the summer of 2008 saw the transfers of widely known internationals like Pablo Contreras,^[46] Zlatan Muslimović^[47] and Pablo García.^[48]

In January 2009, Zagorakis announced the club's intention of building a new training facility complex in the Nea Mesimvria area of Thessaloniki, owned by the club. The administration had already acquired land from the municipality of Agios Athanasios in the previous summer.^[49]

The end of the 2008–09 season found PAOK in second place, eight points behind champions Olympiacos, the best place the club had taken since 1985.^[50]

European recognition (2010–12)

Pablo García in action for PAOK in 2010

The 2010 league playoff success was swiftly followed by Fernando Santos' announcement of his decision to depart, having concluded his three-year contract as head coach.^[51] It was eventually decided in mid-June that Mario Beretta would be his successor.^[52]

Beretta was quickly replaced with Pavlos Dermitzakis, veteran PAOK player and Zagorakis' initial choice before reverting to Beretta.^[53] Beretta also became the shortest-lived PAOK coach ever, sitting on the bench for just 38 days.^[54]

László Bölöni, as coach of PAOK, against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, winning 2–1

With Dermitzakis at the helm, PAOK faced Ajax and was ultimately eliminated on the away goals rule, managing a 1–1^[55] draw in Amsterdam and a thrilling 3–3^[56] draw in Thessaloniki. Entering the UEFA Europa League playoff round, PAOK were drawn against Fenerbahçe, also eliminated on the Champions League third qualifying round. This time, PAOK fared much better and after winning the home game 1–0^[57] in Thessaloniki, secured a memorable 1–1 draw.^[58]

Another defeat against Panathinaikos under Dermitzakis led to his removal on 17 October.^[59] His assistant, Makis Chavos, replaced him as caretaker coach.^[60]

In 2010–11, PAOK reached the knockout phase in the Europa League, losing 2–1 on aggregate to CSKA Moscow.^[61] In the Superleague Greece, PAOK finished fourth in the regular season and secured a place in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round by finishing second in the playoff round.

The PAOK board then appointed the experienced Romanian László Bölöni as the club's new head coach.^[62] Under the leadership of Bölöni, PAOK passed the UEFA Europa League playoff round and entered the group stage, despite the many injured players the club had. On 30 November 2011, PAOK achieved a historic victory^[63] against English club Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, winning 2–1. With this victory, the club qualified for the Europa League round of 32 for the second consecutive year. There they faced Udinese. After a 0–0 draw away in Udine, however, they suffered a 0–3 loss at Toumba Stadium.

Ivan Savvidis era (2012–present)

Stefanos Athanasiadis, former captain

PAOK entered the 2012–13 Europa League third qualification round, and with a 0–2 away and 4–1 home win over Bnei Yehuda, qualified for the play-off round, where faced Rapid Wien but were eliminated after 2–1 and 3–0 home and away defeats, respectively. PAOK finished the season in second place during the regular period, qualifying for the Superleague playoffs. Giorgos Donis was replaced by technical director and former player Georgios Georgiadis, who was appointed caretaker manager. PAOK managed to win qualification for the third qualifying round of the Champions League in the playoffs after a last game win against PAS Giannina.^[64]

In June 2013, PAOK appointed Huub Stevens as their new coach, but he was dismissed in March 2014 after achieving poor results.^[65]

PAOK supporters at the 2013–14 Greek Cup final in OAKA

In 2014, the team reached the 2013–14 Greek Cup final, but lost to Panathinaikos.^[66]

In 2015, club's new owner Ivan Savvidis paid all of the club's debts to the Greek government, an amount that totalled at €10,886,811.^[67] In May, PAOK hired Frank Arnesen as the new club's technical director (sports director). On 18 June 2015, Igor Tudor was hired as the new manager of the club, signing a three-year contract.^[68] Tudor was replaced in March 2016 by youth-team coach Vladimir Ivic.^[69]

They won the Greek Cup in May 2017, beating AEK Athens in the final in Panthessaliko Stadium, although the match kicked off late due to crowd trouble.^[70]

