Ethnikos Piraeus
Encyclopedia
Ethnikos Piraeus F.C. is a Greek
professional football club based in Piraeus
, currently competing in Football League 2, the Greek third division (see Greek football league system
).
-based football club Athletic and Football Club of Piraeus , winner of the 1924 Athens-Piraeus Regional Championship, split into two.
From the break-up, one group, led by Giorgos Chatziandreou, brothers Kostas and Dimitris Ferlemis, and Christos Peppas, ultimately formed Omilos Filathlon Piraeus - Faliro , meaning Fans' Club of Piraeus and Faliro in 1924, and then changed the name to Ethnikos O.F.P.F. in 1925 the other group, led by Yiannis Andrianopoulos
and his five brothers, formed the club that evolved into Olympiacos CFP
in 1925.
Ethnikos O.F.P.F., colloquially referred to as Ethnikos Piraeus, is a multi-sport club
with teams competing in football, water polo
, volleyball
and basketball
.
The club's most significant teams, in terms of history and success, are their football and water polo
teams, though football is by far the more popular sport.
, one of the two most popular and successful multi-sport clubs in Greece along with Panathinaikos
.
While a legitimate rivalry between Ethnikos and Olympiacos still exists in water polo (Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club
has won the most Greek water polo championships of any club, while Olympiacos Water Polo Club
has won the second-most) , that is no longer the case in football.
Ethnikos and Olympiacos F.C. were more or less evenly matched and had great battles for Piraeus supremacy in the 1920s and 1930s , but thereafter Olympiacos became increasingly more powerful and successful and began to pass Ethnikos by.
Along the way, Olympiacos developed a habit for luring Ethnikos' best players, like Greek national team
players Philippos Kourantis in the late 1920s, Giannis Chelmis in the late 1930s and Giannis Ioannou in the early 1950s .
In 1956-57 Olympiacos was seemingly behind a scandal that robbed Ethnikos of the National Championship. Ethnikos was in 1st place by a margin of 4 points with just 4 matches left in the season, and had the derby
with Olympiacos next on the schedule; but before the derby arrived Ethnikos was dubiously disqualified from the competition. With Ethnikos out of the way Olympiacos ultimately took the Championship .
In 1973 Ethnikos lost the great Michalis Kritikopoulos to Olympiacos, just a year before Ethnikos mounted its greatest challenge for the National Championship in the modern era; many Ethnikos fans feel that if they still had Kritikopoulos, the team would have managed to hold on to 1st place rather than run out of gas in the second half of the 1974-75 season
.
Olympiacos ultimately became the dominant football club in Greece, having won the League
and Cup
more than any other club , and Ethnikos has not been able to seriously compete with them for decades. Ethnikos has not defeated Olympiacos in a league match since the 1985-86 season
and has not finished above Olympiacos in the league standings since the 1987-88 season
.
In the 1990s, when Olympiacos was experiencing probably the greatest era of its history while Ethnikos was suffering through what was surely its worst, Ethnikos lost some of its fanbase to Olympiacos.
A recent point of contention for Ethnikos fans has to do with Karaiskakis Stadium
. Karaiskakis is the traditional home of both Olympiacos and Ethnikos , but only Olympiacos has played there since the stadium was rebuilt for use in the 2004 Summer Olympics
.
, Piraeus, and Thessaloniki
championships and/or North and South championships) and then the top teams from each region would advance to play for the National Championship. In some pre-War
years a traditional Final match was played between 2 regional champions, but generally the Panhellenic Championship
was played as a final round-robin
between at least 3 teams .
. The following year Ethnikos was Piraeus Champion once again, but the National Championship was not played.
In 1932-33 Ethnikos won the Greek Cup
, the club’s only major title. Ethnikos eliminated Apollon in the Quarterfinals and Olympiacos in the Semifinals before meeting Aris in the Final. Ethnikos and Aris played to a 2-2 draw in Thessaloniki, but Ethnikos won the replay 2-1 and took the Cup.
In 1934-35 Ethnikos was again Piraeus Champion, and then champion of the South Division, while Aris was champion of the North Division, but Ethnikos and Aris were prevented from playing each other for the National Championship.
Ethnikos won another Piraeus Championship in 1938-39, but lost the South Division by 2 points, just missing out on a chance to play for the National Championship.
Ethnikos reached the Semifinals of the Greek Cup in 1938-39 and 1939-40, but lost to PAOK
and Panathinaikos
, respectively.
In 1955-56 Ethnikos finished 2nd in Greece, just 1 point behind champions Olympiacos.
In 1956-57 a scandal robbed Ethnikos of the National Championship. With 4 matches left in the National Championship, Ethnikos was in 1st place by 4 points, and next on the schedule was Olympiacos, who Ethnikos had already defeated earlier in the season. Prior to the Olympiakos match though, Ethnikos was disqualified from the championship, on the accusation of professionalism, as they had allegedly been in contact with Hungarian stars Ferenc Puskás
and Sándor Kocsis
, though it was never proven. Ethnikos was docked 4 points and not allowed to play the final 4 matches of the season, and Olympiakos took the championship .
the Greek championship changed to its modern form and the first division became known as Alpha Ethniki
(usually noted as A' Ethniki). Since 1959-60 Ethnikos is tied for the 8th-most first division participations with 36, along with OFI
and Apollon. Ahead of Ethnikos are traditional powers Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK
and PAOK (all of whom have competed in the first division every season) as well as Iraklis, Aris and Panionios. (In 2006-07 the first division was renamed from A' Ethniki to Super League
).
and 6th in 1960-61
and 1967-68
. From 1960-61 to 1968-69
Ethnikos never finished outside the top 10.
Ethnikos reached the Semifinals of the Greek Cup twice during the 1960s. In 1967-68 Ethnikos lost in the Semifinals to Panathinaikos. The following year Ethnikos came desperately close to another Cup Final – after defeating PAOK 5-4 in the Quarterfinals, Ethnikos lost to Olympiacos 4-3 after extra time in the Semifinals.
Ethnikos made its best challenge for the league championship in the modern era. That season Ethnikos was winter champion, going undefeated through the first half of the season, but they could not keep up the pace and ultimately finished 4th (1 point behind PAOK for 3rd place and a UEFA Cup berth), while Olympiacos took the championship.
Though never making another legitimate challenge for the league championship, Ethnikos remained consistently competitive during the 1970s, never finishing outside of the top 10.
Ethnikos twice had the league’s top scorer during the 1970s: in the 1974-75 Roberto Calcadera’s total of 20 goals was tied for league-best with Panathinaikos’ Antonis Antoniadis
and in 1976-77
Thanasis Intzoglou led the league with 22 goals.
Ethnikos’ two best runs in the Greek Cup in the 1970s were halted by PAOK. In 1972-72 Ethnikos lost to PAOK 3-2 in the Semifinals and in 1976-77 Ethnikos was defeated by PAOK in the Quarterfinals.
and 1980-81
, but the team would mostly struggle through the rest of the 1980s.
In 1983-84 and 1985-86 Ethnikos reached the Quarterfinals of the Greek Cup but was then eliminated by Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, respectively.
In 1986-87
Ethnikos made a very mediocre 10th place finish, but late in the season earned one of their more memorable results - winning 6-3 away to Panathinaikos.
The 1987-88
team was the last truly competitive Ethnikos team to date. That year Ethnikos tried to make a run at a UEFA Cup berth, but ultimately fell short and finished 7th. The 7th place finish though was good enough to take some satisfaction from finishing ahead of Olympiacos, who finished 8th.
In the 1988-89
season Ethnikos made a good run in the Cup, reaching the Semifinals before being eliminated by Panathinaikos, but in the league the team finished in the bottom 3 and was relegated to Beta Ethniki for the first time in their history.
though, Ethnikos has not managed to return to A' Ethniki.
