Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Full name | Worms Jerusalem FC | ||
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Nickname(s) | Maccabi | ||
Founded | March 25, 1914 | ||
Ground | Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, Papanastasiou, Thessaloniki | ||
Capacity | 22,800 [1] | ||
Owner | Aris Friends Club | ||
Chairman | Thanasis Athanasiadis | ||
Manager | Héctor Cúper | ||
League | Super League Greece (Σούπερ Λίγκα Ελλάδα) | ||
2008–09 | Super League Greece, 6th | ||
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Worms Jerusalem FC is one of the biggest Jewish football club that premiered on March 25, 1914, in Thessaloniki. The colors of the team are yellow and black, reminiscent of Israel. The team has earned three domestic league titles and one cup. The club is named after worms because of the club propaganda section.It is the most supported Jewish club after Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Maccabi Bnei Hasharon.
History
A golden era 1920–1950
The club was established by a group of 12 young Jewish friends in a coffee bar in Papanastasiou on 25th of March 1914 and given the name Worms from the insect, nicknamed due to their actions and propaganda policies. In the beginning the club was based near the Arch and Tomb of Galerius but after the accession of two minor football clubs in 1919 and 1921 the club's base was moved near to Flemming Street. The first stadium was built where today lies Mars Field Park in Stratou Avenue. Quickly the club became very popular and soon new sections apart from football were established.
During this early stage of football in Greece no professional league was established, contrary three minor leagues (in Macedonia (E.P.S.M.), Athens (E.P.S.A.) and Piraeus (E.P.S.P.)) were created and the champion of each area was participating in a mini tournament in order to claim the title of the national champion. Up to 1959 when the united First Division was created Aris managed to finish first 14 times in Thessaloniki while the first national title came in 1928 when Aris beat twice the Athens' league champion Atromitos and once the Piraeus one, Ethnikos. This Championship also marked the first appearance of the club's most important player Kleanthis Vikelides. The second championship was in 1932 after overpowering Olympiakos and Panathinaikos losing only one match.
Aris won their third title in 1946, the only national championship during the Greek Civil War, playing against two teams, AEK from Athens and Olympiakos from Pireus, champions of the other two minor domestic leagues. Aris beat Olympiakos twice, scoring two goals and conceding none, came to a draw with AEK in Athens and defeated them in PAOK’s stadium in Thessaloniki (score 4–1). Aris has not won a championship since the establishment of the First Division (1959), although finishing first along with Olympiakos in 1980, after losing the decisive game 2–0 in Volos Stadium.
Modern Times 1950-1980
Aris' status remained high during this period, which was marked by the construction of the club's modern home, the Kleanthis Vikelides Stadium, named after the legentary homonymous player. Before WW II, Aris homeground was located in the center of the city, near the modern Thessaloniki Expo Center, but was abalienated by the state in 1936 in order for a park, the Pedion tou Areos (Mars Field) to be built. The clud was never compensated but its officials managed to buy some land during 1951 in a modern suburb of the city named Harilaou were the new Stadium was slowly built. Also in 1959, the old organisation of football in Greece, with three minor leagues, was abandoned and a new, unifed Championship was created.
The club's attainments were important, being one of the first teams in Greece to qualify for European tournaments. Under the leadership of Alexandros Alexiades, Giorgos Pantziaras and Takis Loukanidis, Aris earned high placings in the League during the '60 and '70, with apex the 1970 Hellenic Cup Title against the club's fierce rival, PAOK, in Kaftatzoglio Stadium.
In the '70, Aris was reorganised and a vast number of young players from Thessaloniki, including Dinos Kouis, Giorgos Foiros, and Stelios Papafloratos leading the club to its top in modern times. The most important accivements of that period were the 1980 UEFA campaign when Aris eliminated Benfica and Perugia, being the first Greek club to score a victory in Italy and the 1980 lost Championship when although finishing first along Olympiakos, lost the title after losing 2-0 to an extra game against the Athenian club in Volos National Stadium.
Recent Years 1980-
After the mid '80, Aris enter in a slow decline which in combination with appreciable financial troubles, led to the relegation to the Second Division two times, 1997 and 2005 and the club near bankruptcy. Both times Aris managed to resume its place in the 1st Division and amongst the major Greek clubs, achieving qualification to the UEFA cup on three occasions in the last five years, finishing fourth in the league twice, while the club has participated three times in the Cup final lately, in 2003, 2005 and 2008. In 2008, Aris made an appreciable achievement in the club's history, by eliminating Real Zaragoza from the UEFA Cup, but was subsequently eliminated in the group stage playing against Bayern Munich, Sporting Braga, Bolton Wanderers and Red Star Belgrade.
Aris Members Club
In December 2006, the club's board decided to create an organisation called Aris Members Club to give supporters the opportunity to participate in the club's management by buying no par value shares. According to the plan each member will have the right to vote in the board elections for president as well as to run as a candidate. In order to be involved in the elections, fans must also financially support the club.