On 11 March 2018, during a match against AEK, the president of the team, Ivan Savvidis, stormed onto the pitch with a pistol in his holster after a late PAOK goal was overturned after protests from AEK, causing the league to be suspended.^[71] PAOK was later punished with a reduction of 3 points and the awarding of the game to AEK by 0–3. The 6-point swing was a major blow to PAOK's title hopes and the club was unable to secure the title as AEK Athens were crowned champions with three match-days to go. The club still managed to end their season on a high note by winning their second consecutive Greek Cup beating AEK 2–0 in the Cup final in OAKA, Athens, with the match refereed after many years in Greece by a foreign (Spanish) referee.

Crest

The first logo of PAOK was a horseshoe and a four-leaf clover, that was proposed by the member of board Kostas Koemtzopoulos.^[99] The double-headed eagle was chosen as symbol of the club in 1929. Unlike other Byzantine-style eagles, the wings of the eagle are mournfully closed.^[100] Under the leadership of Ivan Savvidis a gold stripe was added to the crest, as a symbol of glory and renaissance of the club.^[101]

Kit evolution

First

1925–26[91]

1936–37[102]

1938–39[103]

1970–71[96]

1984–85[104]

1990–91[105]

2002–03[96]

2004–05[96]

2007–08[106]

2014–15[107]

2015–16[108]

2016–17[109]

Alternative

1982–83[110]

2000–01[111]

2001–02[112]

2002–03[113]

2014–15[107]

2015–16[108]

2016–17[109]

2017–18

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Until the 1980s, when football in Greece was amateur, the team jerseys had only the emblem and the number of each player. When football became professional (in 1980), then companies began to become official sponsors of the club.^[114]

Astra Airlines is an official carrier of the club.

In 1983, Suzuki Motor Corporation became the club's first shirt sponsor for one season.^[114] After one-and-a-half years without a jersey sponsor, οn January 2008, there was an agreement with the natural gas supply corporation of Greece, DEPA. The agreement was two-and-a-half years, and the deal is worth €3 million.^[115] At the start of the 2010–11 season, the club's main shirt sponsors was Pame Stoixima, which also sponsored them in 1987–88. The agreement was a three-year term,^[116] for €1.5 million a year.^[117] The collaboration with Pame Stoixima continued for another 2 years. For the 2013–14 season, the club received €1.5 million a year,^[118] and for the next €1.8 million.^[119] On 22 September 2015, the club announce a two-year deal with sportingbet.gr.^[120] The shirt deal was €1.2 million a year.^[121] On 30 June 2017, PAOK signed a three-year deal with online betting company "Stoiximan" as shirt sponsor.^[122] The new €1.8-million-a-year shirt deal is worth €5.4 million over three years.^[123]

ABM Diffusion became the kit manufacturer of PAOK for two years, until 1995.^[124] Puma returned again for 2 years, before Adidas started a second spell in 1997. Adidas remained for nine years, followed by PUMA's third period of cooperation with PAOK.^[125] Umbro became kit manufacturer of club again,^[126] before the agreement with nike in 2013.^[127] since 2015, the current kit manufacturer is Macron.^[128]

Domestic

• Super League
  • Winners (2): 1975–76, 1984–85
  • Runners-up (8): 1936–37, 1939–40, 1972–73, 1977–78, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2015–16, 2017–18
• Greek Cup
  • Winners (6): 1971–72, 1973–74, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2016–17, 2017–18
  • Runners-up (13): 1938–39, 1950–51, 1954–55, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1991–92, 2013–14

• Greater Greece Cup
  • Winners (1): 1973^[130]

European competitions

• UEFA Champions League:
  • Round of 16 (1): 1976–77
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup:
  • Quarter-finals (1): 1973–74

UEFA ranking

As of 31 August 2018

Rank	Country	Team	Coeff.
47		Celtic	31.000
48		Braga	30.500
49		PAOK	29.500
50		Club Brugge	29.500
51		Galatasaray	29.500