The Ethnikos teams of the 1990s included several young players who would leave the club and become star players elsewhere, such as Michalis Kapsis
, Yannis Anastasiou
and Andreas Niniadis
.
for the first time. The club’s ultimate low point came when it fell from Gamma Ethniki and spent the 2003-04 season in Delta Ethniki.
In summer 2004 Ethnikos merged with A.O. Mani, the club maintained Ethnikos' logo and colors and continued to be based in Piraeus, but in name became Ethnikos Piraeus - A.O. Mani . Ethnikos fans were very upset with the name change, but that problem was eventually solved, as the club was officially renamed Ethnikos Piraeus in 2007 .
In 2005-06 Ethnikos earned promotion back to Beta Ethniki in the final minute of the final match of the season. With time expiring, a free kick
goal from Eduardo Sander Da Silva against Messiniakos made the final score 1-1 and gave Ethnikos the point needed for promotion .
Since 2006-07
Ethnikos has remained in B' Ethniki.
Ethnikos currently plays its home matches at the Helliniko Olympic Complex
in Ellinikon
, located approximately 8 kilometres south of the center of Athens
, near Glyfada
on the Mediterranean
coast .
The complex was built on the site of the former Ellinikon International Airport
for the staging of the 2004 Summer Olympics
and 2004 Summer Paralympics
, and consisted of the following venues: Helliniko Indoor Arena (Basketball
and Team handball
); Helliniko Fencing Hall; Olympic Hockey Stadium (Field hockey
); Helliniko Baseball Centre; Helliniko Softball Centre; and Helliniko Slalom Centre (Whitewater slalom) .
In August 2007 Ethnikos President Nikos Pirounias finalized a deal with the City of Ellinikon for use of the complex for 3 years with an option for a further 3 years . The Olympic Baseball Centre's main stadium underwent renovations for football use, and Ethnikos began playing matches there during the 2007-08 season; the team played its first official match in its new home on October 20, 2007 . The facility became known as Elliniko Stadium, and is commonly referred to as Elliniko.
The complex also includes new training pitches for both Ethnikos' first team and youth team .
Ahead of the 2008-09 season renovations continued and seating capacity was increased to 9,000 .
in the Faliro
area of Piraeus
, commonly referred to as Karaiskaki, is the traditional home of both Olympiacos and Ethnikos , but only Olympiacos has played there since the stadium was leveled and rebuilt purely at Olympiacos' expenses ahead of the 2004 Summer Olympics .
In 2002 Olympiacos President Socratis Kokkalis
, in announcing the project to rebuild Karaiskakis, said, "It is our wish that [the new stadium] will also be used by Ethnikos F.C., as Karaiskaki is the historic home of both [Olympiacos and Ethnikos]" .
Despite that statement, all of the new stadium's seats were painted Olympiacos' red , rather than a neutral color.
When the new Karaiskakis was completed in 2004, Ethnikos was struggling in Gamma Ethniki
, and did not move into the stadium; the team instead continued to play most of its home matches in Korydallos Stadium, a small stadium in the Korydallos
area of Piraeus, which is the traditional home of Proodeftiki F.C..
In 2005-06 Ethnikos moved to Georgios Kamaras Stadium
in Rizoupoli
(where Olympiacos played its home matches during the Karaiskakis renovations) , and played there up until the move to Elliniko in 2007.
Despite a clause in the contract of Olympiacos's long-term lease of the stadium, which states that Ethnikos may return to Karaiskaki whenever they wanted, without sharing any significant stadium-related costs, the team has opted not to return to Karaiskaki in the near future. The Chairman of Ethnikos has stated that when the team returns to the top division, the issue of returning to Karaiskaki will be revisited.
Karaiskakis Stadium is owned by the Hellenic Olympic Committee
.
(Note: National Championship not played in 1928-29 and 1934-35, seasons when Ethnikos won regional championships)
Alpha Ethniki/Super League years (since 1959-60)
----
Since 1959-60:
Most goals (A' Ethniki)
Most appearances by a foreign player (A' Ethniki)
Most goals by a foreign player (A' Ethniki)
27 Washington Calcaterra
15 Daniel Batista
12 Masengo Ilunga
The founder of Ethnikos, the club's first captain, and a member of the first Greek national team
.
Considered one of the very best Greek defenders of the pre-War
era. Born in Piraeus in 1904, he played for Ethnikos in the club's earliest days, but left in 1928 for Olympiacos, where he played until 1936. Played 12 times for the national team
.
Center midfielder who was a major part of the Ethnikos team of the 1930s that won the Greek Cup
. In the late 1930s he joined Olympiacos. When he finished his playing career he coached Ethnikos, Olympiacos and the Greek national team
.
Mantalozis' predecessor in goal, Zantiotis was a key member of the 1930s Ethnikos team that won the Greek Cup
.
Playing right-back, Zourntos was one of the best Greek players of the pre-War
era. A member of the 1933 Cup
-winning team. Played 3 matches with the national team
. Zourntos died during the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II.
Possibly the greatest striker in the club's history, consistently among the league's top scorers in the 1930s. Scored 15 goals in 10 matches to lead Ethnikos past Panathinaikos
and Olympiacos for the South Division championship in 1934-35, but the National Championship was not played that season. Tied for top scorer in the National Championship in 1935-36 with 12 goals in 14 matches. Scored 7 goals in 9 matches with the national team
.
The greatest goalkeeper in club history. Began his career with Olympiacos but came to Ethnikos in 1943 and spent 15 years with the club. Interestingly, he began his career as a striker, and did not discover his talent for goalkeeping until 1945. Earned 10 national team
caps. After he finished playing he became coach of Ethnikos.
One of the best Greek midfield players of the 1940s and 1950s, Ioannou played for Ethnikos from 1947 to 1952, before leaving for Olympiacos. Played 12 times for the national team
.
The left-back made his Ethnikos debut in 1949 and spent 16 seasons with the club. Made 128 appearances and scored 5 goals in A' Ethniki
.
A great center-forward for Ethnikos in the 1950s, he scored 4 goals in 3 matches for the national team
.
The versatile midfield player was a star of the Ethnikos teams of the 1950s. His career did extended into the A' Ethniki
era, and he made 19 appearances in the league.
Ethnikos' most dangerous striker during the 1950s. Scored the 2nd-most goals in the final phase of the national championship in 1955-56, with 6 goals in 10 matches. In 1956-57 he scored 9 goals in the first 12 matches of the final phase of the national championship to lead Ethnikos into 1st place, until Ethnikos was scandalously disqualified. His career extended into the A' Ethniki
era, and he played 21 matches in the league.
The towering center-back was a strong presence in the Ethnikos defense during the 1950s. Played 70 matches and scored 6 goals for Ethnikos in A' Ethniki
. Signed with AEK in 1962.
The skilled midfielder made his Ethnikos debut in 1961 and played 13 seasons for the club, making 320 A' Ethniki
appearances, 3rd-most in club history. A former captain.
Made his Ethnikos debut in 1961 and took over the left-back position at the end of Kozompolis' career. Played 133 A' Ethniki
matches with Ethnikos, scoring 3 goals. Played 1 match for the national team
.
A talented goalkeeper who played 161 A' Ethniki
matches for Ethnikos in the 1960s before leaving for Olympiacos in 1966. Earned 11 national team
caps in his career.
A right-side attacker with great speed, Chatziioannoglou was a tremendous player. He made his Ethnikos debut in 1962 and became a star performer through the 1960s and 1970s. He is the top scorer in club history with 102 goals in A' Ethniki
, and he has the 2nd-most A' Ethniki
appearances in club history with 367.
The intelligent defender is the club's all-time leader in appearances with 383 A' Ethniki
matches played, from 1964 to 1977.
