Panathinaikos

Panathinaikos Sports Club (Greek: Παναθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Όμιλος, Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos, i.e. Pan-Athenian Athletic Club) is the biggest sport organisation in Europe and was founded by George Kalafatis in 1908. It is often referred to by its initials, PAO. The club emblem is the three-leaf clover in green.

Related Topics:
Greek - George Kalafatis - 1908 - Clover - Green

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Panathinaikos initially consisted of a single department, the football team. Before the club took the name P.A.O. it was called P.O.A. (Athens Football Club). In 1909 it changed to P.P.O. (Panhellenic Football Club), in 1918 to P.P.A.O. (Panhellenic Football and Athletic Club) and finally, in 1924 to the well known name of P.A.O. (Panathenian Athletic Club). Over the years Panathinaikos has established departments in 21 sports. Some of them are:

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• Athletics (track and field), established in the 30's
• Basketball, established in 1937
• The basketball team is a major force on the European stage, having won the continent's top club competition, the Euroleague, three times (1996, 2000, 2002)
• Swimming and Water Polo, established in 1950
• Volleyball, established in 1919
• Table-Tennis, established in 1935
• Boxing, established in 1948
• Fencing, established in 1960
• Wrestling, established in 1965
• Gymnastics, established in 1965
• Water Skiing, established in 1965
• Weightlifting, established in 1963
• Cycling, established in 1928
• Chess, established in 1959

Panathinaikos is the most successful Greek football club in European competitions, having participated in one European Champions Cup Final (1971 at Wembley Stadium, London, where they lost 2-0 to Ajax Amsterdam) and having twice reached the semifinal of the same competition (later renamed the Champions' League): in 1985 against Liverpool and in 1996 against Ajax.

Related Topics:
Wembley Stadium - Ajax - Amsterdam - Champions' League

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Some famous players that played for Panathinaikos are:

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• Angelos Basinas
• Mimis Domazos
• Krzysztof Warzycha
• Takis Fyssas
• Yourkas Seitaridis
• George Kalafatis
• Velimir Zajec
• Apostolos Nikolaidis
• Takis Oikonomopoulos
• Antonis Antoniadis
• Dimitris Saravakos
• Giorgos Karagounis
• Juan Ramon Rocha
 
Panathinaikos: Titles ►