Panathinaikos AO

Panathinaikos

Official Emblem
Full Name	Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos
Nicknames	Oi Prasinoi (i.e. The Greens)
Founded	3 February 1908
Titles	570
Anthem	Panathinaike (Giorgos Mouzakis, Giorgos Oikonomidis)
Colours	Green and White
Presidents	Dimitris Gontikas (Panathinaikos F.C.) Pavlos Giannakopoulos (Panathinaikos B.C.) Stratos Sopilis (Panathinaikos VC) Nikos Risvas (Panathinaikos AO)
Websites	Panathinaikos FC Panathinaikos BC Panathinaikos VC Panathinaikos AO

Active departments of Panathinaikos
Football	Basketball	Volleyball
Water Polo	Swimming	Athletics
Table Tennis	Wrestling	Weightlifting
Boxing	Fencing	Cycling
Shooting	Archery	Club

Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos (Greek spelling: Παναθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Όμιλος) is the most successful greek multi-sport club based in Athens, Greece. It has the shamrock as its official emblem and green and white as its colours. In English, the club's name would be "Panathenian Athletic Club".

Panathinaikos' teams and individual athletes have won numerous titles and have made notable participations in international competitions such as the UEFA Champions League in football and the Euroleague in basketball. According to the official history of the club, Panathinaikos was founded by Giorgos Kalafatis in 1908, when he and 40 other athletes decided to break away from Panellinios Gymnastikos Syllogos following the club's decision to discontinue its football team.

History

1908-1945

The football department was founded in 1908. Football made its appearance in Greece at the end of the 19th century, though there was no official championship until the late 1920s. A young athlete of the sports club Panellinios, Giorgos Kalafatis, dismayed by his club's decision to discontinue its football team, founded Panathinaikos in 1908. The first name of the club was Podosfairikos Omilos Athinon (POA) - i.e. "Football Club of Athens" - but it was changed to Panellinios Podosfairikos Omilos (PPO) - i.e. "Panhellenic Football Club" - two years later.

In 1918, it was decided that the official emblem of the club would be the shamrock, an idea of player Michalis Papazoglou. He was possibly inspired by William Sherring, an Irish Canadian athlete who had won the Athens 1906 Olympic Marathon wearing a white shirt with a big green shamrock on it. In 1924 the club took its current name, Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos (PAO) - i.e. "Panathenian Athletic Club".

The athletics department was founded in 1919. In the same year, Panathinaikos was one of the first athletic clubs in Greece to form a volleyball team. The first dynamic presence of the team is dated back in the years 1927–1929 with many popular players of the time such as the historical member of the board Apostolos Nikolaidis as well as Aravositas, Goumas, Arg. Nikolaidis, Papageorgiou and Papastefanou.

In 1922, the basketball department was founded and it has since developed into the most successful basketball team in Greece and one of the most successful in Europe. They have won 31 Greek Championships, 12 Greek Cups, 6 European Championships and 1 Intercontinental Cup. In 1924, the table tennis department was founded and in 1928 the cycling, the shooting and the field hockey departments. In 1930 were founded the swimming, the water polo and the handball departments.

1946-1990

The boxing department was founded in 1946, the diving department in 1947, the weightlifting department in 1959, the chess department in 1960, the fencing department in 1960, the gymnastics department in 1962, the waterskiing department in 1963 and the wrestling department in 1965. Panathinaikos' hardcore fans are called Gate 13 and are the oldest supporters' club in Greece. Gate 13 was founded in 1966.

The volleyball club has demonstrated many titles and honours due to the fact that the team roster has always included some of the top volleyball players in Greece. The first generation was that of the '60s with Andreas and Nikos Bergeles as well as Iliopoulos, Leloudas, Chasapis, Emmanouil, Perros and Fotiou who opened the road for the next generations.