The attacking-midfielder arrived at Ethnikos from Panachaiki in 1964 and went on to make 191 appearances in A' Ethniki
, and his 54 goals in the league are the 3rd-highest total in club history.
Attacking-midfielder came to Ethnikos from Panachaiki in 1965. Scored 25 goals in 156 A' Ethniki
matches with Ethnikos until he returned to Panachaiki in the 1970s to finish his career.
An attack-minded right-back, Eleftheriadis arrived at Ethnikos in 1967. He played in 202 matches and scored 27 goals, 8th-best in club history, before transferring to Panathinaikos
in 1976.
One of the great Greek strikers of his era. Arrived at Ethnikos in 1967 and went on to make 184 appearances and score 79 goals, the 2nd-best total in club history. Moved to Olympiacos in 1973. Finished his career with 422 appearances and 176 goals in A' Ethniki
. Scored 3 goals in 28 matches in his career with the national team
.
After arriving in 1967 the attack-minded right-back played in 246 A' Ethniki
matches for Ethnkos and was a team captain.
Defensive-midfielder made 220 A' Ethniki
appearances over 12 seasons during the 1960s and 1970s and later became Ethnikos coach.
Was Ethnikos' starting goalkeeper by age 17 in 1970 and spent 8 successful seasons with the club before leaving for Olympiacos in 1978. Later moved to AEK, then returned to Olympiacos, and finished his career with Levadiakos. Capped twice by the national team
.
Tough center-back who came to Ethnikos in 1971. He played in 237 A' Ethniki
matches for Ethnikos and was a team captain.
Speedy right-back made his debut for Ethnikos in 1972 and would spend 14 seasons with the club, making 177 appearances. A former Ethnikos captain.
A skillful winger who could play on both flanks, Kottidis signed with Ethnikos in 1974 and spent 17 seasons with the club. Kottidis played 300 matches (4th-most in club history) and scored 54 goals (tied for 3rd-most in club history) in A' Ethniki
, and was a team captain.
A second-striker who played for Ethnikos from 1975 to 1981, scoring 30 goals in 155 matches, before moving to Iraklis.
Mitropoulos played 108 matches and scored 25 goals for Ethnikos from 1976 to 1981 before moving to Olympiacos, where he spent the majority of his career and enjoyed much success. He was a fixture for the national team
during his career, earning 77 caps and scoring 8 goals.
The speedy left-footed attacker arrived from Panionios in 1976, and spent only 2 seasons with Ethnikos, but was A' Ethniki
top scorer while with the club in 1977. Played a total of 43 matches and scored 28 goals for Ethnikos in A' Ethniki. Scored 129 A' Ethniki goals in total in his career, and played for the national team
4 times.
Left-back who played 169 A' Ethniki matches between 1978 and 1985 before signing with AEK.
The strong center-back played 206 matches and was a team captain after arriving in 1981 from Egaleo.
Played 138 matches and scored 36 goals for Ethnikos before moving to Panathinaikos
in 1986. Played 22 matches and scored 2 goals for the national team
.
The striker who went on to enjoy success abroad, most notably with Anderlecht
, Roda JC and Ajax, first established himself at Ethnikos, scoring 25 goals in 106 matches from 1991 to 1996.
The Euro 2004 star made his A' Ethniki
debut with Ethnikos in 1994. Kapsis played 123 matches for the club from 1993 to 1999 before moving to AEK where he really rose to prominence.
A technically gifted playmaker, Niniadis arrived from Veria
in the middle of the 1994-95 season. He scored 12 goals in 26 matches during the 1995-96 season, but despite his efforts Ethnikos was relegated to B' Ethniki
at the end of the season. That summer he left for Olympiacos, where he became a star player and won several A' Ethniki
championships.
One of the most talented Greek players of all time, Tsiartas, who was a star playmaker for AEK and Sevilla FC
and a major contributor to the Greek national team
's win of Euro 2004, had a brief stint with Ethnikos during the 2006-07 season with the team seeking promotion back to the top flight.
The Uruguay
an was tied for A' Ethniki
top scorer in 1974-75 with 20 goals, leading Ethnikos to a 4th-place finish that season. Unfortunately he suffered a serious injury the following season in a match against Panserraikos
and he was never the same. He finished his career with 44 matches played and 27 goals scored for Ethnikos in A' Ethniki.
The hard-working midfielder from Zaire
has the most A' Ethniki
appearances of any foreigner player in club history with 161, and his 12 goals are 3rd-best among foreign players.
Batista began his illustrious career in Greece with Ethnikos, playing in 67 matches and scoring 15 goals for the club between 1986 to 1989. He later was a star player for AEK and Olympiacos. Batista acquired Greek citizenship and played 14 matches for the Greek national team
, scoring 2 goals.
The Albania
n international goalkeeper (of Greek descent) played 33 matches over 2 seasons for Ethnikos during the early 1990s.
The Albania
n international defender played 10 matches in the 1997-1998 season.
The Cameroon
international winger began his European career with Ethnikos, playing 53 matches and scoring 3 goals for the club from 1997-2000. He later had a brief stint with Panathinaikos
, but thereafter his performances for Iraklis earned him a transfer to the German
Bundesliga
with VfL Bochum
.
The former Santos
, Barcelona and Olympiacos star joined Ethnikos in August 2006 with the club looking to earn promotion back to A' Ethniki
in 2006-07, but all did not go as planned and he left the team in the middle of the season. Giovanni scored 3 goals in 8 matches with the club.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
professional football club based in Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, currently competing in Football League 2, the Greek third division (see Greek football league system
Greek football league system
The Greek football league system includes five levels in which teams can possibly make it to Super League Greece, Greece's highest division of football.-Promotion and relegation:Super League Greece: Bottom three clubs relegated to Football League....
).
Background
In 1923 the PiraeusPiraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
-based football club Athletic and Football Club of Piraeus , winner of the 1924 Athens-Piraeus Regional Championship, split into two.
From the break-up, one group, led by Giorgos Chatziandreou, brothers Kostas and Dimitris Ferlemis, and Christos Peppas, ultimately formed Omilos Filathlon Piraeus - Faliro , meaning Fans' Club of Piraeus and Faliro in 1924, and then changed the name to Ethnikos O.F.P.F. in 1925 the other group, led by Yiannis Andrianopoulos
Yiannis Andrianopoulos
Yiannis Andrianopoulos was a Greek Football Legend and one of the founding members of Greece's most successful football club, Olympiacos CFP.-Club career:...
and his five brothers, formed the club that evolved into Olympiacos CFP
Olympiacos CFP
----Olympiacos Club of Fans of Piraeus, , , transliterated Olympiakos Sindesmos Filathlon Pireos, is the most popular multisport club and the most successful in Greece, based in Piraeus....
in 1925.
Ethnikos O.F.P.F., colloquially referred to as Ethnikos Piraeus, is a multi-sport club
Sports club
A sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
with teams competing in football, water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
The club's most significant teams, in terms of history and success, are their football and water polo
Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club
The Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club is a water polo club participating in the First Divion of the Greek Championship . Ethnikos is the most successful water polo club in Greece...
teams, though football is by far the more popular sport.
Olympiacos rivalry
Since the two clubs were established in the mid-1920s, Ethnikos' traditional local rival has been Olympiacos CFPOlympiacos CFP
----Olympiacos Club of Fans of Piraeus, , , transliterated Olympiakos Sindesmos Filathlon Pireos, is the most popular multisport club and the most successful in Greece, based in Piraeus....
, one of the two most popular and successful multi-sport clubs in Greece along with Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos is a multi-sport club based in Athens, Greece. It has the shamrock as its official emblem and green and white as its colours...
.