Current squad

As of 21 September 2018^[131]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Rodrigo Rey 3 DF Léo Matos 5 DF Fernando Varela 6 DF Alin Toșca (on loan from Real Betis) 7 MF Omar El Kaddouri 8 MF Maurício 9 FW Aleksandar Prijović 10 MF Dimitris Pelkas (3rd captain) 11 FW Nikos Karelis (on loan from Genk) 13 DF Stelios Malezas (vice-captain) 15 DF José Ángel Crespo 18 FW Dimitris Limnios 19 MF Pontus Wernbloom 20 DF Vieirinha (captain)

No. Position Player 21 MF Diego Biseswar 28 MF Yevhen Shakhov 31 GK Alexandros Paschalakis 32 DF Eleftherios Lyratzis 34 DF Yevhen Khacheridi 47 FW Chuba Akpom 53 MF Konstantinos Balogiannis 70 DF Stelios Kitsiou 71 GK Panagiotis Glykos 74 FW Amr Warda 87 MF José Cañas 98 FW Léo Jabá 99 GK Marios Siampanis

Out of Team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 56 DF Dorian Lévêque

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player — GK Nikos Melissas (at Lamia until 30 June 2019) — GK Jorgo Muca (at Karaiskakis until 30 June 2019) — GK Christos Giannakidis (at Panserraikos until 30 June 2019) — DF Dimitris Chatziisaias (at Atromitos until 30 June 2019) — DF Marko Mihojević (at OFI until 30 June 2019) — DF Dimitris Giannoulis (at Atromitos until 30 June 2019) — DF Panagiotis Deligiannidis (at OFI until 30 June 2019) — MF Giorgos Kakko (at Karaiskakis until 30 June 2019) — MF Nikolas Mattheou (at Karaiskakis until 30 June 2019) — MF Manolis Patralis (at Doxa Dramas until 30 June 2019)

No. Position Player — MF Ergys Kaçe (at Panathinaikos until 30 June 2019) — MF Thibault Moulin (at Ankaragücü until 30 June 2019) — MF Charis Charisis (at Kortrijk until 30 June 2019) — FW Pedro Henrique (at Astana until 30 June 2019) — FW Christos Papadopoulos (at Karaiskakis until 30 June 2019) — FW Illya Markovskyy (at Aiginiakos until 30 June 2019) — FW Kristian Kushta (at Aiginiakos until 30 June 2019) — FW Lazaros Lamprou (at Fortuna Sittard until 30 June 2019) — FW Giannis Mystakidis (at PAS Giannina until 30 June 2019) — FW Efthimis Koulouris (at Atromitos until 30 June 2019)

Academy and teams

PAOK FC Sport Center is the training ground of PAOK and Academy base, located in Nea Mesimvria area. The construction started under the presidency of Theodoros Zagorakis.^[132][133]

Retired numbers

• 12 – in honour of the fans, considered the "12th player" of the team in the pitch. The only player who had the number 12 in his shirt was Joe Nagbe. The last time was on 28 May 2000.^[134]
• 17 – in honour of Panagiotis Katsouris, a PAOK player that died in 1998 in a car accident.^[135]

Club Captains

Current club Captain Vieirinha

Name Period Giorgos Hasiotis 1959–1964 Leandros Symeonidis 1964–1969 Giorgos Koudas 1969–1984 Kostas Iosifidis 1984–1985 Nikos Alavantas 1985–1989 Giorgos Skartados 1989–1992 Alexis Alexiou 1992–1996 Thodoris Zagorakis 1996–1998 Giorgos Toursounidis 1998–1999 Kostas Frantzeskos 1999–2000 Tasos Katsabis 2000–2002 Pantelis Kafes 2002–2003

Name Period Loukas Karadimos 2003–2005 Thodoris Zagorakis 2005–2007 Giorgos Georgiadis 2007–2008 Pantelis Konstantinidis 2008–2009 Sérgio Conceição 2009–2010 Kostas Chalkias 2010–2012 Pablo García 2012–2013 Dimitris Salpingidis 2013–2014 Stefanos Athanasiadis 2014–2017 Stelios Malezas 2017–2018 Vieirinha 2018–