Panathinaikos soon dominated Greek football along with rivals Olympiacos and AEK and, although they are second in domestic titles, they have done better than any other Greek club in Europe. In 1971, Panathinaikos became the first and only Greek team - so far - to have reached the final of a European competition, when they faced Ajax in Wembley Stadium for the European Cup, losing 2-0. In the late '70s, when football became professional in Greece, the club's football department passed to the hands of the Vardinogiannis family. In the following 30 years the team won the Championship 7 times.

In 1978, the modern pentathlon department was founded and in 1980, the judo department. An important achievement for the volleyball team was the participation in the final of the CEV Cup Winners' Cup in 1980. In the following years, Panathinaikos continued to perform well in Greek volleyball with players such as Kazazis (the current head coach), Tentzeris, Gontikas (the current president of Panathinaikos FC), Galakos, Dimitriadis and Margaronis.

Celebration at the Athens Olympic Stadium after a win in the UEFA Champions League (26/8/2008)

The archery department was founded in 1981, the pool department in 1988 and the futsal department in 1990.

1991-2000

Another successful period for the volleyball team was the seasons 1994-95 and 1995-96 when Panathinaikos won two Greek Championships in a row with Stelios Prosalikas as head coach and Andreopoulos, Triantafyllidis, Filippov, Spanos, Chatziantoniou, Ouzounov, A. Kovatsev, P. Kovatsev, Karamaroudis and Tonev as players.

The men's basketball department is currently owned by two pharmaceutical magnates, the brothers Pavlos and Thanassis Giannakopoulos. In 1996 in Paris final-four (F4), Panathinaikos was the first Greek team to win the European Champions' Cup (now called Euroleague), beating Barcelona in a unique final, by 67-66. In September of the same year the team also won the Intercontinental Cup, prevailing by 2-1 wins over Olimpia of Argentina (83-89, 83-78, 101-76).

Centenary celebration at the OAKA Indoor Hall (9/2/2008)

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, they conquered the most prestigious European trophy for the third time, beating hosts Kinder Bologna 89-83.

2001-2010

In 2007 in Athens F4, Panathinaikos were crowned European Champions for the fourth time, beating CSKA Moscow 93-91 in what was probably the best Euroleague final ever. And in 2009 in Berlin, the Greens again defeated CSKA 73-71 to become the Champions of Europe for the fifth time. Their latest Euroleague triumph came in Barcelona in 2011, after defeating Maccabi 78-70 in the final. Panathinaikos won its sixth European Championship and became the second most successful club (along with CSKA Moscow, behind Real Madrid) in the history of the competition.

Titles of the professional departments

Panathinaikos mens football

(Honours: 45 titles)

• Greek Championship: (22):1911, 1916, 1930, 1949, 1953, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2010

• Greek Cup: (17): 1940, 1948, 1955, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2010

• Greek Super Cup: (5): 1948,1970, 1988, 1993, 1994

• Balkans Cup: (1): 1978

Panathinaikos mens basketball

• Greek Championship: (32): 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, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

• Greek Cup: (12): 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

• European Championship: (6): 1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011

• Intercontinental Cup: (1): 1996

Panathinaikos mens volleyball

• Greek Championship: (19): 1960, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2006

• Greek Cup: (6): 1982, 1984, 1985, 2007, 2008, 2010

• Greek Super Cup: (1): 2006

Titles of the amateur departments

Panathinaikos womens basketball

• Greek Championship: (3): 1998, 2000, 2005

• Greek Cup: (1): 2000

Panathinaikos womens volleyball

• Greek Championship: (24): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

• Greek Cup: (5): 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010

Panathinaikos Table Tennis

(Honours: 121 titles)

• Greek Championship, Men's Singles: (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's Singles: (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's Doubles: (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's Doubles: (6): 1953, 1954, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
• Greek Championship, Mixed Doubles: (14): 1955, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1986
• Greek Clubs' Championship, Overall Standings: (10): 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1959,1960, 1961,1962,1966,1968
• Greek Clubs' Championship, Men: (11): 1951,1952,1955,1956,1959,1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968, 1974
• Greek Clubs' Championship, Women: (3): 1972, 1973, 1974
• Greek Cup, Men: (7): 1965,1966, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982
• Greek Cup, Women: (1): 1972