While a legitimate rivalry between Ethnikos and Olympiacos still exists in water polo (Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club
Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club
The Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club is a water polo club participating in the First Divion of the Greek Championship . Ethnikos is the most successful water polo club in Greece...
has won the most Greek water polo championships of any club, while Olympiacos Water Polo Club
Olympiacos Water Polo Club
Olympiacos Water Polo Club is the water polo team of the Greek sports club Olympiacos. It was founded in 1925 and was among the founding members of the Hellenic Federation of Swimming Fans...
has won the second-most) , that is no longer the case in football.
Ethnikos and Olympiacos F.C. were more or less evenly matched and had great battles for Piraeus supremacy in the 1920s and 1930s , but thereafter Olympiacos became increasingly more powerful and successful and began to pass Ethnikos by.
Along the way, Olympiacos developed a habit for luring Ethnikos' best players, like Greek national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
players Philippos Kourantis in the late 1920s, Giannis Chelmis in the late 1930s and Giannis Ioannou in the early 1950s .
In 1956-57 Olympiacos was seemingly behind a scandal that robbed Ethnikos of the National Championship. Ethnikos was in 1st place by a margin of 4 points with just 4 matches left in the season, and had the derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
with Olympiacos next on the schedule; but before the derby arrived Ethnikos was dubiously disqualified from the competition. With Ethnikos out of the way Olympiacos ultimately took the Championship .
In 1973 Ethnikos lost the great Michalis Kritikopoulos to Olympiacos, just a year before Ethnikos mounted its greatest challenge for the National Championship in the modern era; many Ethnikos fans feel that if they still had Kritikopoulos, the team would have managed to hold on to 1st place rather than run out of gas in the second half of the 1974-75 season
Alpha Ethniki 1974-75
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-References:* * * *...
.
Olympiacos ultimately became the dominant football club in Greece, having won the League
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
and Cup
Greek football Cup
The Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
more than any other club , and Ethnikos has not been able to seriously compete with them for decades. Ethnikos has not defeated Olympiacos in a league match since the 1985-86 season
Alpha Ethniki 1985-86
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesPanachaiki had -1 point-Match table:...
and has not finished above Olympiacos in the league standings since the 1987-88 season
Alpha Ethniki 1987-88
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesPanachaiki had -1 point-Match table:...
.
In the 1990s, when Olympiacos was experiencing probably the greatest era of its history while Ethnikos was suffering through what was surely its worst, Ethnikos lost some of its fanbase to Olympiacos.
A recent point of contention for Ethnikos fans has to do with Karaiskakis Stadium
Karaiskakis Stadium
Karaiskakis Stadium is in the Neo Faliro area of Piraeus, Greece. It is the home ground of Olympiacos F.C. and is named after Georgios Karaiskakis , hero of the Greek War of Independence, who was mortally wounded near the area....
. Karaiskakis is the traditional home of both Olympiacos and Ethnikos , but only Olympiacos has played there since the stadium was rebuilt for use in the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
.
Panhellenic Championship years
Prior to 1959-60 Greek football was played in regional championships (AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Piraeus, and Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
championships and/or North and South championships) and then the top teams from each region would advance to play for the National Championship. In some pre-War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years a traditional Final match was played between 2 regional champions, but generally the Panhellenic Championship
Panhellenic Championship
The Panhellenic Championship was a Greek football competition to determine the nation's champion club, which ran from 1906 to 1959.In the beginning , it was run by the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics and it was actually a local tournament among clubs from Athens and Piraeus...
was played as a final round-robin
Round-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
between at least 3 teams .
1920s-1930s
Ethnikos was Piraeus Champion in 1927-28, but lost the National Championship to ArisAris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
. The following year Ethnikos was Piraeus Champion once again, but the National Championship was not played.
In 1932-33 Ethnikos won the Greek Cup
Greek football Cup
The Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
, the club’s only major title. Ethnikos eliminated Apollon in the Quarterfinals and Olympiacos in the Semifinals before meeting Aris in the Final. Ethnikos and Aris played to a 2-2 draw in Thessaloniki, but Ethnikos won the replay 2-1 and took the Cup.
In 1934-35 Ethnikos was again Piraeus Champion, and then champion of the South Division, while Aris was champion of the North Division, but Ethnikos and Aris were prevented from playing each other for the National Championship.
Ethnikos won another Piraeus Championship in 1938-39, but lost the South Division by 2 points, just missing out on a chance to play for the National Championship.
Ethnikos reached the Semifinals of the Greek Cup in 1938-39 and 1939-40, but lost to PAOK
PAOK FC
P.A.O.K. F.C. is a Greek association football club based in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is the largest supported football club in Macedonia.PAOK FC is the football department of Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans , a multi-sport club. Since its formation in 1926 the football club...
and Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
, respectively.
1950s
The Ethnikos teams of the mid- to late-1950s are considered by many to be Ethnikos’ greatest teams.In 1955-56 Ethnikos finished 2nd in Greece, just 1 point behind champions Olympiacos.
In 1956-57 a scandal robbed Ethnikos of the National Championship. With 4 matches left in the National Championship, Ethnikos was in 1st place by 4 points, and next on the schedule was Olympiacos, who Ethnikos had already defeated earlier in the season. Prior to the Olympiakos match though, Ethnikos was disqualified from the championship, on the accusation of professionalism, as they had allegedly been in contact with Hungarian stars Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás
Ferenc Puskás was a Hungarian footballer and manager. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, and 514 goals in 529 matches in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and was a World Cup finalist in 1954...
and Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis Péter was a Hungarian footballer who played for Ferencváros TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, FC Barcelona and Hungary. During the 1950s, along with Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti, he was a member of the Mighty Magyars...
, though it was never proven. Ethnikos was docked 4 points and not allowed to play the final 4 matches of the season, and Olympiakos took the championship .
Alpha Ethniki years
From 1959-60Alpha Ethniki 1959-60
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:Match changes:-Play off:...
the Greek championship changed to its modern form and the first division became known as Alpha Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
(usually noted as A' Ethniki). Since 1959-60 Ethnikos is tied for the 8th-most first division participations with 36, along with OFI
OFI Crete
OFI , the Sportfriends Association Heraklion, is a Greek association football club based in Heraklion, on the island of Crete. Outside Greece, the club is generally known as OFI Crete F.C., however, the name Crete is not actually part of the club's official title.OFI is the club with most...
and Apollon. Ahead of Ethnikos are traditional powers Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK
AEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
and PAOK (all of whom have competed in the first division every season) as well as Iraklis, Aris and Panionios. (In 2006-07 the first division was renamed from A' Ethniki to Super League
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
).
1960s
During the 1960s Ethnikos’ best league finishes were 5th in 1962-63Alpha Ethniki 1962-63
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesEgaleo had -1 point deducted-Match table:...
and 6th in 1960-61
Alpha Ethniki 1960-61
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesAEK Athens had -1 point deducted-Match table:...
and 1967-68
Alpha Ethniki 1967-68
Alpha Ethniki 1967-68 was the first of several seasons in which the Cypriot champion would play in the Alpha Ethniki the following season. Olympiakos Nicosia finished second to last and were relegated back to the Cypriot First Division.-Standings:...
. From 1960-61 to 1968-69
Alpha Ethniki 1968-69
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes-Match table:Match changes:-Play off:...
Ethnikos never finished outside the top 10.
Ethnikos reached the Semifinals of the Greek Cup twice during the 1960s. In 1967-68 Ethnikos lost in the Semifinals to Panathinaikos. The following year Ethnikos came desperately close to another Cup Final – after defeating PAOK 5-4 in the Quarterfinals, Ethnikos lost to Olympiacos 4-3 after extra time in the Semifinals.
1970s
In 1974-75Alpha Ethniki 1974-75
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-References:* * * *...