Board of Directors

^{[138][139][140]}

Ivan Savvidis

Former referee Ľuboš Micheľ

Position Name Ownership Dimera Group Limited President Ivan Savvidis Vice–President & CEO Chrisostomos Gagatsis Director of Football Ľuboš Micheľ Director of Football Development Mario Branco[141] Consultant of Football Giorgos Koudas[140] Technical Director of Academies Daniel Bigas Alsina[142] Football Section Advisor Malamas Tevekelis[143] Public and International Relations Dimitris Saraidaris Legal Department Manager Achilleas Mavromatis Marketing Department Manager Lazaros Bachtsevanos Member of the Board George Savvidis Member of the Board Maria Goncharova Member of the Board Artur Davidyan Member of the Board Dimokratis Papadopoulos Member of the Board Ilias Gerontidis Press Officer Kyriakos Kyriakos[144]

Technical and Medical staff

^[145][146]

Răzvan Lucescu was appointed manager in 2017

Position Name Head Coach Răzvan Lucescu Assistant Coach Diego Longo Assistant Coach Cristiano Bacci Team Manager Pantelis Konstantinidis[147] Data Analyst (Vis-Track) Kyriakos Tsitsiridis Opponent Analysis Ioannis Thomaidis Head Gymnast Rehabilitation Georgios Tsonakas Gymnast Rehabilitation Vasilios Kanaras Fitness Coach Matteo Spatafora Goalkeeping Coach Giorgos Skiathitis

Position Name Head of Medical Services Emmanouil Papakostas[148] Club's Doctor Kostas Tziantzis Exercise Physiology Giorgos Ziogas[149] Nutritionist Ioanna Paspala[150]

PAOK FC presidents

^[151]

Zisis Vryzas

Theodoros Zagorakis

Name Period Giorgos Pantelakis 1979–1984 Petros Kalafatis 1984–1986 Charis Savvidis 1986–1988 Giannis Dedeoglou 1988–1989 Thomas Voulinos 1989–1996 Giorgos Kalyvas 1996 Giorgos Batatoudis 1996–2001 Petros Kalafatis 2001–2003 Giannis Goumenos 2003–2006

Name Period Nikolaos Vezyrtzis 2006–2007 Thodoris Zagorakis 2007–2009 Zisis Vryzas 2009–2010 Thodoris Zagorakis 2010–2011 Zisis Vryzas 2011–2014 Iakovos Angelides 2014–2016 Ľuboš Micheľ 2016–2017 Ivan Savvidis 2017–

One-club men

^[154][155]

Player	Nationality	Position	Debut	Last match
Giorgos Koudas		MF	1963	1984
Stavros Sarafis		FW	1968	1981
Konstantinos Iosifidis		DF	1971	1985

Most league appearances and top scorer

Giorgos Koudas holds the record for most PAOK league appearances, having played 504 matches (607 overall)^[156] between 1963 and 1984.^[157]

Stavros Sarafis is the club's top goalscorer with 170 goals overall (136 in league matches), being at PAOK between 1967 and 1981.^[156][158]

A list of the ten highest appearances and scorers for PAOK (as of 2004) is listed below:^[159]

Most league appearances: Rank Name Apps 1 Giorgos Koudas 504 2 Kostas Iosifidis 397 3 Giannis Gounaris 377 4 Stavros Sarafis 358 5 Aristarchos Fountoukidis 336 6 Koulis Apostolidis 280 7 Giorgos Skartados 265 8 Dimitris Salpingidis 262 9 Giorgos Toursounidis 261 10 Giannis Giakoumis 250

League top scorers: Rank Name Goals 1 Stavros Sarafis 136 2 Giorgos Koudas 134 3 Dimitris Salpingidis 90 4 Giorgos Skartados 84 5 Giorgos Kostikos 79 6 Stefanos Athanasiadis 71 7 Neto Guerino 66 8 Panagiotis Kermanidis 60 9 Achilleas Aslanidis 55 10 Koulis Apostolidis 51