Panathinaikos athletics

(Honours: 65 titles)

• Greek Championship, Men: (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, Men: (4): 1986, 1989, 1990, 1994
• Greek Cross Country Championship, Men: (28): 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1996, 1997, 1998
• Greek Championship, Women: (3): 1946, 1947, 1949
• Greek Cross Country Championship, Women: (6): 1949, 1950, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
• Cypriot Championship, Men: (1): 1950

Panathinaikos cycling

(Honours: 47 titles)

• Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (14): 1951,1954,1956,1957,1958, 1963, 1967, 1969, 1973,1982,1985,1986,1990,1997
• Greek Road Championship, Men: (22): 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1997
• Greek Track Championship, Men: (11): 1954, 1956,1957 1958, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1990

Panathinaikos boxing

(Honours: 32 titles)

• Greek Championship, Men: (30): 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011
• Greek Cup, Men: (2): 1988, 1999

Panathinaikos fencing

(Honours: 61 titles)

• Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (13): 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
• Greek Championship, Men: (16): 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980
• Greek Épée team championship, Men: (12): 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980
• Greek Foil team championship, Men: (11): 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978
• Greek Sabre team championship, Men: (9): 1962,1964,1965,1966, 1970, 1971,1972, 1973, 1974

Panathinaikos diving

(Honours: 31 titles)

• Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (6): 1969, 1972,1973,1974,1975,1976
• Greek Platform Championship, Men: (19): 1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981
• Greek Springboard Championship, Men: (6): 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976

Panathinaikos archery

(Honours: 15 titles)

• Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (5): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
• Greek Championship, Men: (5): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986
• Greek Standard Bow Championship, Men: (1): 1993
• Greek Championship, Women: (4): 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986

Panathinaikos swimming

(Honours: 13 titles)

• Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (13): 1944, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968

Panathinaikos shooting

(Honours: 9 titles)

• Greek Championship, Overall Standings: (8): 1960, 1964, 1992, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991
• Greek Military Rifle Championship, Men: (1): 1948

Panathinaikos weightlifting

(Honours: 6 titles)

• Greek Championship, Men: (6): 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

Panathinaikos wrestling

(Honours: 2 titles)

• Greek Championship, Men: (2): 1982, 1984

Titles of the inactive departments

Panathinaikos chess

(Honours: 13 titles)

• Greek Championship, Men: (10): 1964,1965 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971,1973,1974 1976

• Greek Cup, Men: (3): 1972, 1973, 1974

Panathinaikos modern pentathlon

(Honours: 2 titles)

• Greek Championship, Men: (2): 1980, 1987

Panathinaikos gymnastics

(Honours: 1 title)

• Greek Championship, Men: (1): 1972

Panathinaikos waterskiing

(Honours: 1 title)

• Greek Championship, Men: (1): 1968

Panathinaikos pool

(Honours: 1 title)

• Greek Championship, Men: (1): 1996

Panathinaikos futsal

(Honours: 1 title)

• Greek Championship, Men: (1): 1991

References

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

External links

Official sites

• Panathinaikos FC - Official website (in Greek & English)
• Panathinaikos BC - Official website (in Greek & English)
• Panathinaikos VC - Official website (in Greek)
• Panathinaikos AO - Official website (in Greek)
• Panathinaikos Youth Academy (in Greek)
• Panathinaikos FC Shop (in Greek & English)
• PAO BC Shop (in Greek & English)

Fan sites

• Gate 13 Official Site (in Greek & English)
• Green Web Fans (in Greek)
• Pa.Le.Fi.P. (in Greek)
• Panathinaikos Fan Site & Forum (in Greek)
• PAO Mesogeia Club Gate 13 (in Greek)
• Green Cyber Fans (in Greek)