Ethnikos made its best challenge for the league championship in the modern era. That season Ethnikos was winter champion, going undefeated through the first half of the season, but they could not keep up the pace and ultimately finished 4th (1 point behind PAOK for 3rd place and a UEFA Cup berth), while Olympiacos took the championship.
Though never making another legitimate challenge for the league championship, Ethnikos remained consistently competitive during the 1970s, never finishing outside of the top 10.
Ethnikos twice had the league’s top scorer during the 1970s: in the 1974-75 Roberto Calcadera’s total of 20 goals was tied for league-best with Panathinaikos’ Antonis Antoniadis
Antonis Antoniadis
Antonis Antoniadis is one of the great goal scorers of Greek and European football in the post-war era, scoring about 187 goals in a career which spanned 22 years. He started his career playing for Xanthi before moving on to Panathinaikos...
and in 1976-77
Alpha Ethniki 1976-77
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GC = Goal coefficient*NotesAtromitos had -2 points-Match table:...
Thanasis Intzoglou led the league with 22 goals.
Ethnikos’ two best runs in the Greek Cup in the 1970s were halted by PAOK. In 1972-72 Ethnikos lost to PAOK 3-2 in the Semifinals and in 1976-77 Ethnikos was defeated by PAOK in the Quarterfinals.
1980s
Ethnikos made decent 7th place finishes in 1979-80Alpha Ethniki 1979-80
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes...
and 1980-81
Alpha Ethniki 1980-81
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-References:* * * *...
, but the team would mostly struggle through the rest of the 1980s.
In 1983-84 and 1985-86 Ethnikos reached the Quarterfinals of the Greek Cup but was then eliminated by Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, respectively.
In 1986-87
Alpha Ethniki 1986-87
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes...
Ethnikos made a very mediocre 10th place finish, but late in the season earned one of their more memorable results - winning 6-3 away to Panathinaikos.
The 1987-88
Alpha Ethniki 1987-88
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesPanachaiki had -1 point-Match table:...
team was the last truly competitive Ethnikos team to date. That year Ethnikos tried to make a run at a UEFA Cup berth, but ultimately fell short and finished 7th. The 7th place finish though was good enough to take some satisfaction from finishing ahead of Olympiacos, who finished 8th.
In the 1988-89
Alpha Ethniki 1988-89
-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-External links:* * * *...
season Ethnikos made a good run in the Cup, reaching the Semifinals before being eliminated by Panathinaikos, but in the league the team finished in the bottom 3 and was relegated to Beta Ethniki for the first time in their history.
1990s
After being relegated from Alpha Ethniki for the first time in 1989, Ethnikos bounced between A' and B' Ethniki throughout the 1990s. Since a last place finish in 1998-99Alpha Ethniki 1998-99
-Standings:' : Cup winner 1998-99' : Title holder' : Promoted from Beta EthnikiPts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:*Notes-External links:* * * *...
though, Ethnikos has not managed to return to A' Ethniki.
The Ethnikos teams of the 1990s included several young players who would leave the club and become star players elsewhere, such as Michalis Kapsis
Michalis Kapsis
Michalis Kapsis is a Greek football player who currently plays for Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.. Kapsis played for the Greek national football team at the position of central defender...
, Yannis Anastasiou
Yannis Anastasiou
Yannis Anastasiou is a Greek football coach and former player who is currently Manager at Dutch club Ajax 2.As a player, Anastasiou played as a striker, and was active professionally in Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands; he also represented the Greek national side at senior international...
and Andreas Niniadis
Andreas Niniadis
-Olympiakos:Since his retirement, Niniadis has been employed by his former club Olympiacos as a scout and an assistant manager, a position he holds today.-Football Career :...
.
2000s
After the 1999-00 season Ethnikos fell from Beta Ethniki to Gamma EthnikiGamma Ethniki
Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional...
for the first time. The club’s ultimate low point came when it fell from Gamma Ethniki and spent the 2003-04 season in Delta Ethniki.
In summer 2004 Ethnikos merged with A.O. Mani, the club maintained Ethnikos' logo and colors and continued to be based in Piraeus, but in name became Ethnikos Piraeus - A.O. Mani . Ethnikos fans were very upset with the name change, but that problem was eventually solved, as the club was officially renamed Ethnikos Piraeus in 2007 .
In 2005-06 Ethnikos earned promotion back to Beta Ethniki in the final minute of the final match of the season. With time expiring, a free kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
goal from Eduardo Sander Da Silva against Messiniakos made the final score 1-1 and gave Ethnikos the point needed for promotion .
Since 2006-07
Beta Ethniki 2006-07
-Standings:-Results:-Top scorers:- Teams by region :...
Ethnikos has remained in B' Ethniki.
Elliniko
Helliniko Olympic Complex
The Helliniko Olympic Complex is situated at Ellinikon on the east coast of Greece south of Athens, approximately 16 kilometres from the Olympic Village. It was built on the site of the former Ellinikon International Airport for the staging of the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Paralympics...
in Ellinikon
Ellinikon
Ellinikon is a suburb of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elliniko-Argyroupoli, of which it is a municipal unit....
, located approximately 8 kilometres south of the center of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, near Glyfada
Glyfada
Glyfada is a suburb of Athens, situated in the southern parts of the Athens Metropolitan Area. The area, which is home to many of Greece's millionaires, ministers and celebrities, stretches out from the foot of the Hymettus mountain and reaches out to embrace the Saronic Gulf. It is the largest of...
on the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
coast .
The complex was built on the site of the former Ellinikon International Airport
Ellinikon International Airport
Ellinikon International Airport , sometimes spelled Hellinikon was the international airport of Athens, Greece for sixty years up until 2001 when it was replaced by the new Athens International Airport. It is located south of Athens, and just west of Glyfada...
for the staging of the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and 2004 Summer Paralympics
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
, and consisted of the following venues: Helliniko Indoor Arena (Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and Team handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
); Helliniko Fencing Hall; Olympic Hockey Stadium (Field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
); Helliniko Baseball Centre; Helliniko Softball Centre; and Helliniko Slalom Centre (Whitewater slalom) .
In August 2007 Ethnikos President Nikos Pirounias finalized a deal with the City of Ellinikon for use of the complex for 3 years with an option for a further 3 years . The Olympic Baseball Centre's main stadium underwent renovations for football use, and Ethnikos began playing matches there during the 2007-08 season; the team played its first official match in its new home on October 20, 2007 . The facility became known as Elliniko Stadium, and is commonly referred to as Elliniko.
The complex also includes new training pitches for both Ethnikos' first team and youth team .
Ahead of the 2008-09 season renovations continued and seating capacity was increased to 9,000 .
Karaiskaki
Karaiskakis StadiumKaraiskakis Stadium
Karaiskakis Stadium is in the Neo Faliro area of Piraeus, Greece. It is the home ground of Olympiacos F.C. and is named after Georgios Karaiskakis , hero of the Greek War of Independence, who was mortally wounded near the area....
in the Faliro
Faliro
Faliro is a seaside suburb 8 km southwest of downtown Athens. There are two communities sharing the name: Palaio and Neo Faliro. Palaio Faliro is a municipality, whereas Neo Faliro is part of the town of Piraeus...
area of Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, commonly referred to as Karaiskaki, is the traditional home of both Olympiacos and Ethnikos , but only Olympiacos has played there since the stadium was leveled and rebuilt purely at Olympiacos' expenses ahead of the 2004 Summer Olympics .
In 2002 Olympiacos President Socratis Kokkalis
Socratis Kokkalis
Sokratis Kokkalis is a Greek businessman who has been a member of the Forbes 500 list of the world's 500 richest people. He is the Chairman, CEO and majority shareholder of Intracom Holdings, one of the largest multinational technology groups in South-Eastern Europe, and the Chairman and majority...
