PAOK FC

PAOK FC is one of the biggest clubs in Greece, founded in 1926 in Thessaloniki by Greek refugees from Constantinople. Back-to-back Greek champion in 2019 and 2020, the club has one of the loudest stadiums in Europe and is a constant force in European competitions, being considered the biggest rival of Athens clubs outside the capital.

History

PAOK FC was founded in 1926 in Thessaloniki by Greek immigrants expelled from Constantinople during the Great Catastrophe of 1922. The name PAOK is the acronym for Panthessalonikios Athlitikos Omilos Konstantinoupoliton — Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans —, carrying the historical memory of its founders. Toumba Stadium, located in Thessaloniki, is considered one of the most intimidating stadiums in Europe. With a capacity of over 28,000 supporters, the atmosphere created by PAOK's fans on European competition nights is compared to the best arenas on the continent, making the club a feared opponent by teams from around the world. Over decades, PAOK competed with Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, and AEK Athens for the hegemony of Greek football. The club won its first national titles in 1976 and 1985, but went through a long period without national championship titles. Under the leadership of Russian-Greek businessman Ivan Savvidis, who took control of the club in 2012, PAOK underwent a structural revolution. The club invested in infrastructure, player acquisitions, and professional management, and won the Greek championship in 2018-19 and 2019-20, breaking decades of Athenian hegemony and consolidating itself as a powerhouse in Balkans football.