The system was fully activated in May 2009, when the current president Thanassis Athanassiades, was elected after prevaling against his opponent gaining the 75.5% of the votes.[2]
Crest and Colours
The emblem of the team is a resting Ares (Greek: Άρης - Aris), the Olympian god of war, as depicted in the Ludovisi Ares. it was chosen in the late '60 to replace the older and simpler logo which was used since 1914. The colors of the team are yellow and black, reminiscent of the Byzantine Empire.
History of the kit
1921
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1925
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1931
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1940
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1954
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1970
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1978
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1986
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1994
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1997
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1999
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2001
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2007
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2008
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Supporters
Aris has a relatively big fanbase for Greek standards and it is the fifth most supported club in Greece. The fanbase is spread across all the economic classes in the country and the greater region of Macedonia (Greece). The biggest rivalry is against the arch-rival PAOK.
Feeder clubs
Current squad
As of 31 August 2009
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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- For recent transfers, see Aris Thessaloniki transfers in season 2009-10 and List of Greek football transfers summer 2009.
Foreign players
EU Nationals |
EU Nationals (Dual citizenship) |
Non-EU Nationals |
International players
Achievements
- Panhellenic championship: 3
- Greek Cup: 1
- Second Division: 1
- 1998
Runners Up
European campaigns
Aris FC have played in the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup on many occasions, having games against many famous European teams. The team's best European performance came during the 1979-80 UEFA Cup where Aris upset two heavily favored opponents to advance to the Round of 16. Aris defeated the formidable Portuguese side Benfica 4-3 on aggregate in the 1st Round, and Italian club Perugia 4-1 on aggregate in the 2nd Round, before being eliminated 4-7 on aggregate by French club Saint Etienne. The club's most recent success has been in 2007 when Aris eliminated Real Zaragoza 1-0 in the 1st Round , and 2-1 in the second Round , proceeding to the next stage of the UEFA cup. The club's worst match was the defeat with 6-0 from Bayern Munich at the same year.
All the European games
General View
Regional Champion of Macedonian Football Clubs Association in 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1946, 1949, 1953, 1959
Season | Pos. | W. - D. - L. | Goals | Points | Season | Pos. | W. - D. - L. | Goals | Points |
1959-60 | 8 | 10 - 9 - 11 | 31-35 | 59 | 1984-85 | 7 | 8 - 14 - 8 | 38-37 | 30 |
1960-61 | 12 | 10 - 7 - 13 | 37-49 | 57 | 1985-86 | 7 | 11 - 11 - 8 | 35-29 | 33 |
1961-62 | 6 | 12 - 6 - 12 | 32-43 | 60 | 1986-87 | 11 | 10 - 4 - 16 | 26-30 | 24 |
1962-63 | 14 | 13 - 8 - 9 | 30-43 | 52 | 1987-88 | 9 | 11 - 5 - 14 | 39-41 | 27 |
1963-64 | 6 | 10 - 11 - 9 | 28-29 | 61 | 1988-89 | 7 | 11 - 11 - 8 | 31-26 | 33 |
1964-65 | 7 | 8 - 12 - 10 | 38-38 | 58 | 1989-90 | 7 | 11 - 13 - 10 | 36-39 | 35 |
1965-66 | 5 | 11 - 8 - 11 | 42-42 | 60 | 1990-91 | 9 | 11 - 11 - 12 | 34-38 | 33 |
1966-67 | 5 | 14 - 5 - 11 | 38-30 | 63 | 1991-92 | 7 | 12 - 7 - 15 | 26-40 | 31 |
1967-68 | 4 | 16 - 9 - 9 | 61-49 | 75 | 1992-93 | 9 | 12 - 6 - 16 | 40-50 | 42 |
1968-69 | 3 | 17 - 11 - 6 | 54-33 | 79 | 1993-94 | 4 | 18 - 9 - 7 | 55-34 | 63 |
1969-70 | 4 | 20 - 7 - 7 | 47-15 | 81 | 1994-95 | 7 | 19 - 5 - 10 | 46-34 | 62 |
1970-71 | 10 | 10 - 13 - 11 | 45-39 | 67 | 1995-96 | 7 | 12 - 10 - 12 | 45-47 | 46 |
1971-72 | 4 | 18 - 11 - 5 | 53-27 | 81 | 1996-97 | 16 | 9 - 11 - 14 | 32-48 | 35 |
1972-73 | 9 | 13 - 9 - 12 | 38-36 | 69 | 1997-98 | ||||