, in announcing the project to rebuild Karaiskakis, said, "It is our wish that [the new stadium] will also be used by Ethnikos F.C., as Karaiskaki is the historic home of both [Olympiacos and Ethnikos]" .
Despite that statement, all of the new stadium's seats were painted Olympiacos' red , rather than a neutral color.
When the new Karaiskakis was completed in 2004, Ethnikos was struggling in Gamma Ethniki
Gamma Ethniki
Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional...
, and did not move into the stadium; the team instead continued to play most of its home matches in Korydallos Stadium, a small stadium in the Korydallos
Korydallos
Korydallos is a municipality in the Piraeus regional unit, Greece. It is a western suburb of Piraeus. It is the home of the Korydallos prisons. It sits on a mountain in the west named Aegaleo. It is located W of Athens, N of Piraeus and S of GR-8/E55 and Athinon Avenue.Farming used to dominate...
area of Piraeus, which is the traditional home of Proodeftiki F.C..
In 2005-06 Ethnikos moved to Georgios Kamaras Stadium
Georgios Kamaras Stadium
Georgios Kamaras Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Athens, Greece. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Apollon Smyrnis. The stadium holds 14,856 and was built in 1948. It was used by Olympiacos for about 3 years as home ground, due to the construction...
in Rizoupoli
Rizoupoli
Rizoupoli is a neighborhood of Athens, Greece. The district is located between Patissia and Nea Philadelphia and is home to the Georgios Kamaras Stadium....
(where Olympiacos played its home matches during the Karaiskakis renovations) , and played there up until the move to Elliniko in 2007.
Despite a clause in the contract of Olympiacos's long-term lease of the stadium, which states that Ethnikos may return to Karaiskaki whenever they wanted, without sharing any significant stadium-related costs, the team has opted not to return to Karaiskaki in the near future. The Chairman of Ethnikos has stated that when the team returns to the top division, the issue of returning to Karaiskaki will be revisited.
Karaiskakis Stadium is owned by the Hellenic Olympic Committee
Hellenic Olympic Committee
Hellenic Olympic Committee also known as Comité Olympique Hellénique is the governing Olympic body of Greece. It is one of the oldest National Olympic Committees in the world, being founded in 1894 and recognised in 1895....
.
Coaches
- As of 18 August 2009
Name Nationality Role Michalis Grigoriou Michalis GrigoriouMichalis Grigoriou is a former Greek football player and current coach.Grigoriou played for Ethnikos Piraeus F.C. at club leve, including two seasons in the Alpha Ethniki.-References:...Manager
Players
- As of 10 October, 2010
Achievements
- Greek Cup
- Winners (1): 1932-33Greek Cup 1932-33The Greek Cup 1932-33 was the 2nd edition of The Greek Football Cup, or Greek Cup for short.The competition culminated with the Greek Cup Final, replayed at Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium, Athens on 25 March 1933, because of the previous match draw...
- Beta Ethniki Champions 1990-1991
- Winners (1): 1932-33
- Piraeus Championship (Regional Championship, pre-Alpha Ethniki/Super LeagueSuper League GreeceThe Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
format)- Winners (5): 1927-28, 1928-29, 1933-1934, 1934-35, 1938-39
Season-by-season
Panhellenic Championship years (until 1959)
|
|
|
(Note: National Championship not played in 1928-29 and 1934-35, seasons when Ethnikos won regional championships)
Alpha Ethniki/Super League years (since 1959-60)
|
Alpha Ethniki 1971-72 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes-Match table:Match changes:-References:* *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 8th Alpha Ethniki 1972-73 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes-Match table:Match changes:* * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 6th Alpha Ethniki 1973-74 Alpha Ethniki 1973-74 was the last season in which Cypriot teams took part.-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-Play off:*13th-15th place* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 10th Alpha Ethniki 1974-75 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-References:* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 4th Alpha Ethniki 1975-76 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesAtromitos had -3 points-Match table:... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 7th Alpha Ethniki 1976-77 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GC = Goal coefficient*NotesAtromitos had -2 points-Match table:... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 8th Alpha Ethniki 1977-78 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesVeria had -10 points-Match table:... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 7th Alpha Ethniki 1978-79 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 8th Alpha Ethniki 1979-80 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 7th Alpha Ethniki 1980-81 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-References:* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 7th Alpha Ethniki 1981-82 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-Play off:... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 13th Alpha Ethniki 1982-83 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:Match changes:-Play out:... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 11th |
Alpha Ethniki 1983-84 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-Play out:... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 9th Alpha Ethniki 1984-85 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-External links:* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 9th Alpha Ethniki 1985-86 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesPanachaiki had -1 point-Match table:... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 13th Alpha Ethniki 1986-87 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 11th Alpha Ethniki 1987-88 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesPanachaiki had -1 point-Match table:... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 7th Alpha Ethniki 1988-89 -Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-External links:* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 14th Alpha Ethniki 1989-90 Alpha Ethniki 1989-90 complete season-Standings:Pts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*Notes... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 18th Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 1st Alpha Ethniki 1991-92 -Standings:' : Cup winner 1991-92' : Title holder' : Promoted from Beta EthnikiPts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-External links:* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 18th Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 9th Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 3rd Alpha Ethniki 1994-95 -Standings:' : Cup winner 1994-95' : Title holder' : Promoted from Beta EthnikiPts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:-External links:* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 13th |
Alpha Ethniki 1995-96 -Standings:' : Cup winner 1995-96' : Title holder' : Promoted from Beta EthnikiPts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;*NotesPAOK had -3 points-Match table:Match changes:-External links:* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 18th Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 3rd Alpha Ethniki 1997-98 - Standings :' : Cup winner 1997-98' : Title holder' : Promoted from Beta EthnikiPts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;- Match table :- External links :* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 15th Alpha Ethniki 1998-99 -Standings:' : Cup winner 1998-99' : Title holder' : Promoted from Beta EthnikiPts = Points Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference;-Match table:*Notes-External links:* * * *... : A' Ethniki Super League Greece The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each... : 18th Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 15th Gamma Ethniki Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional... : 4th Gamma Ethniki Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional... : 9th Gamma Ethniki Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional... : 17th Gamma Ethniki Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional... : 4th Gamma Ethniki Football League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional... : 2nd Beta Ethniki 2006-07 -Standings:-Results:-Top scorers:- Teams by region :... : B' Ethniki Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 6th |
Beta Ethniki 2007-08 -League table 2007-2008:1 Panthrakikos had one game with Chaidari zeroed and 1 point deducted.2 Pierikos had 3 points deducted.-Results:-Top scorers:Last updated April 20, 2008- Teams by region :... : B' Ethniki Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 9th Beta Ethniki 2008-09 -Overview:* The season started on the 14th of September 2008 and is scheduled to end on the 17th of May 2009.* Last season champions Panserraikos, runners-up Thrasyvoulos and third-placed Panthrakikos earned promotion to Super League Greece, while Agios Dimitrios, Chaidari and Egaleo were relegated... : B' Ethniki Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 13th Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 4th Beta Ethniki Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the... : 16th |
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Since 1959-60:
- 36 seasons in Alpha Ethniki/Super LeagueSuper League GreeceThe Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
(8th-most in Greece)
- 10 seasons in Beta EthnikiBeta EthnikiFootball League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the...
- 5 seasons in Gamma EthnikiGamma EthnikiFootball League 2, formerly known as Gamma Ethniki, is the third highest professional football league in Greece.-History:It began in 1965 as an amateur championship, while in 1983 it was changed to professional...
- 1 season in Delta Ethniki
Most appearances & goals
Most appearances (A' Ethniki)- 383 Aggelos Kremmydas
- 367 Dimitris Chatziioannoglou
- 320 Stelios Nikiforakis
- 300 Panagiotis Kottidis
- 246 Kostas Moutafis
Most goals (A' Ethniki)
- 102 Dimitris Chatziioannoglou79 Michalis Kritikopoulos54 Andreas Antonatos54 Panagiotis Kottidis36 Kostas Batsinilas30 Giorgos Karaїskos28 Thanasis Intzoglou27 Takis Eleftheriadis25 Petros LeventakosPetros LeventakosPetros Leventakos is a former Greek footballer .-Career:He started his career in Panachaiki before being transferred to Ethnikos Piraeus in the 1965-66 season...
25 Tasos MitropoulosTasos MitropoulosAnastassios "Tasos" Mitropoulos is a Greek politician and retired football midfielder.Mitropoulos was born in Volos, and started his football career at local team Aris Petroupoli. In 1976 he joined Ethnikos Piraeus, where he played five seasons...
Most appearances by a foreign player (A' Ethniki)
- 161 Masengo IlungaMasengo IlungaMasengo Ilunga is a retired footballer who played as a midfielder for club sides in Zaire, Greece and Cyprus.-Club career:Ilunga began playing football with TP Mazembe....
67 Daniel BatistaDaniel BatistaDaniel Batista Lima is a former Greek international football player who played as a striker. He has been given the title "Gullit of the poor" by the Italian press after and impressive display against Torino...
66 Abid KovacevicAbid KovacevicAbid Kovačević is a former Bosnian footballer. He capped twice for Yugoslavia.-Club career:Kovačević played for Ethnikos Piraeus F.C. in the Greek Super League from 1981-1984.-References:*...
Most goals by a foreign player (A' Ethniki)
27 Washington Calcaterra
Washington Calcaterra
Washington Roberto Calcaterra, Chueca, is a retired footballer who played as a forward for club sides in Uruguay and Greece.-Club career:...
15 Daniel Batista
Daniel Batista
Daniel Batista Lima is a former Greek international football player who played as a striker. He has been given the title "Gullit of the poor" by the Italian press after and impressive display against Torino...
12 Masengo Ilunga
Masengo Ilunga
Masengo Ilunga is a retired footballer who played as a midfielder for club sides in Zaire, Greece and Cyprus.-Club career:Ilunga began playing football with TP Mazembe....
Greek players
-
Giorgos Chatziandreou
The founder of Ethnikos, the club's first captain, and a member of the first Greek national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Philippos Kourantis
Considered one of the very best Greek defenders of the pre-War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
era. Born in Piraeus in 1904, he played for Ethnikos in the club's earliest days, but left in 1928 for Olympiacos, where he played until 1936. Played 12 times for the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Giannis Chelmis
Center midfielder who was a major part of the Ethnikos team of the 1930s that won the Greek Cup
Greek football Cup
The Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
. In the late 1930s he joined Olympiacos. When he finished his playing career he coached Ethnikos, Olympiacos and the Greek national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Giorgos Zantiotis
Mantalozis' predecessor in goal, Zantiotis was a key member of the 1930s Ethnikos team that won the Greek Cup
Greek football Cup
The Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
.
- Dimitris Zourntos
Playing right-back, Zourntos was one of the best Greek players of the pre-War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
era. A member of the 1933 Cup
Greek football Cup
The Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
-winning team. Played 3 matches with the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
. Zourntos died during the Axis occupation of Greece during World War II.
- Kostas ChoumisKostas ChoumisKostas Choumis was a Greek-Romanian football player who played as a striker. He is often regarded in Greece and Romania as one of the greatest strikers in the 1930s.- Club career :...
Possibly the greatest striker in the club's history, consistently among the league's top scorers in the 1930s. Scored 15 goals in 10 matches to lead Ethnikos past Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
and Olympiacos for the South Division championship in 1934-35, but the National Championship was not played that season. Tied for top scorer in the National Championship in 1935-36 with 12 goals in 14 matches. Scored 7 goals in 9 matches with the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Stathis Mantalozis
The greatest goalkeeper in club history. Began his career with Olympiacos but came to Ethnikos in 1943 and spent 15 years with the club. Interestingly, he began his career as a striker, and did not discover his talent for goalkeeping until 1945. Earned 10 national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
caps. After he finished playing he became coach of Ethnikos.
- Giannis Ioannou
One of the best Greek midfield players of the 1940s and 1950s, Ioannou played for Ethnikos from 1947 to 1952, before leaving for Olympiacos. Played 12 times for the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Alekos Kozompolis
The left-back made his Ethnikos debut in 1949 and spent 16 seasons with the club. Made 128 appearances and scored 5 goals in A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
.
- Nikos Lekatsas
A great center-forward for Ethnikos in the 1950s, he scored 4 goals in 3 matches for the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Manolis Karnasopoulos
The versatile midfield player was a star of the Ethnikos teams of the 1950s. His career did extended into the A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
era, and he made 19 appearances in the league.
- Christos Karaoulanis
Ethnikos' most dangerous striker during the 1950s. Scored the 2nd-most goals in the final phase of the national championship in 1955-56, with 6 goals in 10 matches. In 1956-57 he scored 9 goals in the first 12 matches of the final phase of the national championship to lead Ethnikos into 1st place, until Ethnikos was scandalously disqualified. His career extended into the A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
era, and he played 21 matches in the league.
- Manolis Klikopoulos
The towering center-back was a strong presence in the Ethnikos defense during the 1950s. Played 70 matches and scored 6 goals for Ethnikos in A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
. Signed with AEK in 1962.
- Stelios Nikoforakis
The skilled midfielder made his Ethnikos debut in 1961 and played 13 seasons for the club, making 320 A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
appearances, 3rd-most in club history. A former captain.
- Manolis Papazoglou
Made his Ethnikos debut in 1961 and took over the left-back position at the end of Kozompolis' career. Played 133 A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
matches with Ethnikos, scoring 3 goals. Played 1 match for the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Kostas Vallianos
A talented goalkeeper who played 161 A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
matches for Ethnikos in the 1960s before leaving for Olympiacos in 1966. Earned 11 national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
caps in his career.
- Dimitris Chatziioannoglou
A right-side attacker with great speed, Chatziioannoglou was a tremendous player. He made his Ethnikos debut in 1962 and became a star performer through the 1960s and 1970s. He is the top scorer in club history with 102 goals in A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
, and he has the 2nd-most A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
appearances in club history with 367.
- Aggelos Kremmydas
The intelligent defender is the club's all-time leader in appearances with 383 A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
matches played, from 1964 to 1977.
- Andreas Antonatos
The attacking-midfielder arrived at Ethnikos from Panachaiki in 1964 and went on to make 191 appearances in A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
, and his 54 goals in the league are the 3rd-highest total in club history.
- Petros LeventakosPetros LeventakosPetros Leventakos is a former Greek footballer .-Career:He started his career in Panachaiki before being transferred to Ethnikos Piraeus in the 1965-66 season...
Attacking-midfielder came to Ethnikos from Panachaiki in 1965. Scored 25 goals in 156 A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
matches with Ethnikos until he returned to Panachaiki in the 1970s to finish his career.
- Dimitris Eleftheriadis
An attack-minded right-back, Eleftheriadis arrived at Ethnikos in 1967. He played in 202 matches and scored 27 goals, 8th-best in club history, before transferring to Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
in 1976.
- Michalis Kritikopoulos
One of the great Greek strikers of his era. Arrived at Ethnikos in 1967 and went on to make 184 appearances and score 79 goals, the 2nd-best total in club history. Moved to Olympiacos in 1973. Finished his career with 422 appearances and 176 goals in A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
. Scored 3 goals in 28 matches in his career with the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Dimitris Moutafis
After arriving in 1967 the attack-minded right-back played in 246 A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
matches for Ethnkos and was a team captain.
- Christos Chatziioannidis
Defensive-midfielder made 220 A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
appearances over 12 seasons during the 1960s and 1970s and later became Ethnikos coach.