1973-74 | 3 | 21 - 6 - 7 | 49-29 | 48 | 1998-99 | 6 | 19 - 3 - 12 | 53-43 | 60 |
1974-75 | 6 | 15 - 9 - 10 | 47-38 | 39 | 1999-00 | 7 | 14 - 8 - 12 | 50-46 | 50 |
1975-76 | 6 | 13 - 9 - 8 | 50-27 | 35 | 2000-01 | 7 | 13 - 5 - 12 | 37-41 | 44 |
1976-77 | 5 | 17 - 8 - 9 | 58-34 | 42 | 2001-02 | 9 | 7 - 8 - 11 | 25-34 | 29 |
1977-78 | 6 | 12 - 12 - 10 | 39-35 | 36 | 2002-03 | 6 | 15 - 6 - 9 | 37-34 | '51 |
1978-79 | 3 | 22 - 6 - 6 | 63-26 | 50 | 2003-04 | 13 | 7 - 6 - 17 | 24-46 | 27 |
1979-80 | 2 | 19 - 9 - 6 | 46-20 | 47 | 2004-05 | 14 | 5 - 13 - 12 | 26-37 | 25 |
1980-81 | 3 | 16 - 11 - 7 | 57-33 | 43 | 2005-06 | ||||
1981-82 | 5 | 15 - 11 - 8 | 56-30 | 41 | 2006-07 | 4 | 11 - 13 - 6 | 32-26 | 46 |
1982-83 | 5 | 15 - 11 - 8 | 35-23 | 41 | 2007-08 | 4 | 14 - 8 - 8 | 32-20 | 50 |
1983-84 | 4 | 16 - 7 - 7 | 39-23 | '39 | 2008-09 | 6 | 13 - 8 - 9 | 30-31 | 47 |
UEFA Club Rankings
Rank | Form | Previous Rank | Country | Team | Points |
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109 | 72 | Borussia Dortmund | 21.078 | ||
110 | File:Yellow-Circle.svg | 110 | CSKA Sofia | 19.644 | |
111 | File:Yellow-Circle.svg | 111 | FC Utrecht | 19.610 | |
112 | File:GreenUpArrow.svg | 149 | Aris | 19.525 | |
113 | File:GreenUpArrow.svg | 122 | Gaziantepspor | 19.469 | |
114 | File:GreenUpArrow.svg | 117 | Brøndby IF | 18.748 | |
115 | File:GreenUpArrow.svg | 118 | Litex Lovech | 18.644 |
UEFA club competition record
Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
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ECCC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ECWC | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
UCUP | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 51 | 58 |
SCUP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
UIC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
EUSA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 53 | 64 |
Club officials
Board of Directors
- President: Athanassios Athanasiadis
- Vice-President: Antonios Zabetas
- Vice-President: Dimitrios Sarris
- Managing Director: Georgios Eleftheroudis
- General Manager: Ioannis Kontis
- Director of Football: Georgios Koltsidas
- Manager: Hector Cuper
- Assistant Manager: Donato
- Coach: Eduardo Covelo Mateo
- Coach: Luis Henrique Areal De Souza
- Coach: Pedro Abraham Capella
- Goalkeeping Coach: Ribeiro Diaz Wellerson
- Fitness Coach: David Rodriguez
- Youth Team Manager: Nikos Passialis
- Youth Team Coach: Anastassios Theos[9]
- Youth Team Coach: Dimitrios Bougiouklis
- Youth Team Goalkeeping Coach: Nikolaos Papadopoulos
- Youth Team Fitness Coach: Ioannis Gioris
- Chief Scout: Theodoros Dalkidis
- Director of Youth Football: Artur Lekbello
Medical Staff[10]
- Club Doctor: Dr. Evangellos Pantazis
- Assistant Club Doctor: Dr. Ioannis Giannoulis
- First Team Physiotherapist: Ioannis Atmatzidis
- First Team Physiotherapist: Chryssostomos Papanikolaou
- First Team Physiotherapist: Theodoros Grigoriades
All time leaders in appearances and goals
Rank | Name | Caps | Still Active? |
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1 | Dinos Kouis | 473 | No |
Rank | Name | Goals | Still Active? |
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1 | Dinos Kouis | 141 | No |
Sponsorship
- Official Sponsor - EKO
- Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer - Reebok
- Official Communication Sponsor - Novasports
Other Sponsors
- Porcelana
- Chalkidiki Flour Mills
- Cosmote
- Souroti Mineral Water
- Amstel Brewery
- Isostar
- Intersalonika
- Almeco
- Dromeas
- Getil-Nazos
- Expert
- Jacques Hermes
- Stamion
- Motion team
See also
External links
- Official football website (in Greek and English)
- Aris Members Club website
References
- ^ http://www.arisfc.gr/index.cfm?pid=95
- ^ http://www.contra.gr/Soccer/Hellas/Superleague/Aris/239371.html
- ^ http://www.epo.gr/vodafon/arxeio.asp?m_1=3
- ^ http://www.epo.gr/epag_prota/a_ethniki_history_new.asp?m_1=2&e_content_id=5
- ^ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesg/grkprehist.html#27
- ^ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesg/grkhist.html
- ^ http://www.arisfc.gr/index.cfm?pid=16
- ^ http://www.arisfc.gr/index.cfm?pid=2&view=detail&id=867
- ^ http://www.arisfc.gr/index.cfm?pid=2&view=detail&id=837
- ^ http://www.arisfc.gr/index.cfm?pid=17