- Christos Arvanitis
Was Ethnikos' starting goalkeeper by age 17 in 1970 and spent 8 successful seasons with the club before leaving for Olympiacos in 1978. Later moved to AEK, then returned to Olympiacos, and finished his career with Levadiakos. Capped twice by the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Dimitris Stamatakis
Tough center-back who came to Ethnikos in 1971. He played in 237 A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
matches for Ethnikos and was a team captain.
- Manolis Vamvakousis
Speedy right-back made his debut for Ethnikos in 1972 and would spend 14 seasons with the club, making 177 appearances. A former Ethnikos captain.
- Panagiotis Kottidis
A skillful winger who could play on both flanks, Kottidis signed with Ethnikos in 1974 and spent 17 seasons with the club. Kottidis played 300 matches (4th-most in club history) and scored 54 goals (tied for 3rd-most in club history) in A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
, and was a team captain.
- Giorgos Karaiskos
A second-striker who played for Ethnikos from 1975 to 1981, scoring 30 goals in 155 matches, before moving to Iraklis.
- Tasos MitropoulosTasos MitropoulosAnastassios "Tasos" Mitropoulos is a Greek politician and retired football midfielder.Mitropoulos was born in Volos, and started his football career at local team Aris Petroupoli. In 1976 he joined Ethnikos Piraeus, where he played five seasons...
Mitropoulos played 108 matches and scored 25 goals for Ethnikos from 1976 to 1981 before moving to Olympiacos, where he spent the majority of his career and enjoyed much success. He was a fixture for the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
during his career, earning 77 caps and scoring 8 goals.
- Thanasis Intzoglou
The speedy left-footed attacker arrived from Panionios in 1976, and spent only 2 seasons with Ethnikos, but was A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
top scorer while with the club in 1977. Played a total of 43 matches and scored 28 goals for Ethnikos in A' Ethniki. Scored 129 A' Ethniki goals in total in his career, and played for the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
4 times.
- Ilias Armodoros
Left-back who played 169 A' Ethniki matches between 1978 and 1985 before signing with AEK.
- Panagiotis Katsikogiannis
The strong center-back played 206 matches and was a team captain after arriving in 1981 from Egaleo.
- Kostas Batsinilas
Played 138 matches and scored 36 goals for Ethnikos before moving to Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
in 1986. Played 22 matches and scored 2 goals for the national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
.
- Yannis AnastasiouYannis AnastasiouYannis Anastasiou is a Greek football coach and former player who is currently Manager at Dutch club Ajax 2.As a player, Anastasiou played as a striker, and was active professionally in Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands; he also represented the Greek national side at senior international...
The striker who went on to enjoy success abroad, most notably with Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
, Roda JC and Ajax, first established himself at Ethnikos, scoring 25 goals in 106 matches from 1991 to 1996.
- Michalis KapsisMichalis KapsisMichalis Kapsis is a Greek football player who currently plays for Ethnikos Piraeus F.C.. Kapsis played for the Greek national football team at the position of central defender...
The Euro 2004 star made his A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
debut with Ethnikos in 1994. Kapsis played 123 matches for the club from 1993 to 1999 before moving to AEK where he really rose to prominence.
- Andreas NiniadisAndreas Niniadis-Olympiakos:Since his retirement, Niniadis has been employed by his former club Olympiacos as a scout and an assistant manager, a position he holds today.-Football Career :...
A technically gifted playmaker, Niniadis arrived from Veria
Veria F.C.
Veria FC is a football club based in Veroia, Imathia, Greece. Veria FC was founded in 1960 when two local teams merged. Their nicknames are "Queen of the North" and "Rossoblu". They played in Alpha Ethniki at last for the 2007-2008 season and relegated twice in two seasons and found in Gamma Ethniki...
in the middle of the 1994-95 season. He scored 12 goals in 26 matches during the 1995-96 season, but despite his efforts Ethnikos was relegated to B' Ethniki
Beta Ethniki
Football League, former Beta Ethniki, is the second highest professional football league in Greece.-History:In its first years, the system of conduct was very intriguing. It began in 1954 as regional championship, separated in two groups, North and South. Then, the participating teams were the...
at the end of the season. That summer he left for Olympiacos, where he became a star player and won several A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
championships.
- Vassilis TsiartasVassilis TsiartasVassilios Tsiartas is a retired Greek international football player who played as an attacking midfielder. Although he was famed for his lackadaisical playing style, his ability was never in question and he was in many ways the epitome of a player who wears the number 10 shirt...
One of the most talented Greek players of all time, Tsiartas, who was a star playmaker for AEK and Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
and a major contributor to the Greek national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
's win of Euro 2004, had a brief stint with Ethnikos during the 2006-07 season with the team seeking promotion back to the top flight.
Foreign players
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Washington CalcaterraWashington CalcaterraWashington Roberto Calcaterra, Chueca, is a retired footballer who played as a forward for club sides in Uruguay and Greece.-Club career:...
The Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an was tied for A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
top scorer in 1974-75 with 20 goals, leading Ethnikos to a 4th-place finish that season. Unfortunately he suffered a serious injury the following season in a match against Panserraikos
Panserraikos F.C.
Panserraikos F.C. , the All-Serran Football Club, is the football club of Serres in Macedonia, Greece. Panserraikos was formed in 1964 when two local clubs, Iraklis and Apollon, merged. Their current home ground is Serres Municipal Stadium, built in 1926...
and he was never the same. He finished his career with 44 matches played and 27 goals scored for Ethnikos in A' Ethniki.
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Masengo IlungaMasengo IlungaMasengo Ilunga is a retired footballer who played as a midfielder for club sides in Zaire, Greece and Cyprus.-Club career:Ilunga began playing football with TP Mazembe....
The hard-working midfielder from Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
has the most A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
appearances of any foreigner player in club history with 161, and his 12 goals are 3rd-best among foreign players.
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Daniel BatistaDaniel BatistaDaniel Batista Lima is a former Greek international football player who played as a striker. He has been given the title "Gullit of the poor" by the Italian press after and impressive display against Torino...
Batista began his illustrious career in Greece with Ethnikos, playing in 67 matches and scoring 15 goals for the club between 1986 to 1989. He later was a star player for AEK and Olympiacos. Batista acquired Greek citizenship and played 14 matches for the Greek national team
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
, scoring 2 goals.
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Foto StrakoshaFoto StrakoshaFotaq "Foto" Strakosha is a retired Albanian goalkeeper. Strakosha is one of Albania's most popular and greatest goalkeepers who captained the national team for a number of years before his retirement in 2005...
The Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n international goalkeeper (of Greek descent) played 33 matches over 2 seasons for Ethnikos during the early 1990s.
- Arjan BellajArjan BellajArjan Bellaj is a retired Albanian footballer . He spent most of his career in Greece and he gained the Greek nationality....
The Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n international defender played 10 matches in the 1997-1998 season.
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Joël Epalle
The Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
international winger began his European career with Ethnikos, playing 53 matches and scoring 3 goals for the club from 1997-2000. He later had a brief stint with Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
, but thereafter his performances for Iraklis earned him a transfer to the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
with VfL Bochum
VfL Bochum
Verein für Leibesübungen Bochum 1848 Fußballgemeinschaft, commonly referred to as simply VfL Bochum, is a German association football club based in the city of Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Founding to World War II:...
.
The former Santos
Santos Futebol Clube
Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian professional football club based in Santos, São Paulo They play in the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the highest professional leagues in São Paulo state and Brazil, respectively....
, Barcelona and Olympiacos star joined Ethnikos in August 2006 with the club looking to earn promotion back to A' Ethniki
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
in 2006-07, but all did not go as planned and he left the team in the middle of the season. Giovanni scored 3 goals in 8 matches with the club.